Needs Assessment for Strengthening an Academic Affairs Collaboration Network of Schools under the Secondary Educational Service Area Office Sakon Nakhon

Abstract

          This research aimed to study: 1) the current condition and the desired condition of the academic affairs collaboration network of schools; 2) the needs assessment for strengthening the academic affairs collaboration network; and 3) the guidelines for strengthening the academic affairs collaboration network of schools under the secondary educational service area office Sakon Nakhon. The study employed a mixed-methods research design. The sample and key informants consisted of: 1) quantitative phase of 352 school administrators and teachers under the secondary educational service area office Sakon Nakhon selected through multistage random sampling, and 2) qualitative phase of five experts. The research instruments included: 1) the quantitative instrument with a five-point Likert scale questionnaire, and 2) the qualitative instrument with a semi-structured interview guide designed to gather opinions based on the OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) concept.

Data analysis was conducted as follows: 1) the quantitative data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and priority needs ranking; and 2) the qualitative data were analyzed through the content analysis of the additional recommendations. The statistical techniques included mean, standard deviation, and the Priority Needs Index (PNI_modified).

             The findings were as follows. 1. The current condition of the academic affairs collaboration network was at a high level, whereas the desired condition was at the highest level. 2. The overall priority needs index for strengthening the academic affairs collaboration network was 0.133. The three components with the highest priority needs were: 1) network members participation, 2) network member development, and 3) common interests or mutual benefits. 3. The guidelines for strengthening the academic affairs collaboration network based on OKRs consist of 30 development guidelines.  In an overall, these guidelines demonstrated the highest level of suitability.