Factors Influencing the Implementation of Education Criteria for Performance Excellence (EdPEx) at the Faculty Level: A Case Study of Kasetsart University

Abstract

A study using Kasetsart University, Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus as an example has been conducted to analyze aspects affecting EdPEx implementation at the faculty level and identify challenges in its implementation. A total number of 37 valid questionnaires were completed by faculty members, representing 50.68% response rate. The study used a questionnaire survey as its research method, employing a quantitative approach. As all individuals in the population were included in the respondents, no probability of sampling technique has been used; thus, results cannot be generalized outside the group of 37 individuals who participated in the study. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression were used to analyze six organizational characteristics and EdPEx implementation performance. Among the 37 respondents, shared values and organizational culture (β = .502) and suitability of organizational structure (β = .495) showed the highest positive correlations with successful implementation of EdPEx; these two factors explained 83.5% of variation (R² = .835). Due to multicollinearity existing between predictors, individual coefficient estimates need to be cautiously interpreted. Leadership by administrators, involvement of staff, readiness of systems, and clarity of strategies showed no meaningful independent association. The most prominent obstacles to implementing EdPEx in the studied organization included ineffective internal communication, heavy workload, lack of understanding about values and logic of ADLI and LeTCI criteria and resource scarcity. While further research with a broader number of respondents will have to validate this evidence, EdPEx implementation at faculty level seems to be better associated with organizational structural appropriateness and values than with strategy and leadership variables.