NXPO, as the secretariat of the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council (Policy Council), organized the Policy Council Meeting on 5 November 2020. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Don Pramudwinai, with Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam and MHESI Minister Anek Laothamatas serving as Vice Chairs. The meeting deliberated on the following items: 

1. Strategy to promote morality, ethics and public mind in formal education. Following the assignment to formulate a strategy to promote morality, ethics and public mind in formal education to nurture well-rounded next generation of Thai people, NXPO has conducted interviews with students and teachers and organized brainstorming sessions with experts. As a result, a set of recommendations has been developed, which includes the development of ecosystem to foster morality and ethics, engaging youths in the process of identifying and developing activities and role model and the use of modern technology and communication platform to raise awareness and instill a sense of morality, ethics and public mind in today’s youth. 

2. FY 2022 science, research and innovation budget. The Policy Council approved 24.4 billion THB towards science, research and innovation (SRI) budget for FY 2022, a 22.50% increase from the previous year. The FY 2022 SRI budget will be divided into a strategic fund and a fundamental fund at the 60:40 ratio and will be administered according to a performance-based management employing a multi-year block grant budgeting system and the performance review and prioritization of platforms and programs under the SRI strategic plan. The meeting also appointed Prof. Dr. Somkit Lertpaithoon to serve as Chairperson of the FY 2022 SRI Budget Review Committee. FY 2022 SRI budget will cover four strategic platforms and an SRI reform program as outlined in the revised SRI policy framework for 2020-2022. The four strategic platforms are 1) Manpower and Knowledge Development, 2) Research, Development and Innovation for Grand Challenges, 3) Research, Development and Innovation for Competitiveness and 4) Research and Development for Area-based Development and Inclusiveness. New initiatives under these platforms include 1) good governance and anti-corruption program, 2) innovation for lifelong learning, 3) Suvarnabhumi studies, 4) economic self-reliance program and 5) open society program. The SRI budget will be used towards seeking solutions to meet the country’s needs and challenges and supporting all sectors and stakeholders in the society, including general public and youths, scientists, entrepreneurs, workers and local communities. 

3. Thailand Academy of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts. The Policy Council approved the establishment of Thailand Academy of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts (TASSHA) under the framework of Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI). TASSHA will play a key role in Thailand’s research and innovation system, not only to support the knowledge creation in social sciences, humanities and arts but also to facilitate the exploitation of this knowledge to create economic and social value and provide solutions to national challenges. 

4. The 2021-2027 Higher Education Plan. The Policy Council endorsed the 2021-2027 Higher Education Plan to be subsequently submitted to the Cabinet. The 2021-2027 Higher Education Plan consists of three strategic platforms, namely Capacity Building, Research Ecosystem Building and Higher Education Transformation, all aiming to create an ecosystem for a lifelong learning for Thai people, reduce disparity in all aspects, develop quality manpower to support Thailand to become a developed country and resilient to change. This plan will provide a framework for higher education institutes to design programs, activities and implementation plans and budget allocation.