抄録
The structural shift in Thailand’s External Quality Assurance（ EQA） occurred in 2019 with the enactment of the Higher Education Act of 2019 by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation （MHESI）. The Act provides Thai higher education institutions （HEIs） with the autonomy to voluntarily select to receive external quality assessments through various systems. In this context, the Act has introduced challenges for the Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment （ONESQA） as the external quality assurance body, prompting it to further strengthen its EQA framework, procedures, and strategies to ensure an effective system that aligns with the evolving landscape. Additionally, this would lead to the development of a more diverse EQA framework for HEIs that meets international standards. Currently, various internal and external factors are influencing the quality of Thai higher education, including the need to improve the standards of HEIs and graduates domestically. Moreover, the challenges posed by globalization and the impact of ASEAN integration, particularly in terms of cross-border
education and the movement of students and graduates, further emphasize the necessity of ensuring the quality of higher education.
In 2021, ONESQA has had the opportunity to engage in the expansion of the International Joint Accreditation Standards concept known as “iJAS” which was originally developed and implemented by the Japan University Accreditation Association（ JUAA） and the Taiwan Assessment and Evaluation Association（ TWAEA）, three of whom have been long-standing partners. In doing so, EQA is extended into a new dimension, signifying a paradigm shift toward joint accreditation as an alternative assessment model in Thailand. This transformation will serve as a significant gateway of opportunity for Thai higher education to reach international standards and support the future of cross-border higher education and transnational education.
