The Office of Academic Service advances public sector accountability by empowering regional school executives and educational directors with statutory knowledge and procurement guardrails.
The Office of Academic Service at Khon Kaen University (KKU), with financial support from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Fund, has advanced its commitment to transparency within public sector agencies by organising the second edition of the training programme titled “Network Creation and Knowledge Promotion for Preventing Procurement Corruption in Educational Institutions”. Held from 17 to 19 June 2026 at the Sima Thani Hotel in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, the initiative brought together over 108 school executives, directors of educational service area offices, and relevant personnel to exchange institutional insights and build regulatory frameworks.
On this occasion, Associate Professor Supasit Konkhai, Ph.D., Deputy Director for Strategic Drive and Digital at the KKU Office of Academic Service, delivered the welcoming address. He underscored the core purpose of the project, stating that procurement operations within educational institutions are critical tasks that demand maximum diligence. He noted that administrators and operational officers must thoroughly comprehend regulatory procedures to eliminate errors arising from routine practices, such as delegating official inspection and acceptance duties to unauthorised personnel. Associate Professor Konkhai emphasised that if procedural flaws occur, the direct legal liability falls upon the procurement officers. Consequently, this project was established to reinforce statutory knowledge, define correct operational boundaries, and guarantee procedural safety for educational personnel. Concurrently, Flying Officer Tinnakorn Phutotham, Ph.D., Director of the Secondary Educational Service Area Office Nakhon Ratchasima, was also in attendance to welcome the guest speakers and participants.
The three-day workshop delivered comprehensive knowledge from national oversight and regulatory authorities, featuring expert speakers from three primary state auditing bodies:
The State Audit Office (SAO): Mr Thanapol Komarakul Na Nakorn, Deputy Auditor General of the State Audit Office, delivered a lecture focusing on SAO inspection protocols, executive roles and liabilities, corruption risk case studies, and the State Fiscal and Financial Discipline Act C.E. 2018.
The Comptroller General’s Department: Mr Somsak Phusakul, former Deputy Director-General of the Comptroller General’s Department, provided in-depth insights into public procurement processes mandated by the Government Procurement and Supplies Management Act C.E. 2017. His session comprehensively covered the drafting of Terms of Reference (TOR), the calculation of reference prices, the utilization of the electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system, contract management techniques, and property inspection protocols.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC): Mr Noppawon Sitthisabai, Director of the Operations Group and Acting Director of the NACC Provincial Office in Nakhon Ratchasima, led a team of specialists in conducting interactive workshops. These sessions focused on extracting institutional lessons to design anti-corruption measures and formulate concrete Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) tailored to educational contexts.
Participants expressed an absolute commitment to integrating this specialized knowledge into their respective administrative workflows. Mr Wisarut Thaeprasatsit, Director of the Thepharak District Centre for Promoting Lifelong Learning, remarked that receiving direct clarity on regulations from the three supervisory bodies was exceptionally beneficial for improving and securing internal workflows. Miss Supaluk Bandasak, Director of Phimai Damrong Witthayakom School, stated that the clear guidelines would enable her to supervise procurement staff effectively in strict accordance with statutory requirements. Meanwhile, Mr Ruangrith Hitapitanant, Director of Laemthong Phadungwit School, indicated plans to utilize the workshop insights to establish Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) with school personnel, ensuring that budgetary and supply practices align completely with current legislation.
This training project directly supports Khon Kaen University’s management strategy regarding Creating Shared Value (CSV) and driving institutional operations through Good Governance. Furthermore, the initiative advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), which prioritises the development of effective, accountable, and transparent institutions while systematically reducing corruption.
The KKU Office of Academic Service envisions that this training series will significantly enhance the capacity of educational personnel to manage state budgets efficiently and transparently. Ultimately, this forum marks a vital milestone in cultivating a sustainable, interconnected “Transparent and Corruption-Free Educational Network” across the region.
