one is conducting research, and the second is supplying academic services. Research outcomes generated by this Institute bring benefits to the Institution, to aqua culturists and other primary producers and specific private companies.
This Institute has 25 scientists who are specifically engaged as researchers, rather than academic lecturers, and around 125 support staff. Half of the 25 researchers are full-time workers whose main responsibilities are to do research, and to take care of and supply food for marine animals. Because some full time workers have to do other jobs as well as performing research; research only makes up 50-70 percent of their responsibilities.
Research in this institution has a heavy emphasis on quantitative methodologies using statistical analysis. Case eleven informed us that:
We do research about marine science in which statistics plays a very important role to measure difference: for instance, when we feed the animals, we need to compare the different quantity of foods that can make them grow well.
It is interesting to note that research is carried out in this Institute that the public may not generally be interested in, therefore, this research is changed in form to become articles that are more widely accessible. Case eleven said that
We try to encourage our staff to publish or present the outcomes in the forms of reports, manuscript and consultation to private companies or aqua culturists
As research is the main task for staff in the Institute of Marine Science, this Institution attempts to support staff in their research as much as possible. This includes the provision of basic and advanced facilities as well as expensive equipment needed, such as the equipment to measure water quality and the quantity of dissolved metals. The Institute of Marine Science has a specialized library, a computer lab, and a network system linked to the University database and outside sources of information. Although the Institute has not printed its own journal, this Institute has money to support staff to write publications and give presentations in both National and International conferences.
In spite of this well developed infrastructure, the Institute of Marine Science has a research productivity which is less than expected. Case eleven talked about many factors that impact on their research productivity. First, the financial regulations that request the collection of all financial evidence such as receipts and invoices. This is an arduous task for researchers, and our respondent suggested that the:
University should make regulation clearer and more convenient.
As an example, Case Eleven quoted this experience:
For instance, we do research about animals such as fish. When we purchase a fish, the University asks for the receipt. It is not possible for a fisherman to provide a receipt. When we asked them to fill out the form, they were not agreeable to this. If the regulation is the hindrance like this, we cannot use fish to do research.
A second factor is the lack of an experienced facilitator. Because the Research Development Centre has just been established, there is no appropriate person to act as coordinator, marketer, and administrator. Case eleven informed us that:
In other universities, they have research units that are responsible for research and development. The research unit acts as the coordinator between researchers and outside organizations. Facilitators can be the marketer who sells our research outcomes to the public. Facilitators should be the centre for providing research funding, it should not be the duty of researcher to make contact directly with the owner of the research funding. Moreover, facilitator should be responsible for managing financial documents because scientists don’t like to do accounting. I don’t have accounting skills.
Case eleven continued this explanation by adding that:
A Facilitator should be the source of basic information by providing a central database
about aqua culturists, biological technology and social. For instance, weather forecasts
In addition, it is the duty of the facilitator to evaluate the work progress and find the reasons why research may not be carried out.
Case Eleven said, further, that:
The problem may occur because researcher has a high workload. We have to do an assessment case by case. We cannot use the same standard to assess all people, especially comparing full-time staff with part-time staff as they have different job activities. Moreover, in the case of a staff member who hasn’t had any publication, we may examine other aspects of their work. They may make the Institution well-know in other ways, and we should give them some incentives rather than blame them.
Third, there is not enough International funding. This is possibly because of a lack of cooperation between the Institution and other organizations. Case eleven informed us that the majority of their research funds are derived from the Thai Research Fund Regional Office.
Fourth, Case eleven respondent has personally noticed that some Doctoral graduates still do not understand clearly what research entails. According to this observation, apparently:
Higher education sometimes doesn’t build a qualified researcher, as we have only ordinary researchers. We cannot assist them too much because they may not learn how to think by themselves. The real researcher must use their imagination, and know how to make their wishes become reality
Fifth, some researchers have language problems that cause them to lose chances to participate in International presentations or publish in overseas journals, and sixth, the majority of research in Thailand is required to be finished within one year, but research into technological development is very hard to finish within such a short time frame. Seventh, the University appears to place too much emphasis on publications rather than examining how to utilize research results.
Lastly, it has been observed that young lecturers are currently being promoted to be administrators rather than to a senior research post. In this
situation, they lose their chance to do significant research because of the limited time they spend in the research position. This is mirrored by the case of senior researchers who are being asked to do an administration job, as a result they have no time to do research and therefore, have many unfinished projects.
At the Institute of Marine Science, research is one of their most important tasks. Research outcomes bring valuable benefits to the Institution and to the community generally. The Institute has high research productivity because the staff are experienced scientists who conduct research as their main duty.
Case eleven stated that this Institute attempts to support staff in their research as much as possible. There is plenty of provision of basic and advanced facilities as well as expensive research equipment. The Institute has a specialized library, a computer laboratory and a network database linking the Institute to other Universities and other Institutions.