A Model for Development of Counseling Centers in Thai Higher Education to Improve Student Services

Abstract

In Thailand, college counseling centers (CCCs) are nascent. This research aimed to develop a model for the CCC in the context of Thai higher education to improve student services, and it comprised four objectives. To achieve Objective One, to determine the current organizational structure and services offered by CCCs, three research methods were utilized. Standardized open- ended interviews were conducted with key experts in CCCs. Second, the webpage of each CCC was analyzed. Third, feedback was gathered from students who had previously used the services of their CCC. For Objective Two, to determine the current needs related to psychological counseling of students in Thai private universities and the significant services related to their needs, a students’ questionnaire was developed. The source of data was a random convenience sample of undergraduate students during the 2019/2020 academic year from seven private Thai universities, totaling 1,423 students. The questionnaire data was analyzed by standard linear multiple regression. For Objective Three, to determine students’ perceptions of CCC, six items on the questionnaire were used. For the final objective, the results of objectives one through three were synthesized to create a model for the CCC in the context of Thai higher education. The model is comprised of four domains: Leadership and Administration, Information, Services, and Accessibility (LISA). The model was validated by external experts. Among the key findings of this study were that
90% of students who had received counseling services believed that it had helped them academically, and that issues in academic performance and social relationships were the strongest predictors of students’ likelihood to seek counseling. This research is useful for Thai universities which are seeking to improve their student services by establishing a new CCC or enhancing the service of their current one.