Abstract:
The objectives of this research were to : 1) study the learning process of becoming a learning organization of higher education institutions; 2) study the factors promoting the principles of develop a learning organization, and 3) to propose the means to develop the university to be a learning organization. Both survey research by using questionnaires and case study. The cases studies of the School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkuts University of Technology Thonburi and Contemplative Education Center, Mahidol University. The results of the research were as follows : 1) the promotion of principles of four groups was in a high level and it was also found that the individual promotion and the university student organizational promotion of the Faculty of School of Energy, Environment and materials was higher than the rest, i.e. the intelligence of a person, thinking method and systematic thinking. The personnel of Contemplative Education Center, Mahidol University had higher individual and organizational promotion than those of King Mongkuts University of Technology Thonburi; 2) the personnel of both organizations had precise and distinctive vision, mission, policy and strategy and these two organizations had activities and transparent evaluation. As for the structure of organization, communication and management, it was found that School of Energy, Environment and Materials had reconstructed the organization to be command line short and concise. The communication technology was also applied among the personnel to send information more quickly for decision-making. In view of organizational culture, it was found that the this organization emphasized on leadership who could participate in the facultys activities, a role model for trust and share and exchange knowledge through good communication. The environment of the organization was open. In fact, the organizations which were established for a long time normally took time to change and adjust themselves to the new environment. The School of Energy, Environment and Materials had lecturers and retired administrators work as consultants for the faculty. Contemplative Education Center, Mahidol University had prestigious lectures work as consultants for the organization and use dialogue. These lecturers also communicated with the personnel in the faculty to develop them to have skills in problem-solving and learn how to work as a team through motivation system and to have open mind and expand their abilities. The School of Energy, Environment and Materials worked professionally in research and field work with the division of production and together as a team work. Contemplative Education Center, Mahidol University had a workshop for personnel in an administration level to develop leadership and learning team. The organization also had a training about a participatory research for the personnel in the organization and interested people as well 3) The university could develop into a learning organization by applying 5 methods of principle development. The reconstruction of the organization to be in consistent with learning system and organizational culture of each university, potential development and ability development primarily depended on learning foundation, for example, setting appropriate strategy for work, setting clear agenda, developing personnel in an administration level to understand their roles in a learning organization, giving a chance to everyone to learn the development, the effects from changes and evaluation to improve their work.