Abstract:
The objectives of this study were 1) to assess the priority needs in the academic management of schools in Ratchaburi area 2 consortium based on the concept of cross cultural skills and 2) to propose approaches for developing academic management of schools in Ratchaburi area 2 consortium based on the concept of cross cultural skills. The total number of sampled respondents was 231, involving 5 school directors, 11 vice directors, 48 heads of departments and 167 teachers. The research instruments were a rating-scaled questionnaire about approaches for developing academic management of schools in Ratchaburi area 2 consortium based on the concept of cross cultural skills and evaluation form to testify appropriateness and feasibility of approaches. The data were analyzed by frequency distribution, percentage, mean, standard deviation, PNI modified, mode and content analysis. The findings showed that: 1) overall, the current and desirable states of academic management of schools in Ratchaburi area 2 consortium based on the concept of cross cultural skill were at a medium level (X=2.85) and the highest level (X=4.56), respectively. On the part of academic management, the first priority was the developing a school curriculum (PNI [modified] = 0.61), the second was instructional media and learning resources (PNI [modified] = 0.60), the third was instructional management (PNI [modified] = 0.593) and the last was measurement and evaluation (PNI [modified] = 0.588). On the part of cross cultural skills, The first priority was the diversity working group (PNI [modified] = 0.603), the second was dealing with ambiguity and changing (PNI [modified] = 0.60), the third was respecting cultural differences (PNI [modified] = 0.597) and the last was cross cultural communication (PNI [modified] = 0.595) 2) There were four approaches for develolping academic management of schools in Ratchaburi area 2 consortium based on the concept of cross cultural skills. The approaches sorted by priority needs index were (1) Reforming the assessment system for school curriculum on ambiguity and change management skills in cross cultural behavioral expression, (2) Develop instructional media that encourage learners to have diverse teamwork skill, (3) Develop a learning environment that focuses on diverse teamwork skill, and (4) Transforming learning measurement and evaluation that focuses on diverse teamwork skill.