Abstract:
This study aims to 1. assess the satisfaction of the academic staff at the Faculty of Political Science and Law, Burapha University in the process of obtaining academic positions, 2. analyze problems and challenges in the process of obtaining academic positions at the Faculty of Political Science and Law, Burapha University and 3. provide suggestions for improving the access to academic positions for the academic staff at the Faculty of Political Science and Law, Burapha University. The target population was 44 full-time lecturers at the Faculty of Political Science and Law. Data was collected by the questionnaires and analyzed by statistics. The result of the study showed that overall, the academic staff was satisfied with the process of obtaining academic positions. In the category of appointing the teaching-evaluation committees received the highest score for its appropriate and prompt response, the teaching evaluation and documentation received a similar score, followed by the consultation services and publication, documentation evaluation, and the appointment of the academic committees, the appropriateness of the timeframe for applying for academic position. The significant factors which facilitated access to academic positions for the academic staff ranged from highest to lowest: faculty, university and individual. The suggestions for improving access to academic positions were 1. Time must be allocated for the academic staff to develop their academic publications 2. Follow-ups must be made regarding documentation and journals in the fields of the academic staff 3. Sufficient funds must be allocated 4. Examples of successful applications for academic positions should be provided for the academic staff and 5. The faculty's library should update both Thai and international textbooks and journals.