A Perspective on Non-formal Education for Social Development: A Case Study of A Doctor of Philosophy Program

Abstract

A Perspective on Non-formal Education for Social Development: A Case Study of A Doctor of Philosophy Program

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the program of Doctor of Philosophy: Non-formal Education for Social Development in Department of Vocational Education, Faculty of Education, Kasetsart University. The study was conducted following the mixed research method where the data were drawn quantitatively from students and faculty members in the program through an opinion questionnaire and qualitatively from the students and faculty members in the program and external experts through interviews. The quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics in terms of frequency, percentage and arithmetic mean. Thus as for data analysis, the qualitative data were analyzed through data verification, data validity and reliability and elaborately written record of the interviews and finally they were summarized, edited and presented in a form of a descriptive report.

Findings were as follows: Both students and faculty members were satisfied at the high level with all elements of the input, including the Program, lecturers, students, learning and instruction process, and learning outcome according to the five-dimension standard: 1) dimension of intelligence 2) dimension of knowledge content 3) dimension of interpersonal relation skills and responsibility 4) dimension of morality and ethics, and 5) dimension of numerical and critical thinking, communication and information technology skills. As for the recommendations, they were as follows: Not only should more new courses in the Program be opened but also should those curricular supplementary activities to enhance knowledge skills and direct experiences according to the education of the 21^st century and readiness to enter ASEAN Economic Community be done.