Suan Dusit University (SDU) places strong emphasis on promoting labor rights and employee participation within the institution—key components of Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8), which advocates for “Decent Work and Inclusive Economic Growth.” In particular, the university upholds the right to association and participation as an essential mechanism for ensuring transparency, fostering good governance, and strengthening cooperation across all organizational levels.
To give this right a clear and enforceable foundation, SDU established an internal framework through the University Regulation on the Faculty and Staff Council B.E. 2558 (2015) This regulation reflects the university’s commitment to respecting labor rights and employee participation at the institutional level. Officially enacted on 28 July 2015, the regulation created the Faculty and Staff Council as an internal body representing all employees—both academic and administrative—in providing opinions, recommendations, and consultation on matters concerning human-resource management and staff welfare.
เปิดหน้าข้อบังคับมหาวิทยาลัยสวนดุสิตว่าด้วย สภาคณาจารย์และพนักงาน พ.ศ. 2558 ตามลิงค์
https://sdulaw.dusit.ac.th/app/files/regular/kobangkabmhaawithyaalayswndusit-waadwysphaaknaajaaryaelaphnakngaan-phs-2558
According to the Regulation of Suan Dusit University on the Council of Faculty and Staff, B.E. 2558 (2015), Chapter 1, Article 5, the Council of Faculty and Staff consists of nineteen (19) members, comprising representatives from both academic staff and administrative staff. Each group must have at least eight (8) representatives, all of whom are elected directly by the university’s faculty and staff.
This structure ensures transparency, fairness, and autonomy in the council’s composition and operations. The election-based representation reflects the voices and collective participation of all personnel groups—academic and supporting—within the university. It also underscores Suan Dusit University’s commitment to promoting labour rights, equality, and participatory governance in institutional management.
The regulation also establishes the positions of President, Vice-President, and Secretary, responsible for internal administration and coordination with other university bodies. The Council is authorized to convene meetings, deliberate, and provide opinions or recommendations to the University Council and administration on matters related to organizational development—particularly in personnel management, staff well-being, and employee welfare, which are critical for ensuring equality and quality of work life within the institution.
In addition to its formal duties under the regulation, the Faculty and Staff Council actively promotes quality of life and cooperation among staff through various initiatives. In 2024 (B.E. 2567), the Council implemented several key projects reflecting its proactive role in institutional development, including:
- Training on Integrity and Transparency Assessment (ITA) for university personnel (1 February 2024);
- Knowledge-sharing workshop to support the contract renewal process for supporting staff (5 March 2024);
- Well-being and Safety Enhancement Program, featuring the SDU Unity Sports Event 2024 (29 April – 1 July 2024), designed to promote teamwork, happiness, and workplace safety among the university community.
🔗 Faculty and Staff Council – Highlighted Projects and Activities (Fiscal Year 2024)
These activities are publicly presented on the Faculty and Staff Council’s official website, which serves as the main communication platform for disseminating operational information and promoting transparency.
The Council’s operations clearly demonstrate that it functions not merely as a statutory mechanism but as a meaningful platform for staff engagement and collaboration. Its work aligns with the principles of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining, as well as the concept of Collective Participation within educational institutions.
The publication of both the official regulation and Council activities on the university’s public websites serves as concrete policy and practice evidence of SDU’s internal governance and commitment to transparency. This approach is consistent with the intent of SDG 8, which aims to foster fair working environments, uphold labor rights, and strengthen cooperation between employees and management in the workplace.
Accordingly, the University Regulation on the Faculty and Staff Council B.E. 2558 (2015) and the Council’s ongoing activities in Fiscal Year 2024 serve as key evidence of Suan Dusit University’s commitment to equitable, transparent, and participatory human-resource governance—foundations of Decent Work as envisioned under Sustainable Development Goal 8.
References
University Regulation on the Faculty and Staff Council B.E. 2558 (2015) – Enacted 28 July 2015