Mahidol University has established a policy aimed at developing an efficient organizational management system in accordance with principles of good governance to ensure sustainable organizational management. This initiative is part of the university’s goal to become a leading global institution (World Class University). The university also participates in the Integrity & Transparency Assessment (ITA) of government agencies, conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), to advance its governance system and ensure the successful and effective execution of the ITA assessment at Mahidol University. Consequently, the university has outlined its vision, mission, and strategic objectives as follows:

VISION

Mahidol University is transparent and anti-corruption

MISSION

(1) Rising a culture of honesty

(2) Effective prevention of corruption

(3) Effective suppression of corruption

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

To be the “Zero Corruption University”

(1) Promote the honest core value

(2) Develop an effective anti-corruption system

(3) Effectively suppress corruption

The university is advancing its governance system as outlined in Mahidol University’s 20-Year Strategic Plan (2018-2037), specifically under Strategy 4.2:Management for Self-Sufficiency and Sustainable Organization. The strategic objective is to establish a robust governance system within the university. It mandates that all university departments operate within the governance framework. To ensure the achievement of Mahidol University’s strategic objectives, a Governance Steering Committee has been established to propose policies, implement measures, and oversee the system and operations related to the Integrity and Transparency Assessment of Mahidol University. This initiative aligns with the university’s governance principles.

Mahidol university has established a risk management framework that outlines the relationship between risk management and the university’s strategy. This framework connects the university’s vision, mission, strategies, and goals, integrating internal risk management from the university level down to individual departments (Top-Down) and from the department level up to the university (Bottom-Up). It encompasses five key types of risks: Strategic Risk, Operational Risk, Financial Risk, Compliance Risk, and Fraud Risk.

Regarding Fraud Risk, an evaluation is conducted to prevent fraud by assessing the publication of up-to-date information on the department’s website. This ensures public transparency of departmental operations on two key issues:

• Actions to prevent fraud, including a no-gift policy, risk assessment for fraud prevention, and an action plan to prevent fraud.
• Measures to promote ethics and transparency, such as measures to uphold ethical standards, and promote transparency and prevent fraud within the department. These published actions demonstrate the importance placed on evaluations, leading to the development of transparency-promoting measures within the department, with oversight to ensure practical implementation.

Mahidol University has continuously engaged in governance-promoting activities to achieve the objectives outlined in its strategic plan, such as:

• Developing Mahidol University’s Anti-Corruption and Prevention Plan, which serves as a guideline for anti-corruption efforts. The plan addresses all stages, from upstream (instilling honest values), midstream (developing systems to prevent corruption), to downstream (prosecuting corrupt individuals). In 2023, the university expanded governance development to departments and affiliated units by using the Integrity and Transparency Assessment (ITA) criteria, which prompted departments to create their own anti-corruption plans. This, in turn, enhanced the university's overall effectiveness and efficiency in preventing and combating corruption.
• Establishing various committees, including:
  • The Committee for Legal Review and Opinions, which examines and provides feedback on university regulations and announcements before they are submitted to the University Council for approval. This committee also reviews legal issues related to governance for Council consideration.
  • The Committee on Governance and Ethics, which promotes and provides opinions on governance practices within the university. This committee is tasked with organizing and systematizing ethics, discipline, and codes of conduct to ensure efficiency and avoid overlap in standards and mechanisms for promoting, monitoring, and enforcing ethical practices.
  • The Governance System Steering Committee, which recommends policies, mechanisms, and systems for driving governance initiatives within Mahidol University, oversees their implementation, and ensures compliance with the university’s strategic objectives in promoting governance.
  • The Ethics and Discipline Committee is responsible for maintaining ethics and discipline to ensure that personnel management at Mahidol University is efficient and in accordance with the Mahidol University Personnel Management Regulations, B.E. 2551, and its subsequent amendments.
  • The Appeals and Grievances Committee of Mahidol University is tasked with handling personnel appeals and grievances in compliance with the Mahidol University Appeals and Grievances Regulations, B.E. 2552, and its amendments.
  • The Complaints Review and Decision Committee is responsible for reviewing, adjudicating, and managing complaints in accordance with the principles of good governance, ensuring transparency, integrity, and ethical conduct in the university's operations. The process follows Mahidol University's announcement on Complaint Management Guidelines, B.E. 2560, and its amendments. This includes procedures for managing general complaints or complaints related to corruption, through both online and traditional channels, such as suggestion boxes and postal mail.
• Providing opportunities for stakeholders or those affected, including individuals, communities, society, and the public, to participate in the university’s mission is crucial. This participation includes collecting feedback through surveys, receiving suggestions from various channels for improving and enhancing operations or services, fostering collaborations or building cooperative networks, and involving stakeholders as members of committees or working groups for specific projects.
• Guidelines for assessing integrity and transparency in the operations of university units have been established. This involves adopting the criteria from the Open Data Integrity and Transparency Assessment (OIT) framework used by government agencies, specifically focusing on public data disclosure. The assessment is aimed at measuring the level of integrity and transparency in operations, and these results are incorporated into performance agreements of each unit. The units are required to report their activities as defined by the university, which include public data disclosure (OIT) at both the university and unit levels. This covers areas such as basic information, administration, procurement, human resource management and development, transparency promotion, anti-corruption measures, and standards for promoting integrity and transparency.
• The university has also announced a "No Gift Policy" to promote the organizational value of “I Integrity: Upholding Morality,” establishing it as a positive organizational culture. Under this policy, all personnel are prohibited from accepting any gifts or gratuities in the course of their duties. They are also forbidden from giving gifts, gratuities, or other benefits to external parties who engage with the university, and they must not seek to obtain unlawful gifts or benefits. This policy aims to reduce corruption and misconduct. Exceptions may be made for customary, traditional, or cultural exchanges of gifts, provided the value does not exceed 3,000 baht. Alternatively, greeting cards, condolence cards, or social media platforms may be used in place of physical gifts.
• The university has declared its commitment to integrity in administration, emphasizing the importance of preventing and combating corruption and misconduct among staff at all levels. This declaration ensures that the public is aware of the university administration's dedication to operating with honesty, transparency, accountability, and ethical responsibility towards individuals, the organization, society, and the nation.

• The guidelines for evaluating integrity and transparency in the operations of organizational units are established by utilizing the "Integrity and Transparency Assessment Handbook for Government Agencies". This tool comprehensively collects data from multiple dimensions and outlines evaluation methodologies that adhere to statistical and academic principles, ensuring that the assessment results accurately reflect the organization’s health in terms of integrity and transparency. Data is collected from three key areas:

  • Internal Integrity and Transparency Assessment (IIT): This assessment allows all public sector personnel who have been employed for at least one year to express their opinions on the integrity and transparency of their respective units. The survey collects their perceptions and feedback on these aspects.

  • External Integrity and Transparency Assessment (EIT): This survey offers service recipients or individuals interacting with government agencies the opportunity to reflect and provide feedback on the operations of these agencies by gathering their perceptions and opinions.

  • Open Data Integrity and Transparency Assessment (OIT): This assessment measures the level of data disclosure by government agencies through a review of the information published on their official websites.

• In addition, the university engages in activities that promote participation, including announcing the involvement of stakeholders and reporting on the opportunities provided for external parties to participate in the operations of Mahidol University.

• Annual Activities Promoting Good Governance for the Fiscal Year:

  • Projects for 2024 include:

    • A lecture for university executives on submitting asset and liability declarations to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).
    • A training session titled “How to Run Projects Free from Corruption,” aimed at building knowledge and understanding of regulations, principles, and financial disbursement procedures to ensure proper, efficient execution and prevent corruption.
    • An online lecture on “Ethics for Executives” for Mahidol University’s management team and unit leaders.
    • The "One Right, One Voice" student project, which encourages students to participate in the development of the university in terms of integrity and transparency in public sector operations (Mahidol University). This initiative aims to educate students on the principles and value of good governance, involving them in creating policies and operational guidelines that promote integrity and transparency
    • The meeting to explain the guidelines for the Integrity and Transparency Assessment (ITA)  at Mahidol University, along with the workshop aimed at improving ITA evaluation scores  , focused on key topics such as development strategies for internal stakeholders (IIT), external stakeholders (EIT), and public data disclosure (OIT). The workshop was attended by unit executives, responsible officers, and relevant staff, providing them with ITA assessment tools to enhance transparency, promote integrity, and support the efficient and effective execution of their organizational missions
         

  • Projects for 2023 include:

    • An ethics seminar titled “Ethics for University Personnel” to support the university’s vision and mission by developing personnel in multiple dimensions, including knowledge, skills, competencies, as well as integrity and ethics, ensuring staff are well-rounded, knowledgeable, capable, and ethical, aligning with the university’s core values.
    • Activities involving internal stakeholder participation through IIT surveys and external stakeholder participation through EIT surveys by students, reflecting on the operations of public sector units regarding integrity and transparency. These activities aim to promote the university’s long-term good governance by utilizing the ITA evaluation tools.
    • The 24th Mahidol University Committee Meeting (2022), where the university’s No Gift Policy was issued to executives, department heads, and staff, emphasizing the prohibition of gifts and gratuities in the course of official duties.
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  • Projects for 2022 include:

    • A legal training program on “Regulations Concerning the Tort Liability of Officials.”
    • A workshop seminar to monitor and promote integrity and transparency in operations, aligning with Mahidol University’s governance strategy.
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Mahidol University has also developed staff in various dimensions, such as knowledge, skills, competencies, and ethical standards, aligning with the university's core values. To this end, the university has established Mahidol University Code of Ethics of 2021. This code applies to the university’s president, council members, administrators, staff, and students, as well as individuals involved in Mahidol University’s mission. It aims to set a high standard of ethical behavior, dignity, and respectability, recognized and appreciated by the public. As part of its effort to promote these values, the university has incorporated training on "Mahidol Core Values" into its staff orientation programs, with Integrity being a key value representing the steadfastness in moral principles.