PUBLISHED: 8 Jan 2025 at 05: 07
Siam University will face legal action from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation ( MHESI) if it does not cooperate with a Chinese executive who is accused of carrying out a contentious volunteer police training program for Chinese citizens without the university’s permission.
MinisterSupamas Isarabhakdisaid on Tuesday that the university has already affirmed that it had no involvement in, or knowledge of, the programme and did not collect any fees, but the course was promoted using the university’s logo, which is a violation of the Private Higher Education Institutions Act BE 2546 (2003).
Last year, a Chinese executive made the revelation that he had planned the training program and had charged Chinese individuals 38, 000 baht each. The training was attended by more than 20 individuals. The school denied presence and asserted that it was a person’s deed.
The secretary emphasized that if the school didn’t report a problem, the government would move in and bring expenses against it.
Because there is no need to wait, the school may move the process as quickly as possible or within one to two weeks. We are all waiting for an answer”, she said.
She explained to the government that the school had informed the government that it was a one-time program, and that a disciplinary council should be established to investigate the Taiwanese executive. Its results might lead to a warning, pay calculation, or even a contract termination.
However, Siam University President Pornchai Mongkhonvanit claimed that the institution was the victim and did not participate in the program.
He claimed that the organization formed a fact-finding commission on January 3 after receiving the report on the contentious program held from December 25 through December 27. According to its findings, the voluntary police training program was run by an outsider with knowledge of various parties, including Metropolitan Police Bureau 3 police officers.
Li Zhang, Assistant to the President for International Activities of Siam University, was the planner. The job was never approved by the school, he said.
He said Mr Li even signed the letter presumably from the school, which, if true, should have been signed by the president or an assigned people. The training program did not provide any financial support to the school.