Analyzing the grant approval rate of Mahidol University granted by the Strategic Fund of the National Science, Research and Innovation Fund during the fiscal years 2021 to 2023

Abstract

            Mahidol University (MU) aims to be a World Class University. Therefore, MU has established a strategic plan and set research strategies as the first strategic goal. This is to create mechanisms that will drive high-quality research, internationally recognized, and to create knowledge-based innovations that will generate commercial benefits. This study aimed to analyze the grant approval rate of research projects on the Strategic Fund (SF) that was submitted by MU and funded by the Research and Innovation Fund or NSRF through the Project Management Units (PMUs) during the fiscal year 2021-2023, considered in two dimensions (PMUs and Faculties).

            Findings from the analysis revealed that, in the PMUs dimension, university has submitted proposals the most to National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), with 825 projects (50.77% of the number of research project proposals submitted by the university) and has approved the most funding from NRCT, with 282 projects (49.47% of the number of research projects that the university has been funded from PMUs). The grant approval rate of university, in terms of the dimensions of PMUs, was divided into 2 groups: 1) Moderate grant approval rate group including HSRI, PMUC, ARDA, NRCT and PMUB 2) Quite low grant approval rate group including PMUA.

Regarding dimensions of Faculties, From 33 Faculties, The Faculty of Science had the most submitted research project proposals and received the highest number funded research projects from PMUs, with a total of 285 projects (17.54% of the number of research project proposals submitted by the faculties) and 114 projects (20.00% of the number of research projects that the faculties has been funded from PMUs), respectively. In addition, The grant approval rate of faculties was divided into
4 groups: 1) Increasing approval rate group with 2 faculties 2) Fluctuating approval rate group with 23 faculties 3) Decreasing approval rate group with 4 faculties 4) Zero approval rate group with 4 faculties.