“Salary, position allowance, professional allowance, funds, support, welfare fund, food reserves, agricultural practices within the area, delivery of produce, and charitable water provision without charge on appropriate occasions or situations” are methods of compensation, support, and protection against hunger that RMUTL (Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna) has consistently chosen to implement comprehensively. This approach considers Thailand’s cost-of-living context, which can fluctuate with changing economic and social factors. Generally, basic living expenses in Thailand are relatively low compared to developed countries, so RMUTL has determined that appropriate salary rates and other forms of compensation can support a quality life, covering basic needs such as food, housing, and utilities. Furthermore, the salary structure reflects the university’s commitment to staff development, with higher compensation rates based on educational level, experience, and the value of contributions to society as a whole.
As previously explained, information has been shared and definitions harmonized to foster a universal understanding of extreme poverty: “Eradicating extreme poverty for all people everywhere by 2030 is a pivotal goal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Extreme poverty, defined as surviving on less than $2.15 per person per day at 2017 purchasing power parity, has witnessed remarkable declines over recent decades.”
It is also believed that Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, as well as universities across Thailand, have long since enabled their personnel to rise far beyond the threshold of “extreme poverty.”
When considering and analyzing the compensation rates of personnel working at RMUTL (Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna), it becomes evident that the institution has demonstrated a clear commitment to improving the quality of life for its personnel, aiming to lift them out of extreme poverty as defined by the United Nations, which is set at an income below USD 2.15 per day (approximately THB 75 per day or THB 2,250 per month, based on the exchange rate as of October 31, 2024). Moreover, when examining the university’s salary structure, it is found that personnel at all education levels and employment types receive compensation significantly above the extreme poverty threshold. Even the lowest-paid positions receive a salary of THB 7,000 per month, which is more than three times the extreme poverty threshold, while the majority of personnel earn salaries in the range of THB 15,000–45,000, exceeding this threshold by 6 to 20 times.
And especially when considering in-depth the advancement in work performance through self-development, as analyzed from the announcement by Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna regarding employee wages in higher education institutions in 2022, as shown in Figure 1, it further reflects the organization’s commitment to continuously and systematically improving the quality of life for its staff. The university has adjusted the wage structure to align with changing economic conditions and the cost of living. However, staff are also expected to actively engage in self-development alongside supporting the university’s balanced growth in all dimensions. Therefore, wage rates are set based on educational level and experience. For example, the starting rate for instructors with a master’s degree is 24,000 baht, and 31,500 baht for those with a doctoral degree, with potential growth up to a maximum of 29,760 baht. Additionally, there is a clear career advancement path in the academic field, from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor to Professor, with a maximum compensation rate of 122,440 baht. For academic support positions, the university has set up a compensation system that reflects expertise and experience, divided into levels from operational to specialized. Suitable wage rates are also set according to educational qualifications, such as a starting rate of 21,000 baht for a bachelor’s degree, 24,500 baht for a master’s degree, and 29,400 baht for a doctoral degree. These are examples of how the university demonstrates its commitment to developing the potential of its staff while also improving compensation.
The criteria for special performance- and ability-based compensation are designed to motivate staff to develop themselves and produce work that benefits the organization. Additionally, the university has specified a calculation for salary increments based on the base salary of government employees, with a 60% increase for academic positions and a 40% increase for specific professional positions. This reflects an effort to maintain competitive and fair compensation standards. Overall, the average monthly salary for most personnel ranges from 24,000-45,000 baht, or approximately 685.7-1,285.7 USD per month (22.9-42.9 USD per day). This indicates that university personnel earn, on average, 10.6-19.9 times above the extreme poverty threshold, underscoring the university’s commitment to providing compensation that supports a quality standard of living and enables personnel to escape severe poverty securely.
Another example in the process of preventing and alleviating hunger for personnel can be considered in a document detailing the support for travel expenses for personnel undertaking official duties, both within Thailand and abroad, at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna. This document reflects a comprehensive and fair support system for personnel, including clearly defined and appropriate expense rates based on travel type. It covers allowances, accommodation, and transportation costs with thorough consideration. For instance, the daily allowance for domestic travel is set at 240 THB per day, while the maximum allowance for international travel is capped at 60,000 THB.
“Travel within the country to other provinces is limited to 20,000 baht, reflecting a reasonable and sufficient allocation of the budget, which does not yet include education funding that comprehensively covers all aspects as required by the province or country. This is to ensure that personnel can perform their duties effectively and receive appropriate benefits, ultimately contributing to sustainable development of work and the organization.”
In addition to fair and sufficient compensation policies for personnel, the Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna prioritizes its staff through comprehensive monitoring, preventive, and hunger-alleviation measures. These mechanisms are shared with those for student care, under the principle that “Everyone is part of the RMUTL community, and we are one family.” For risk monitoring and early warning, the university has assigned the central and faculty/college-level Personnel Administration Divisions to oversee, monitor, and analyze data to identify groups at risk of food insecurity. They use multidimensional indicators such as disaster situations in the area, health and chronic illness records from annual health checks, financial status, and requests for assistance from various funds.
The university provides basic welfare that ensures financial and food security for personnel through a provident fund, social security, and a savings cooperative. Additionally, all six campuses across the provinces serve as “planting areas for vegetables, rice, and fruits” and “livestock farming areas.” These activities generate produce or food supplies for staff, students, and the community, contributing to the university’s role as a “Food Reserve Center” and “Food Bank” for regular consumption or emergency preparedness.
This readiness ensures that food is available for individuals—students, staff, community members, refugees, migrants—and collective emergencies. The university also becomes a significant supply source through various activities, such as preparing food or supplying ingredients for canteens, organizing meal services, and storing food in shared “kindness pantries” across campuses. These contain dry foods, ready-to-cook, and ready-to-eat meals, as well as basic cooking ingredients. This aimed at alleviating and preventing hunger sustainably for everyone while taking care of nature and the environment, as our survival depends on nature’s well-being. Additionally, Mahanakorn University of Technology promotes self-sufficiency in food by allocating agricultural areas for personnel and providing seeds, agricultural equipment, and knowledge on organic farming. This enables personnel to cultivate vegetables and fruits for consumption, which not only helps reduce food costs but also encourages the sharing of produce within the university community.
Regarding access to clean water, the university has invested in essential infrastructure, including a drinking water production plant using Hydro Pure technology, mobile drinking water production vehicles, and drinking water service points distributed throughout the area, ensuring that all personnel have sufficient access to clean drinking water. Furthermore, the university has established partnerships with local restaurant operators to regulate food prices reasonably and jointly prepare quality meals for those in need.
The university has also built a collaborative network with external partners, including government agencies, the private sector, and civil society, to pool resources and expertise to address personnel hunger issues sustainably. By systematically integrating various measures, the university can effectively prevent and alleviate hunger among personnel while fostering a culture of sharing and generosity within the university community, which is a crucial foundation for sustainable development.
These management methods aim not only to achieve sustainable development goals related to eradicating extreme poverty but also to significantly support personnel in having a quality of life that exceeds the established minimum standards.
In 2023, “RMUTL makes a strong effort to ensure its staff are well-fed and free from hunger during every activity, such as sports competitions, meetings, seminars, training sessions, traditional events, or special occasions. Throughout the year, there are between 20 and 80 events or days where RMUTL staff can access high-quality meals, especially lunch, free of charge. Additionally, within the university grounds, designated areas are set up for food vendors to sell meals at special rates, which are 10-40% cheaper than outside or standard prices. The university also offers various food options, such as vegetarian, vegan, halal, or customized freshly-prepared meals that are nutritious, safe, and adhere to religious, cultural, and dietary guidelines.”
