Ministry of Higher Education Investigates Student Activity Credits at Prince of Songkla University

On August 18, 2026, Yotsanan Wongsawad, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), announced an investigation into a recent event held at the Faculty of Political Science, Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus. The event featured speakers from the People's Party and offered participating students three hours of activity credit.

According to Khaosod Online, the Minister stated he has instructed the Permanent Secretary of the MHESI to verify whether the event’s organization and the allocation of activity hours adhered to university regulations. While Yotsanan emphasized that freedom of thought is a fundamental right that cannot be restricted, he noted that the primary concern is procedural: specifically, whether linking political seminars to mandatory activity credits complies with established academic criteria.

For residents and observers, this investigation highlights the ongoing debate regarding the intersection of political discourse and academic requirements in Thai universities. The Minister clarified that while universities have the autonomy to host such discussions, the specific rules governing activity credits are overseen by university councils. It remains to be confirmed whether the university’s internal processes for this event were fully compliant with the Ministry’s standards. Further details are expected once the Ministry reviews the information provided by the institution.