The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation has issued a directive allowing professors and researchers to transfer and work across different agencies while maintaining continuous service years. This change does not affect their rights, benefits, or career advancement, and it encourages building networks to further develop research.
On 25 July 2026, Second Lieutenant Phattharadasmi Thongsaluaykorn, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the government, through the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, has issued a ministerial announcement titled 'Personnel Mobility and Exchange Guidelines 2026' to facilitate professors, researchers, and affiliated personnel in transferring or exchanging work more flexibly between higher education institutions or other agencies.
This announcement was signed on 17 July 2026 and became effective the day after its publication in the Government Gazette. It aims to promote collaborative networks, knowledge exchange, human resource development, and to enhance the country's capabilities in higher education, science, research, and innovation.
Second Lieutenant Phattharadasmi said this directive makes cross-agency work transfers more flexible, addressing personnel who wish to assist or gain experience at other agencies. Such work is considered full-time service of their original agency, allowing continuous counting of civil service years without affecting rights, benefits, or career advancement.
Moreover, personnel can use their achievements during cross-agency work to support annual salary or wage increase considerations, as well as academic promotion applications according to prescribed criteria. Those bound by scholarship contracts may count the time spent working at other agencies toward fulfilling their scholarship service obligations under conditions set by their original agency.
The Deputy Spokesperson added that this guideline encourages higher education institutions and agencies to share resources and expertise, facilitating knowledge transfer, research and innovation development, fostering inter-agency cooperation, and creating opportunities for personnel to enhance their capabilities by working in diverse environments. This will help boost the country's long-term competitiveness.
"The government aims to develop human capital and create systems conducive to collaboration, enabling personnel to fully realize their potential, generate new knowledge, and translate research outcomes into tangible national development," he said.