Thailand aims to become education hub with global universities

[Srikcir]

14 hours ago, Mavideol said:

international reputation for being well known about (NO) democracy and (YES) corruption, AKA  banana republic type government

 

 

Add xenophobic towards foreigners.

[Mr Meeseeks]

16 minutes ago, john donson said:

kao san road university degree?

 

Used to be the go to for everything back in the day, foreign driver's licences, fake university degrees etc.

 

Some of them were quite good too. One guy I knew used the fake UK driver's licence to hire and drive a car back in the UK!

 

Better value was found in some of the lesser known fake certs though, such as PADI diver certs etc. Some fake certs even helped guy get employment offshore!

[Srikcir]

Feels like the reverse of "If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad will go to the mountain."

While Chulalongkorn University in 2024 ranked #1 in Thailand, it ranked #41 in Asia and #280 in the world. https://www.uniranks.com/ranking/top-regional?country=Thailand

Thailand's English proficiency in 2023 ranked 101st out of 113 countries and regions, and 8th out of ASEAN countries. https://thailand.opendevelopmentmekong.net/news/thailand-ranked-very-low-in-english-proficiency-index/

It didn't help that PM Prayut expected Thai to be one of the world's major languages within years.

Thailand has a tall mountain to climb.

[soalbundy]

15 hours ago, Mavideol said:

international reputation for being well known about (NO) democracy and (YES) corruption, AKA  banana republic type government

 

 

Why should that bother a foreign student

[BangkokReady]

11 hours ago, Old Curmudgeon said:

Whenever I read the words "hub" and "Thailand" in the same paragraph of some government pronouncement, I wonder what is behind that.

 

"Optics." There's rarely any substance behind it. I think it's just PR/propaganda to attempt to make the Thai people think that the government is causing Thailand to go places.

[BangkokReady]

1 hour ago, soalbundy said:

Why should that bother a foreign student

 

The reputation that a country has will affect how people feel about studying there.

 

Imagine there are two Havard Campuses, and one is called "the Thailand Campus". Which claim has more cache: "I went to Harvard" or "I went to Harvard, the Thailand Campus"?

[Old Curmudgeon]

1 minute ago, BangkokReady said:

"Optics." There's rarely any substance behind it. I think it's just PR/propaganda to attempt to make the Thai people think that the government is causing Thailand to go places.

 

+1 on that.

 

And in addition, anything any government (not just Thailand) touches, eventually turns to dust.

And in Thailand often leaves behind unpaid bills.

 

 

[Old Curmudgeon]

1 minute ago, BangkokReady said:

Imagine there are two Havard Campuses, and one is called "the Thailand Campus". Which claim has more cache: "I went to Harvard" or "I went to Harvard, the Thailand Campus"?

 

You may be surprised, but I will make the case for "Thailand Campus".

 

Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA campus has become infested with Cultural Marxism, in all its variants.

Thailand is mostly free of that, although some is seeping in.

 

So if there is any advantage to Thailand being a "hub" for higher education, it could be that it is largely free from the afflictions  dragging down Western universities.

 

[watchcat]

6 hours ago, WHansen said:

Onto a winner there. University students that do not need to worry because in Thailand, every student is going to pass regardless of their abilities.

 

But they have not learned anything, and can't apply for any kind of work part from 7/11.

[totsakan]

10 hours ago, john donson said:

kao san road university degree?

well... kinda

[Peabody]

I ran a program in BKK starting around 2009 where I brought over professors from a university in Massachusetts to teach a series of courses leading to a master's degree. I recruited students in BKK, arranged to use the facilities on the campuses of various schools, arranged housing for the professors, etc. Ran successfully for years.

[BangkokReady]

3 hours ago, Old Curmudgeon said:

 

You may be surprised, but I will make the case for "Thailand Campus".

 

Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA campus has become infested with Cultural Marxism, in all its variants.

Thailand is mostly free of that, although some is seeping in.

 

So if there is any advantage to Thailand being a "hub" for higher education, it could be that it is largely free from the afflictions  dragging down Western universities.

 

While I agree that Thailand does remain free of a lot of wokeness (although some LGBT stuff has crept in), I'm not sure that would be enough to make up for the negative influence that the reputation of the Thai education system would no doubt have.

 

If you compare the fake teaching of Thailand, with the woke indoctrination of many American universities, it's actually hard to know which is more damaging.

 

I suspect the degrees that have a big pull for foreign students have been spared much of the wokeness, though.

[John Drake]

16 hours ago, Old Curmudgeon said:

 

It actually would have been an interesting idea ... 20+ years ago.

But now campus universities in the West are in decline, being replaced by on-line education: far more efficient and much lower cost for the students.

 

Whenever I read the words "hub" and "Thailand" in the same paragraph of some government pronouncement, I wonder what is behind that.

Does someone have a newly empty industrial estate they are desperate to sell as a university campus?

Are university academic positions in Thailand so full/crowded that they need to arrange more jobs somehow?

Is there some prestige/face to be gained by having a big name university put up a sign in Thailand?

Or is there something else going on here behind the scenes?

 

Thoughts, please.

 

And that begs the question of what might be next?

Probably a hub of artificial intelligence -- if it hasn't been thought of already.

The problem is artificial intelligence requires a lot of human intelligence to make it work.

Is Thailand a hub with an abundance of that?

 

What is going on is Thailand's university age demographic hit its high 14 years ago and has been in decline since then. They have more universities and colleges than students need. That's why so many of the Thai private universities are now filled with PRC Chinese students. The Chinese students btw are pretty good. One thing that might answer your question is that Thai universities must be situated on land in order to be certified. There was a problem several years ago where MU or MUIC, can't remember which, was running a graduate business program in some office towers in downtown Bangkok. I don't remember how it worked out, but they had to fix it. So, yes, property, maybe an industrial estate, could be some of the reasoning behind this latest gambit. I also remember that SAE Institute ran into a problem because it's program was offered in the Zen building next to Central World. Middlesex tried to operate through SAE but ran into the property problem.

[John Drake]

This is what Thailand wants. BTW, these foreign universities with campuses in the target countries mostly hire from their originating country. I don't think places like Mahidol and Chula are going to be very happy about this.

 

https://studymalaysia.com/education/top-stories/foreign-university-branch-campus-your-route-to-getting-a-foreign-degree-right-here-in-malaysia

[Jimjim1]

10 hours ago, harryviking said:

Is there anything Thailand do not want to become the "HUB" for??

Well yes, they said they thought about being the hub for telling the truth but it was a lie.

[Old Curmudgeon]

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

What is going on is Thailand's university age demographic hit its high 14 years ago and has been in decline since then. They have more universities and colleges than students need.

 

Thank you, @John Drake for that analysis.

Very helpful to understand the trend over time.

Makes perfect sense.

[Old Curmudgeon]

3 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

While I agree that Thailand does remain free of a lot of wokeness (although some LGBT stuff has crept in), I'm not sure that would be enough to make up for the negative influence that the reputation of the Thai education system would no doubt have.

 

Good points, all.

Thanks @BangkokReady for your followup post.

 

 

[jonclark]

On 12/3/2024 at 5:06 PM, BangkokReady said:

Why would any UK uni want to open up a branch in an overseas country when overseas student fees when studying in the UK in a university there, are uncapped and double or triple domestic fees. Financial suicide for a large number of UK universities to do so.

[Mavideol]

8 hours ago, soalbundy said:

Why should that bother a foreign student

do you really think the reputation they currently have will bring in foreigner students???

[BangkokReady]

22 minutes ago, jonclark said:

Why would any UK uni want to open up a branch in an overseas country when overseas student fees when studying in the UK in a university there, are uncapped and double or triple domestic fees. Financial suicide for a large number of UK universities to do so.

 

Well, it would be separate, additional income and they would be targeting students that wouldn't be going to their Western campuses, so how much they earn in their home countries doesn't really matter.  It wouldn't be a zero sum game and it would not be affected.

[soalbundy]

1 minute ago, Mavideol said:

do you really think the reputation they currently have will bring in foreigner students???

You mean lots of whores, cheap booze and shops that sell weed?

[jonclark]

12 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

 

Well, it would be separate, additional income and they would be targeting students that wouldn't be going to their Western campuses, so how much they earn in their home countries doesn't really matter.  It wouldn't be a zero sum game and it would not be affected.

Maybe. But I cannot see why a university (and the UK government to some extent) would offer a potentially cheaper alternative to a single person coming to the UK and contributing new income in the region of; 25k GBP course fees per year, NHS contributions, visa fees, flights and accomodation and living costs in the UK.  By opening a campus here they are potentially reducing that flow of money into the UK and UK universities. 

 

Interesting if it did happen if then UK resident students could come to Thailand to study at local Thai costs at the UK unis Thai branch. 

 

A growing number of universities are businesses first and educational establishments second. 

[watchcat]

On 12/3/2024 at 9:13 AM, snoop1130 said:

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

By Bright Choomanee

 

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation is planning to invite renowned overseas universities to set up campuses in Thailand as part of its initiative to position the country as a regional education hub.

 

Minister Supamas Isarabhakdi highlighted that Thailand offers significant potential for becoming a central educational destination in the region, citing factors such as affordable living costs, exceptional hospitality, delicious cuisine, and strong logistical infrastructure.

 

She also pointed out that many countries, including the UK and Singapore, have regulations limiting the number of foreign students at their universities. This presents an opportunity for universities to expand their campuses abroad, and Thailand is positioning itself as a prime location for such ventures.

 

The ministry is already looking ahead to next year, exploring potential partnerships with universities in the UK, Australia, and China. “We have seen positive signs regarding the possibility of these institutions extending their campuses to Thailand. If successful, this could contribute significantly to the country’s income,” Minister Supamas said.

 

Additionally, the ministry plans to upgrade all demonstration schools under its oversight to become international schools, offering global curriculums. This initiative aims to provide more affordable international education options for parents seeking to send their children to global schools, without the financial burden, reported Bangkok Post.

 

 

This strategy forms part of the ministry’s broader policy to enhance the country’s educational system and increase its global competitiveness.

 

In related news, the average monthly income of Thailand’s very poor families has plummeted, placing children’s education in jeopardy.

 

According to the Equitable Education Fund (EEF), these families’ earnings dropped to a mere 1,039 baht per month in 2023, down from 1,077 baht in 2020. This translates to a daily income of just 34 baht—far below the World Bank’s poverty line of 80 baht per day.

 

EEF’s 2023 annual report paints a grim picture: children from these impoverished households face a high risk of being unable to complete mandatory education (Mathayom 3, equivalent to Grade 9).

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-12-03

 

 

 

This must be a joke?

[djayz]

Oh for FS! 😂 Is this an oxymoron or an April Fool's Day joke? 

[OnTheLash]

On 12/4/2024 at 4:33 AM, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

Used to be the go to for everything back in the day, foreign driver's licences, fake university degrees etc.

 

Some of them were quite good too. One guy I knew used the fake UK driver's licence to hire and drive a car back in the UK!

 

Better value was found in some of the lesser known fake certs though, such as PADI diver certs etc. Some fake certs even helped guy get employment offshore!

Why not just use his Thai driving license to rent a car in the UK?

 

PADI diver working offshore?

 

I'm calling BS twice.

[OnTheLash]

On 12/4/2024 at 6:26 AM, Old Curmudgeon said:

 

You may be surprised, but I will make the case for "Thailand Campus".

 

Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA campus has become infested with Cultural Marxism, in all its variants.

Thailand is mostly free of that, although some is seeping in.

 

So if there is any advantage to Thailand being a "hub" for higher education, it could be that it is largely free from the afflictions  dragging down Western universities.

 

We have a winner at last!!!

[OnTheLash]

I would take a Thai university over a UK/USA university any-day.

You don't get all the woke nonsense from the teachers and students in Thai universities.

There are no protests outside the universities (Palestine is a good example), no rainbow flags flying high, no 100 genders BS, the students just get on with their studies.

A quarter the cost for the uni fees. Safer campuses, unlikely to be shot or stabbed. Accommodation cheaper and better. Its great for foreign students, many attend already. Look at Chula and Mahidol for example.

Many of the better Thai universities are twinned with European universities already. The actual syllabus's are the same, its all down to the students. The international schools in Thailand are fantastic, so are many of the universities.

[Lingba]

Boy they are reaching now!....of all the hubs they have here...this is absolute lunacy