When? I ask because they are down again. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3011292/rankings-of-thai-universities-dip-in-latest-asian-survey

My wife went to University in Chicago, her cousins in Khon Kaen.

 

Her assessment of their degrees are something close to a US High School Diploma at best

 

She loves them all, but she's pretty pragmatic that none of them could get work outside Thailand based on their degree's

30 minutes ago, GinBoy2 said:

My wife went to University in Chicago, her cousins in Khon Kaen.

 

Her assessment of their degrees are something close to a US High School Diploma at best

 

She loves them all, but she's pretty pragmatic that none of them could get work outside Thailand based on their degree's

 

Degrees aside, many local adults still think and behave like children, and much of that comes down to upbringing. A lot of people simply lack the skills needed to succeed: they can’t compete, they don’t respond to challenges with any real tenacity, and they have little to no critical thinking. There’s no diligence, no consistent focus. Instead, they’re too wrapped up in social obedience, more worried about losing face than getting the job done. They avoid conflict at all costs instead of pushing through tough situations and coming out stronger.

9 minutes ago, hankypankee said:

 

Degrees aside, many local adults still think and behave like children, and much of that comes down to upbringing. A lot of people simply lack the skills needed to succeed: they can’t compete, they don’t respond to challenges with any real tenacity, and they have little to no critical thinking. There’s no diligence, no consistent focus. Instead, they’re too wrapped up in social obedience, more worried about losing face than getting the job done. They avoid conflict at all costs instead of pushing through tough situations and coming out stronger.

Well you may have a point there.

 

I speak Thai, I can't tell you how many times I've heard my wife push family to think, debate, not accept what they are told.

 

It's pretty ingrained. My wife was brought up as a teenager in the US, so didn't get the indoctrination Thank God

3 minutes ago, GinBoy2 said:

Well you may have a point there.

 

I speak Thai, I can't tell you how many times I've heard my wife push family to think, debate, not accept what they are told.

 

It's pretty ingrained. My wife was brought up as a teenager in the US, so didn't get the indoctrination Thank God

Just being brought up in a major city in the US, and without much education, would still put somebody intellectually in a stronger situation.
 

Who would you rather hire to help manage your small business operations; someone who grew up in New York City and who only has a high school level education or somebody who has a masters degree from Khon Kaen university? 
 

I think it's the fact that your wife spent some of her formative years in the US that also makes the big difference.

1 minute ago, hankypankee said:

Just being brought up in a major city in the US, and without much education, would still put somebody intellectually in a stronger situation.
 

Who would you rather hire to help manage your small business operations; someone who grew up in New York City and who only has a high school level education or somebody who has a masters degree from Khon Kaen university? 
 

I think it's the fact that your wife spent some of her formative years in the US that also makes the big difference.

My wife was a graduate from the University of Chicago, she's a smart cookie

Just now, GinBoy2 said:

My wife was a graduate from the University of Chicago, she's a smart cookie

Sure. My point though is that, as you said, spending a number of years in the US plays a role. It's a much more dog-eat-dog world there. And people learn to deal with situations head-on. Something you can never gain from any higher level education in Thailand.

The funniest thing is farang at immigration doing his extension while his wifey proudly helps with "business" typing some nonsense on laptop while scrolling Facebook 

26 minutes ago, hankypankee said:

Sure. My point though is that, as you said, spending a number of years in the US plays a role. It's a much more dog-eat-dog world there. And people learn to deal with situations head-on. Something you can never gain from any higher level education in Thailand.

Very True

In answer to the question - probably at least 2-3 decades.

 

Reasoning - it all starts with pre-school or primary school level education, and evolves from there.

 

During the time of the Prayut Junta, there were many anti-junta student-lead protest groups (if I can call them that) across Thailand, but mainly present in Bangkok and provincial cities.  These young people were engaging in critical thinking and action.  They need to get into the "system" and change it from within.  BUT ...

 

Over many decades, I have known many Thais who were educated overseas, worked as professionals overseas, and then returned to Thailand to work, many in universities.  Some tried to bring about change, but could not, and some of these people have left Thailand to work overseas.

 

For example, one good Thai friend was educated at universities in Thailand and the USA; taught at universities in the USA, Japan, Singapore and Australia.  Head hunted from overseas into a position as Vice-President of a large government university in southern Thailand.  He tried to implement some curriculum changes and new degree programmes to move with the times - only partially successful; tried a partial restructure of the university to function more effectively and efficiently - total rejection; tried streamlining the university's bureaucracy to be more efficient and transparent - total failure.  My point - the system (like the Thai economy) is the problem; those with power in the system do not want to change because they benefit from the current system.  There need to be enough people in the education system who want real change in the system to change the system; those people are in the system now, but they are in a minority, and generally not in powerful positions.

 

Thus, in answer to the question - probably at least 2-3 decades.

They won't. Thai universities are a joke.