Thailand needs more qualified researchers

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Thailand needs more qualified researchers
Chularat Saengpassa,
Wannapa Khaopa
The Nation


Kamjorn

Few doctorates in science or technical fields; Ohec unable to control quality

BANGKOK: -- In order to improve Thailand's competitiveness and improve the quality of its education, research is needed. However, there is a shortage of qualified people to conduct this research.

Assoc Prof Kamjorn Tatiyakavee, deputy secretary-general of the Office of the Higher Education Commission (Ohec), said that though several people were completing their doctorates, not many of them were studying the sciences.

He added that Ohec was focusing on trying to get more people to enter the fields of science and social science.

"The number of doctorate students has risen in all fields, but Thailand needs a larger number in specialised fields to contribute to research," Kamjorn said.

Producing graduates with advanced degrees is not part of the national agenda, and those who do graduate with high degrees usually take up teaching positions in universities, Kamjorn added. Few opt for the corporate sector or other agencies.

Also, with no clear plans, there is a risk of producing too many people with doctorates in subjects that are not needed. This is another reason why research suffers, Kamjorn explained.

"Thailand lacks doctorate-degree holders in the areas of science, technology and education. More doctorate holders are needed in these subjects as Thailand needs to develop its science and technology to become more competitive," Assoc Prof Amorn Petsom, dean of graduate school at Chulalongkorn University (CU), said.

"We want doctorate graduates with research skills to work for educational institutes," Amorn added. "With the region opening up, it is necessary to have a highly-skilled workforce if we want to remain competitive."

He said Chulalongkorn had openings for 1,000 students to enrol in doctorate programmes, but only half of these seats are usually filled.

"It is difficult to achieve the enrolment target as Chulalong-korn has seen a drop in the

number of students applying for masters and doctorates. Other universities are also having similar problems. We're investigating to find out why Chulalongkorn had fewer applications this year," Amorn said.

Another reason for this scarcity of researchers is the quality of education being offered at the many new, unverified programmes on offer.

"There are no measures in place to control the number of graduates. Once the fees are paid, each university has its own council that dictates the opening of new programmes and their quality," Kamjorn said, adding that Ohec was not able to control them due to decentralisation laws. There-fore, he said, Ohec needs to issue ministerial regulations to bring back its power of inspecting the quality of doctoral-degree programmes.

He said Ohec should also be given the authority to inspect doctoral theses, the number of doctorate students enrolled and the graduates along with newly opened programmes at universities suspected of providing low-quality courses.

"I receive one or two complaints every month from doctorate students saying their universities are not teaching them anything," he added.

In the April 2011 edition of the weekly science journal Nature, an article entitled "Education: The PhD Factory" said that those who attain a PhD have the right to be proud because they have gained an entry to the academic elite. However, this elite is not as it once was.

The article said the number of science doctorates earned each year had grown by nearly 40 per cent from 1998 to 2008, with as many as 34,000 graduates in countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

This growth shows no sign of abating as most countries build up their higher-education systems considering educated workers are key to economic growth. However, in much of the world, science PhD graduates may never get a chance to take full advantage of their qualifications.

The article also said the num-ber of PhD holders in China was going through the roof, with some 50,000 people graduating with doctorates across all disciplines in 2009 - and by some counts it now surpasses all other countries.

However, the main problem is the low quality of many graduates.

Singapore and India are also investing in higher education to produce more PhD holders, Nature said.


-- The Nation 2013-07-29

[Mampara]

You need "Qualified Researchers?: first improve your education system.

[nachiket]

Also, with no clear plans, there is a risk of producing too many people with doctorates in subjects that are not needed. This is another reason why research suffers, Kamjorn explained.

Youth are aimless because there is so called overrated competition for nothing.

The one who is really talented and need to do research, has no knowledge of real time market and world affairs. This is the drawback of today's education system. They are producing labor and not scholar.

We need education and not training.

[Tatsujin]

I thought all "research" and "polling" results were decided beforehand anyway?

EDIT: remove "qualified" and insert either "independent" or "uncorruptable" . . .

Edited July 29, 2013 by Tatsujin

[noitom]

This is an understatement of the low conditions in Thailand.

[ajarnpot]

My suspicion is that the head of innovation should be changed since his PhD was taken away after found to be completely plagiarized.

Perhaps, however, that is the desired roll model for the coutnry. Any other country where an official who has position due to false qualifications or even if not necessary for role, they will resign. However TIT, and government head of innovation remains.

not sure if acceptable links below or not, neither of them is from the drummond website but I remember he has been documenting the ongoing case. Or perhaps its finished now.

http://www.scidev.net/global/ethics/news/thai-plagiarism-saga-takes-a-new-turn.html

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/420399.article

[IMA_FARANG]

I saw a story on the news from Singapore about a Thai woman who just graduated from a University in Thailand.

I haven't heard anything yet from the Thai media about this woman.

She was born and lives in a slum area in Bangkok with her sisters and grandmother.

Her father ran off years ago. Her mother is in jail for drug offenses. She was raised by her grandmother.

Yet this woman just graduated from a well known Thai university with honors.

She is now working as a lab assistant in Bangkok and hopes to be able to do some post graduate studies program in Bangkok or elsewhere in South East Asia,

Her specialty was Molecular Biology in University.

As I said I saw this on the English news from SINGAPORE in a short news story.

Haven't seen anything yet, at least in English, on the Thai news about her.

Better TEACHERS are fine, but it won't help the Thai education system if there is no recognition of students like this young woman who battled her way up from a slum and deprived home environment to where she is now.

There's a lot wrong with the Thai education system, and we could talk about that for a long time.

But more qualified teachers won't solve the problems of the Thai education system. it may be a start, but recognition for those students who do manage to fight their way through the Thai education system would also be a help.

Let's see some news stories on THAI television about such people as this young woman, so I won't have to hear it first on a news spot from SINGAPORE mot THAILAND.

[Gomyway]

It's always and everywhere the same, the only thing governments can and will do is creating jobs for their friends i.e. calling this the need for more qualified researchers in this case and call it otherwise in all the other cases.

[jaltsc]

There are plenty of qualified Thai researchers. They have just chosen to do their work overseas where they get compensated fairly and do not have to answer to idiot supervisors who got their positions as a result of their families' standing in the community.

Edited July 29, 2013 by jaltsc

[tomross46]

A person I worked with for many years, got his bachelors degree from Chuld, his masters in Germany and his doctorate in England. When he came back to Thailand he could not find a job that used his degree studies. His doctorate is in tool and die. He also completed his hand on training in Germany. With a doctorate he offered a salary of 7,000 baht. He not works with a German Company.

[Pib]

This professor is behind the times as I'm sure the govt has already designated Thailand as the ASEAN Hub of Research. Yes, I'm sure, because the govt is now up to "Y" in the alphabet in declaring Thailand as a hub in various products/services. I'm pretty sure next week the govt will announce their goal to make Thailand the Hub of Yogurt production and the Hub of Yoga training.

[Trentham]

They will have to lower the cost of buying a doctorate.

[ETatBKK]

no doubt there are many young talents in this country, indeed they are not necessary in the area of science and technology. Thai and her culture are not lay on the knowledge of science and technology.

critical thinking is completely absent in the society, therefore creativity thinking is completely artificial. these are two main ingredients of any science and technology study. next, Thai language also not support high degree of linguistic development. many Thai scholars find missing Thai words and definitions that support the transfer of knowledge.

nevertheless, Thai is keen on bio-tech areas that bring them a bit ahead from other south-east Asia countries.

[ETatBKK]

A person I worked with for many years, got his bachelors degree from Chuld, his masters in Germany and his doctorate in England. When he came back to Thailand he could not find a job that used his degree studies. His doctorate is in tool and die. He also completed his hand on training in Germany. With a doctorate he offered a salary of 7,000 baht. He not works with a German Company.

a PhD graduate ( from whatever universities ) could get a position in government office, with starting salary of 20,000+ Thai baht. there is a little bit better in some industrial sector, but not in the outdated engineering field.

this is not inviting at all for all the effort of persuading a doctorate degree.

[geriatrickid]

A person I worked with for many years, got his bachelors degree from Chuld, his masters in Germany and his doctorate in England. When he came back to Thailand he could not find a job that used his degree studies. His doctorate is in tool and die. He also completed his hand on training in Germany. With a doctorate he offered a salary of 7,000 baht. He not works with a German Company.

a PhD graduate ( from whatever universities ) could get a position in government office, with starting salary of 20,000+ Thai baht. there is a little bit better in some industrial sector, but not in the outdated engineering field.

this is not inviting at all for all the effort of persuading a doctorate degree.

Sadly, the same can be said for the plight of post docs in the west as well. Classmates of mine languished in miserable stressful positions earning crap salaries. If one had published on a popular illness, had some commercial viability or had the right connections, one could end up in a lab working for a tyrant for a higher salary. The pharmaceutical companies, government grants and charitable funds went to Dr. Big who would abuse his/her research staff and take credit for their work.

The only country that has recently managed to elevate scientific and technological research to a partnership with society is Israel and its incentive is its need to survive. It has the highest number of scientists and engineers per capita in the world. This came courtesy of the brain drain from the former Soviet Union. I don't think any refugees from the ASEAN countries will have the same education levels let alone wish to put up with the red tape of Thailand. If Thailand is going to deal with the issue it must open its doors to foreigners who are willing to spend time in the country and it must offer them competitive living conditions. The presence of foreigner researchers will bring much needed intellectual capital and it will lift the quality of research encouraging Thai nationals to stay in Thailand. The USA is the master of this and the engine for its current innovation is attributable to new immigrants and first generation Americans. Every year, foreign scientists come to Thailand for various projects such as the malaria and dengue initiatives funded in large part by the US, Japanese and EU governments. Every year, those poor souls have deal with more immigration requirements than a yob flying into Phuket on a 2 week junket.

[thhMan]

The article starts out that doctorates have risen "The number of doctorate students has risen in all fields" ....

then to be followed by the amount of doctorates has fallen "It is difficult to achieve the enrolment target as Chulalong-korn has seen a drop in the number of students applying for masters and doctorates."

Before the Government goes to far, I think they should get the facts straight. Heck, if they dont know, making policies wont help.

As for the students and teachers... Well, it really doesnt need research to know that the schooling is disgraceful...

My guess is they are using the students as a scapegoat to their own incompetence as a country....

[nong38]

There are plenty of foreigners in the country who might be able to steer things in the right direction with their own experience and I am sure they would glad to help a few hours a week as well.

The problem is that, well there are few problems aren't there, firstly when the errors of the systems in operation here are pointed out its not going to go down well, after all this "successful education plan" has been going on and producing great results for years. Then there is the "loss of face when local "teachers" are found wanting compared to foreigners. The there is the money angle, the system is a cash cow for people in the right place, exhorbitant fees for students and hoops to jump through for prospective teachers, anyone can jump through with a sweetener. Then there are the good positions for people who look good in the community regardless of ability, the best person for the job has no place here.

Sad to say things are not going to change in the medium term, dont rock the boat!

When ASEAN kicks off there will some rude awakenings with more to follow, to carry on with "the head in the sand " routine, everything here is fine might be found wanting but whilst everyone tells each other everything is fine it will carry on ad-infinitum and no matter what we or anyone else says nothing will change.

Keep out of busniess here and have short arms and deep pockets.

Thai education achievements are worth nothing outside Thailand, any foreign education achievements are worth nothing in Thailand, you know it makes sense.

[bigbamboo]

A person I worked with for many years, got his bachelors degree from Chuld, his masters in Germany and his doctorate in England. When he came back to Thailand he could not find a job that used his degree studies. His doctorate is in tool and die. He also completed his hand on training in Germany. With a doctorate he offered a salary of 7,000 baht. He not works with a German Company.

"Twenty years of schooling and they put you on the day shift..."

[CIHUAHUA]

A person I worked with for many years, got his bachelors degree from Chuld, his masters in Germany and his doctorate in England. When he came back to Thailand he could not find a job that used his degree studies. His doctorate is in tool and die. He also completed his hand on training in Germany. With a doctorate he offered a salary of 7,000 baht. He not works with a German Company.

a PhD graduate ( from whatever universities ) could get a position in government office, with starting salary of 20,000+ Thai baht. there is a little bit better in some industrial sector, but not in the outdated engineering field.

this is not inviting at all for all the effort of persuading a doctorate degree.

Sadly, the same can be said for the plight of post docs in the west as well. Classmates of mine languished in miserable stressful positions earning crap salaries. If one had published on a popular illness, had some commercial viability or had the right connections, one could end up in a lab working for a tyrant for a higher salary. The pharmaceutical companies, government grants and charitable funds went to Dr. Big who would abuse his/her research staff and take credit for their work.

The only country that has recently managed to elevate scientific and technological research to a partnership with society is Israel and its incentive is its need to survive. It has the highest number of scientists and engineers per capita in the world. This came courtesy of the brain drain from the former Soviet Union. I don't think any refugees from the ASEAN countries will have the same education levels let alone wish to put up with the red tape of Thailand. If Thailand is going to deal with the issue it must open its doors to foreigners who are willing to spend time in the country and it must offer them competitive living conditions. The presence of foreigner researchers will bring much needed intellectual capital and it will lift the quality of research encouraging Thai nationals to stay in Thailand. The USA is the master of this and the engine for its current innovation is attributable to new immigrants and first generation Americans. Every year, foreign scientists come to Thailand for various projects such as the malaria and dengue initiatives funded in large part by the US, Japanese and EU governments. Every year, those poor souls have deal with more immigration requirements than a yob flying into Phuket on a 2 week junket.

I agree and in science the educational system can't pretend to teach nor the students pretend to learn.

[MartinL]

When I completed my engineering-based Masters qualification in UK many years ago, I looked at pursuing a Doctorate, more out of curiosity than with any real intention of actually going ahead with it. All the Doctorate routes I looked at were research-based. In addition, all my Uni lecturers qualified to use the title "Doctor" had followed research-based routes to the qualification.

Now I'm in Thailand, I know a number of people who have completed or are in the process of studying for Doctorates at Thai universities. All of these people work in the field of education. Of those I've spoken to, all have followed TAUGHT Doctorates rather than research-based Doctorates, so far as I can understand, given the small communication problems between us - they had to attend classroom lectures rather than pursue their own original line of research.

Now it might be that Doctorates in the fields I've mentioned - engineering & education - are peculiar in that one appears to be entirely research-based while the other is entirely based on taught study but, if taught Doctorates are the norm in Thailand, how can they hope to produce good researchers? Research is a specialised field requiring good tuition & supervision in research techniques and not everybody has the aptitude for it or desire to do it.

[Payboy]

The tablet PC scheme should take care of this, no?

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

What's required is a system based on meritocracy and not a system of seniority and kleptocracy.

This is a major weakness in many of the asian cultures and despite bold desires these countries have failed to live up to their potential when it comes to innovating and leading.

Send a hard working asian to a western merit based country and they thrive and make big contributions.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

What's required is a system based on meritocracy and not a system of seniority and kleptocracy.

This is a major weakness in many of the asian cultures and despite bold desires these countries have failed to live up to their potential when it comes to innovating and leading.

Send a hard working asian to a western merit based country and they thrive and make big contributions.

[ETatBKK]

When I completed my engineering-based Masters qualification in UK many years ago, I looked at pursuing a Doctorate, more out of curiosity than with any real intention of actually going ahead with it. All the Doctorate routes I looked at were research-based. In addition, all my Uni lecturers qualified to use the title "Doctor" had followed research-based routes to the qualification.

Now I'm in Thailand, I know a number of people who have completed or are in the process of studying for Doctorates at Thai universities. All of these people work in the field of education. Of those I've spoken to, all have followed TAUGHT Doctorates rather than research-based Doctorates, so far as I can understand, given the small communication problems between us - they had to attend classroom lectures rather than pursue their own original line of research.

Now it might be that Doctorates in the fields I've mentioned - engineering & education - are peculiar in that one appears to be entirely research-based while the other is entirely based on taught study but, if taught Doctorates are the norm in Thailand, how can they hope to produce good researchers? Research is a specialised field requiring good tuition & supervision in research techniques and not everybody has the aptitude for it or desire to do it.

completely agreed !

I doubt, very doubt research-based studies could fit into the Thai system. the Thai ( or even Asian education ) is not based on developing individual thought skills, therefore a taught-based education well fitted into the situation.

anyone went through 18 to 20 years of taught-based followership education till undergrad, he or she would not able to switch to the research-based exploration and discovery in the post grad.

[nong38]

It must be a source of amazement in Thailand why the rest of the world does not follow their lead, either Thailand is right and the rest of the world is wrong or..................the rest of the world is wrong and Thailand is right .

By the time it is realized that Thailand's potential is being held back by the current ancient systems, the world will have moved on again, invention and innovation are not words in common use here, copying is only allowed when the right people show this is a new Thai idea ( football shirts coming to a market near you- newish then).

[nong38]

It must be a source of amazement in Thailand why the rest of the world does not follow their lead, either Thailand is right and the rest of the world is wrong or..................the rest of the world is wrong and Thailand is right .

By the time it is realized that Thailand's potential is being held back by the current ancient systems, the world will have moved on again, invention and innovation are not words in common use here, copying is only allowed when the right people show this is a new Thai idea ( football shirts coming to a market near you- newish then).

[nong38]

It must be a source of amazement in Thailand why the rest of the world does not follow their lead, either Thailand is right and the rest of the world is wrong or..................the rest of the world is wrong and Thailand is right .

By the time it is realized that Thailand's potential is being held back by the current ancient systems, the world will have moved on again, invention and innovation are not words in common use here, copying is only allowed when the right people show this is a new Thai idea ( football shirts coming to a market near you- newish then).

[nong38]

It must be a source of amazement in Thailand why the rest of the world does not follow their lead, either Thailand is right and the rest of the world is wrong or..................the rest of the world is wrong and Thailand is right .

By the time it is realized that Thailand's potential is being held back by the current ancient systems, the world will have moved on again, invention and innovation are not words in common use here, copying is only allowed when the right people show this is a new Thai idea ( football shirts coming to a market near you- newish then).

[nong38]

It must be a source of amazement in Thailand why the rest of the world does not follow their lead, either Thailand is right and the rest of the world is wrong or..................the rest of the world is wrong and Thailand is right .

By the time it is realized that Thailand's potential is being held back by the current ancient systems, the world will have moved on again, invention and innovation are not words in common use here, copying is only allowed when the right people show this is a new Thai idea ( football shirts coming to a market near you- newish then).

[nong38]

It must be a source of amazement in Thailand why the rest of the world does not follow their lead, either Thailand is right and the rest of the world is wrong or..................the rest of the world is wrong and Thailand is right .

By the time it is realized that Thailand's potential is being held back by the current ancient systems, the world will have moved on again, invention and innovation are not words in common use here, copying is only allowed when the right people show this is a new Thai idea ( football shirts coming to a market near you- newish then).