Thai universities not recognised in worldwide ranking of institutes

[webfact]

Thai universities not recognised in worldwide ranking of institutes
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- NO THAI university made it to the Times Higher Education's (THE) World Reputation Rankings 2015, reflecting the fact that the Kingdom's tertiary education institutes do not yet enjoy solid recognition in the international academic community.

The lack of Thai academic research papers in English is possibly a factor.

THE uses the world's largest invitation-only survey of academics when compiling the rankings.

The survey in 15 languages was sent to over 10,500 respected academics in 142 countries.

"Each one can nominate no more than 10 institutions that, in their expert opinion, they believe to be performing the most strongly for teaching and research," said Phil Baty, editor of the rankings.

Speaking to The Nation via email, Baty said Thai higher-learning institutes had not received enough nominations to sit among the world's most prestigious varsities.

"There is no way of knowing why this is happening," Baty said.

However, he said many of the institutions that did not feature in the World Reputation Rankings also received poor scores for international outlook in the Times Higher Education's main World University Rankings, published in every October, and based on 13 performance criteria.

He said that meant they were not attracting enough international students or |staff, collaborating with overseas universities enough, or publishing enough research papers in English - "the global language".

He also said that the only way for a university to improve its world reputation ranking was to ensure that "scholars across the world recognise you as an excellent teaching and research institution".

Released yesterday, the rankings identified the 100 most prestigious universities in the world.

In the first three places respectively are Harvard University (the United States), the University of Cambridge, and the University of Oxford (both the United Kingdom).

The most prestigious university from Asia is the University of Tokyo in 12th place, while the best Asean performer is the National University of Singapore (24th place).

Visit www.thewur.com for details.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Thai-universities-not-recognised-in-worldwide-rank-30255921.html

-- The Nation 2015-03-13

[MaxLee]

Same old sh*********: Brainwash, enforce memorization until the brains pop out for irreparable brain damage 4 life....

[harrycallahan]

If participant's knowledge is complete, and criteria strictly objective, then the list would have 10 universities on it only. A short list of the best should be short. This is more just a personal favourites ranking.

[Soutpeel]

The lack of Thai academic research papers in English is possibly a factor.

I don't think that's the reason somehow

The most prestigious university from Asia is the University of Tokyo in 12th

and are all the research papers in English at the University of Tokyo ?

one suspects not

[gk10002000]

Lack of English publications and peer contacts no doubt lowers the chance of being recognized. But I think the bigger problem is the Thai culture. They just aren't mean enough to the students and they continually lower standards. Lots of people flunk out of USA colleges. Engineering and Technical majors lose a lot of people when they start getting to the hard stuff and 3rd or 4th semester calculus. There is little room for niceness.

[BSJ]

I am guessing but don't most, if not all, the hiso and affluent families send their sprogs to Australia, England or USA to get educated at uni level and the ones in the family that aren't to smart go to local uni and become actors on TV.....yes?

[clockman]

No shocks there!

[gk10002000]

Accepting qualified applicants, or more importantly refusing lesser qualified applicants is a big factor. Universities need money and students and their money, so there is always the pressure to let anybody in. Thai overall economics probably make for a smaller group of people available to go to universities so the pressure to accept less qualified candidates is probably pretty high in Thailand relative to other more developed and affluent Asian countries.

[trogers]

The main reason is the use of this formula in grading exams: square root X 10.

[ezzra]

Unfortunately for Thailand, there is no international university's ranking, copying, plagiarism,

buying test results and plain cheating... and they will have, Thailand will be No. 1 with a bullet....

[FireMedic]

First off, no one in Thailand will give a crap. If a reporter had the balls to confront the MOE about this, no doubt there would another "miscommunication" of some sort and dismissed immediately.

[LuckyLew]

but they lead the world in playing facebook and taking selfies

[OmarZaidMD]

To put it bluntly, this is a 'wake-up' call for Thai men. Time to stand and stop dancing around like fools.

[Laughing Gravy]

If there were more academic rigour. less multiple choice questions, stringent exams procedures and the culture of cheating was eradicated then some Thai universities just might see themselves in these rankings. There is a lot of work to do in the Thai education system at all levels. Having a system which has university places straight from school is a major issue with no tertiary education.

[trogers]

First off, no one in Thailand will give a crap. If a reporter had the balls to confront the MOE about this, no doubt there would another "miscommunication" of some sort and dismissed immediately.

This is changing since MOE allowed recognition of international schools.

The rich, and upper middle income groups are sending their children to schools with English programs or international schools, with the plan for tertiary education overseas, thus, bypassing local universities.

[geriatrickid]

The lack of Thai academic research papers in English is possibly a factor.

I don't think that's the reason somehow

The most prestigious university from Asia is the University of Tokyo in 12th

and are all the research papers in English at the University of Tokyo ?

one suspects not

I noticed the same thing. One of the requirements at many of the better graduate schools is knowledge of a second language, particularly in respect to one's field. I had to show proficiency in a 2nd language. It's such an idiotic excuse as to cause offense. The Japanese who have invested heavily in malaria research, including their sponsored research stations in Thailand publish in Japanese and English and often French as part of the WHO dissemination program. If the research is good enough, journals will seek a translation. What an insult to all the German, Spanish, Russian and other language speakers who publish in their mother tongues.

How about this: If the Thai research community came up with original research that was useful and reliable it would be taken seriously.

[graemeaylward]

Perhaps if there was a PROPER education system in Thailand which focussed on academic achievement through LEARNING by doing and dicussion rather than copying out of books, and sometimes failing in the attempt, there just might be students able to withstand the rigours of a university education, which is all about individual study and hypothesis. However, things should now change as Elephant Studies has been added to the school curriculum! That, together with the other nonsensical Virtue, Thai History, etc should equip young people for today's competitive World Market!

[captspectre]

Lack of English publications and peer contacts no doubt lowers the chance of being recognized. But I think the bigger problem is the Thai culture. They just aren't mean enough to the students and they continually lower standards. Lots of people flunk out of USA colleges. Engineering and Technical majors lose a lot of people when they start getting to the hard stuff and 3rd or 4th semester calculus. There is little room for niceness.

the key word you used was "flunk"! I have never heard of a thai "flunking out of college"!

[maidee]

in civilized countries, you don't just get a degree for attending once & a while

[realenglish1]

This is sooo Thai blame it on something else rather than taking a hard look at the real reason. It has nothing to do with English and everything to do with the level of education that is being doled out

One reason of course is not educating Thais to think out of the box. For a Thai to think out of the box is not acceptable. Unlike the USA or UK or JAPAN the innovator. Thais are followers not leaders. Sorry to say so but this is one of the problems in Thai society. Very few real leaders. This is one reason there are so many political problems in Thailand as well

[trogers]

This is sooo Thai blame it on something else rather than taking a hard look at the real reason. It has nothing to do with English and everything to do with the level of education that is being doled out

One reason of course is not educating Thais to think out of the box. For a Thai to think out of the box is not acceptable. Unlike the USA or UK or JAPAN the innovator. Thais are followers not leaders. Sorry to say so but this is one of the problems in Thai society. Very few real leaders. This is one reason there are so many political problems in Thailand as well

Nahhhh...there are Thais with overseas education and leadership qualities. But they also have the brains to avoid jobs that pay the same as food servers in Japan and Singapore.

Thus leaving those who look at indirect income as a reason to take on the jobs in government.

[KhnomKhnom]

I was the only full professor at MUIC for six years, not teaching English. Likely the top University in Thailand, MU when AT ITS BEST, can prepare students to cling to passing if admitted to later study in USA.... and that is for the 20% fully motivated, studying students.

Let me spare you the sad stories and just say that Thailand universities will NEVER be on a rank equal even to state universities in the USA, the places I know.

The impossibilities range from desperately incompetent administrators (they do hiring, too) to faulty international faculty recruiting, to below low standards on "research" papers, to disinterested students not near in love with learning and having curiosity, to corruption and rug sweeping.

Improvement would only come from an expert determined Education Czar... like Robert Moses was for New York city planning. He had total authority to sell bonds, spend money, and on hiring, etc. His single intelligence and power given him shaped NYC forever. (He can be loved or condemned for the results of his plans and work, but he did bring housing and a coherent plan and achievement to that region of USA.)

The Thailand Education Czar must stop campus corruption, clean out deans' offices, appoint ethical competent presidents, and then move in an international team to revise the professorate with international standard teachers while converting whole campuses to all English and moving existing substandard faculty to contract employment during their phase-out. Credible tenure must be offered to get foreigner teachers to commit to living long term here (and interviewing costs be met by Thai colleges) and moving assistance provided (on campus housing for teachers is ideal).

TOTAL freedom of inquiry and expression is guaranteed faculty and students.

To get in, Thai students must be able to converse in English and take the mandatory 4-year English mastery courses regardless of their other major. (Think of that pressure on earlier-grade schools!) Counseling is provided to learn to be curious, politely, and to love reading and free inquiry and that questioning everything is noble and necessary.

The Education Czar also is to be provided with an armed home enclave and 24-hr bodyguards of retired SEALs. Good luck.

[Lupatria]

I'm waiting for the Thai-style solution for the lack of reputation: Let's turn the ranking upside down and whoops: Thailand No. 1 again.

[96tehtarp]

Thailand does not embrace excellence in any useful language. Is it expected that the rest of the world learn Thai?

[arthurwait]

Lack of English publications and peer contacts no doubt lowers the chance of being recognized. But I think the bigger problem is the Thai culture. They just aren't mean enough to the students and they continually lower standards. Lots of people flunk out of USA colleges. Engineering and Technical majors lose a lot of people when they start getting to the hard stuff and 3rd or 4th semester calculus. There is little room for niceness.

Yep a third of my Engineering course didn't make it past the first year.

[Queenslander]

Perhaps a quick look at the Nobel Laureates List of Nominees since 1901, in every field might provide an answer as the standard of education, teaching and research in Thailand!

[Docno]

Not disagreeing with most of what has been said here. But the other factor is the nation has to want to compete for international recognition on lists like these and invest a lot of money in doing so. I was a prof at one of the universities in the top 25 on this list and was a department head at a time when the university administration made a conscious strategic decision to seek international prominence through these sorts of ranking lists (there are a lot of them). Some of the things they did 'overnight' was to improve infrastructure; some rankings will even look at WIFI coverage, journal holdings, etc. But the biggest thing they did was to go after well-established foreign researchers who could bring their research pipelines/labs to the university and continue to pump out papers with my university now as the affiliation. The result was a very fast move up the rankings. But my old department is now compromised mostly of foreigners. Fresh foreign PhDs are now also paid more than twice what a local PhD was paid before this strategic shift, and well-established academics are paid sums that were unheard of a few years ago. The financial investment required, as you can imagine, has been enormous.

Not sure that Thailand has the ability or willingness to pay these costs (both monetary and in terms of foreign domination). I can't see it being able to nurture the needed domestic talent any time soon.

[arthurwait]

I went to Chuala bookshop last week they were all reading comic books. Anyway it's great that the countries top universities bookshop has nearly as much space for toys for 5 year olds as it does English books as I found a batman hotwheels car for my 3 year old while I was there.

Anyway Thailand is about connections, who needs education anyway. The rich and well connected can go to the countries oldest schools with the old society and the people that haven't got the connections to get into them can go to the big international schools, there they can all try to make as many connections as they can. Some may even find a real job after their priviledged education and not go back to the family business.

The rest can go to the lesser schools work as hard as possible and still work for peanuts. The occasional exceptional one who sees through what's wrong here will learn to think and be able to get a job abroad or for a decent foreign company here.

The rest, well the poor will stay poor.

[Card]

I think you will find that there is not a single post 1992 UK university in the list, as well as many pre-1992..

[Strangebrew]

Can't figure it out that is the reason. Ok let me break down so even a dead person or a former prime minister can figure it out. You school system sucks stump water you pass student not based on them learning but because law states all student must be transferred to next grade level.I will give an example The head of BOT just figure that lower interest rates might maybe help in Exports. Need I say more? A farang last year and year before said the baht was over valued. So in 20 years they may figure it out. My granddaughter at age 6 is smart than 90% of your college students She knows the world is round and that Thailand is not at the center of it Nor is it a hub of anything but people all ways saying hub of this or that.

Edited March 13, 2015 by Strangebrew