A Recent Trend in Higher A Recent Trend in Higher Education in Thailand: Education in Thailand:

Some ObservationsSome Observations

Associate Professor Dr Kantatip SinhanetiAssociate Professor Dr Kantatip Sinhaneti

Program Director, Master of Education in Teaching Program Director, Master of Education in Teaching English as an International LanguageEnglish as an International Language

SIU International UniversitySIU International University

the globalized world has a strong impact upon the globalized world has a strong impact upon Thailand higher education sector. Thailand higher education sector.

English becomes a means of “international” English becomes a means of “international” study study

Such trend is reflected in the Thai elementary Such trend is reflected in the Thai elementary education up to higher learning institutes. Both education up to higher learning institutes. Both state schools, private schools, state universities state schools, private schools, state universities and private universities have in their and private universities have in their components bilingual language , English components bilingual language , English program or international program as an option program or international program as an option for the students in demand for the students in demand

international cooperationsinternational cooperations can be grouped into 4 types. can be grouped into 4 types. 1 Double degree program eg1 Double degree program eg Rangsit U and CHN Netherlands in Business Rangsit U and CHN Netherlands in Business

Administration and International Hospitality (BA) Administration and International Hospitality (BA) 2 Joint degree program or cooperation in terms 2 Joint degree program or cooperation in terms

of faculty/staff exchange, student exchange, egof faculty/staff exchange, student exchange, eg

Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration of Chulalongkorn U and Kellogg Administration of Chulalongkorn U and Kellogg School of Management and the Wharton school School of Management and the Wharton school of Business (MBA and HRM)of Business (MBA and HRM)

3 Extension of Universities from abroad. 3 Extension of Universities from abroad. Many international universities are Many international universities are established in Thailand using the same established in Thailand using the same “brand” as their mother institution abroad. “brand” as their mother institution abroad. Examples are Stamford U, Webster U. Examples are Stamford U, Webster U.

4 Joint Research Center such as The U of 4 Joint Research Center such as The U of Chicago –UTCC Research Center Chicago –UTCC Research Center

EMERGING NEW TRENDSEMERGING NEW TRENDS 5 Many universities open up English program 5 Many universities open up English program

as an option. Egas an option. Eg Kasetsart U , Faculty of Agriculture offers a Kasetsart U , Faculty of Agriculture offers a

four-year English program “international BS in four-year English program “international BS in Tropical Agriculture”Tropical Agriculture”

66 new specializationsnew specializations being implemented eg being implemented eg Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn U offers French Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn U offers French

for the Business World; Thammasat U in 2009 for the Business World; Thammasat U in 2009 offers the first international program for an MSc offers the first international program for an MSc degree and a doctoral degree in Health-related degree and a doctoral degree in Health-related Services Management Services Management

7 Education is becoming commercialized 7 Education is becoming commercialized RESEARCH Support : 100 ads from local RESEARCH Support : 100 ads from local

English and Thai newspapers and English and Thai newspapers and magazines dated in 2009magazines dated in 2009

1M1Many international schools have opened up any international schools have opened up

from kindergarten up to Grade 12from kindergarten up to Grade 12. .

Kindergarten level egKindergarten level eg

IPC International Kindergarten in Bangkok and IPC International Kindergarten in Bangkok and southern Thailand,southern Thailand,

Ladybird International Kindergarten in Bangkok Ladybird International Kindergarten in Bangkok and southern Thailand and southern Thailand

Pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 or Pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 or operate through grade 12 operate through grade 12

eg eg Garden International School (campus in Garden International School (campus in Bangkok and RayongBangkok and Rayong

2 Direct franchise2 Direct franchise of their mother institution of their mother institution and use the same brand name and use the same brand name

Harrow International School (Bangkok) Harrow International School (Bangkok) St Stephen St Stephen St Andrews International school( in Bangkok and St Andrews International school( in Bangkok and

Eastern seaboard) Eastern seaboard) Concordian International school Concordian International school 3Thai schools become bilingual3Thai schools become bilingual eg eg

Sarasas Ektra school Sarasas Ektra school Udomsuksa school Udomsuksa school

Amnuay SilpaAmnuay Silpa

4 International Day care & Learning 4 International Day care & Learning

center is a new businesscenter is a new business Happy Hippo” in Silom Bangkok and southern Happy Hippo” in Silom Bangkok and southern

Thailand,Thailand, RC International School and Ruam Rudee RC International School and Ruam Rudee

Learning Center Learning Center 5 Property sale on English School5 Property sale on English School New business on Property sale is being offered, New business on Property sale is being offered,

in this case the property on sale is the English in this case the property on sale is the English school property. An example is ENGLISH school property. An example is ENGLISH SCHOOL for Sale adSCHOOL for Sale ad

6 Education Fairs & seminars6 Education Fairs & seminars

JEDUCATIONJEDUCATION Fair for studies in Japan, Fair for studies in Japan,

Study in Study in SwitzerlandSwitzerland ,Study in ,Study in Singapore Singapore New Zealand New Zealand Education Fair 2009 , Education Fair 2009 ,

Study in Study in US US Fair, World MBA tour, Fair, World MBA tour, Education UK Talks, Education UK Talks, Study Study CanadaCanada seminar , Education seminar , Education Australia Australia Expo 2009 Expo 2009

7 Direct ads from individual foreign 7 Direct ads from individual foreign universitiesuniversities

Many individual foreign universities or Many individual foreign universities or higher learning institutes are running ads higher learning institutes are running ads and recruit students from Thailand and recruit students from Thailand directly to go to study at their institutes. egdirectly to go to study at their institutes. eg

Australia places an ad for recruiting Australia places an ad for recruiting students in Thailand with the students in Thailand with the slogan slogan “Global education, Global “Global education, Global networks & Global opportunities”networks & Global opportunities”

8 High Competition and Direct 8 High Competition and Direct RecruitingRecruiting

Many foreign universities or learning institutes especially Many foreign universities or learning institutes especially in the nearby region place ads in Thai newspapers to in the nearby region place ads in Thai newspapers to recruit their English teachers and supporting staff.recruit their English teachers and supporting staff.

Example: RMIT International U Vietnam placed the ad Example: RMIT International U Vietnam placed the ad in Bangkok Post and Post Today to recruit lecturers in in Bangkok Post and Post Today to recruit lecturers in specific specializations to work for RMIT in Hanoi and specific specializations to work for RMIT in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

9 High Competition9 High Competition in student recruitment :Many in student recruitment :Many universities in Thailand that offer international programs universities in Thailand that offer international programs have competed highly to recruit students have competed highly to recruit students

10 Ads to recruit teachers and staff to run 10 Ads to recruit teachers and staff to run their international programstheir international programs

Many Thai universities , schools place ads to Many Thai universities , schools place ads to recruit teachers and staff to run their recruit teachers and staff to run their international programs. Examplesinternational programs. Examples

Mahidol UniversityMahidol University Faculty of ICT places an ad for native English Faculty of ICT places an ad for native English instructor onlyinstructor only. .

Singapore International SchoolSingapore International School (Srinakarin) needs (Srinakarin) needs native native speakers to teach kindergarten levelspeakers to teach kindergarten level

St StephensSt Stephens needs experienced native English speakers to teach needs experienced native English speakers to teach immediatelyimmediately

11 English standardized test Many Thai 11 English standardized test Many Thai universities try to establish their own English universities try to establish their own English standardized test as equivalent to the TOEFL, standardized test as equivalent to the TOEFL, TOEIC such as CU TEPTOEIC such as CU TEP

12 Many new businesses in 12 Many new businesses in education are being set up education are being set up

12.1 12.1 A private InstituteA private Institute has been set up to cater for has been set up to cater for specific international programs specific international programs

Example: Bangkok School of Management established Example: Bangkok School of Management established in 1997 to offer Bachelor’s degree program in businessin 1997 to offer Bachelor’s degree program in business

12.2 12.2 Companies for translationCompanies for translation, translating abstracts , translating abstracts from Thai to English, or editing abstracts , thesis in from Thai to English, or editing abstracts , thesis in English are emerging. Eg International Language English are emerging. Eg International Language &Translation Institute offers translation in English, &Translation Institute offers translation in English, Thai,Chinese,French,German,Japanese, Spanish. Thai,Chinese,French,German,Japanese, Spanish. Another Ad offers services in “ Editing, Proofreading, Another Ad offers services in “ Editing, Proofreading, Manuscript Evaluation”( www.chinarice.org)Manuscript Evaluation”( www.chinarice.org)

12.3 . English language tutoring schools for 12.3 . English language tutoring schools for TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC, SAT tests or institutes TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC, SAT tests or institutes that coach other languages eg Chinese, Korea, that coach other languages eg Chinese, Korea, Japanese are almost everywhere.Japanese are almost everywhere.

KESB is a school for teaching Korean language(KESB is a school for teaching Korean language(www.sejongkes.comwww.sejongkes.com) )

12.4 Many new agencies, companies are set up 12.4 Many new agencies, companies are set up as coordinator/ facilitator in processing the as coordinator/ facilitator in processing the Thai students who want to study abroad for a Thai students who want to study abroad for a certain degree egcertain degree eg Knowledge Plus ,Knowledge Plus ,Mentor International Mentor International

12.512.5 Agencies are set up for enhancing skills in Agencies are set up for enhancing skills in EnglishEnglish and other skills conducted in English during and other skills conducted in English during semester break both in the country (summer camp in semester break both in the country (summer camp in English ) and foreign countries eg 4 weeks in UK, USA, English ) and foreign countries eg 4 weeks in UK, USA, Singapore , Life Skills Center co. advertises for Life Singapore , Life Skills Center co. advertises for Life Skills & Adventure Camp in Petchaboon for kids aged Skills & Adventure Camp in Petchaboon for kids aged 10-15 10-15

12.6 The international schools themselves12.6 The international schools themselves organize organize a a free workshopfree workshop , or a summer workshop to promote , or a summer workshop to promote the image of the institution. See the ad of St Stephen’s the image of the institution. See the ad of St Stephen’s International school for free workshop “why go to International school for free workshop “why go to international schoolinternational school

12.7 There are agencies for enhancing English 12.7 There are agencies for enhancing English skills while getting some money from work eg skills while getting some money from work eg Work & Travel, Aupair Work & Travel, Aupair

12.8 12.8 Franchising opportunityFranchising opportunity Some Some are asking for new business partners to open up are asking for new business partners to open up the franchising agent. See example of the ad the franchising agent. See example of the ad from Kids Gallery seeking potential franchise from Kids Gallery seeking potential franchise partners in creative arts and English language partners in creative arts and English language educationeducation

13 Many jobs in Thailand mostly look for the 13 Many jobs in Thailand mostly look for the candidates who have good communication in candidates who have good communication in English.English.

eg K-Swiss Internation ad requires “Quality eg K-Swiss Internation ad requires “Quality Inspector’ (good English skills)Inspector’ (good English skills)

14 There are more “Coaching schools” to offer 14 There are more “Coaching schools” to offer Thai language for expats who work in Thailand Thai language for expats who work in Thailand than in the past such as NISA Thai language than in the past such as NISA Thai language School, SMIT School, Thai Smile Languages, School, SMIT School, Thai Smile Languages, ARUN Thai Language SchoolARUN Thai Language School

Thank You Thank You