OEA Responsibilities and StrategyThe Office is responsible for advising and assisting government scholarship students studying in the

United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany and Switzerland and for privately funded students

being educated in the United Kingdom To accomplish its roles and responsibility of developing

talents for the Thai public sector, the OEA formulate 3 core strategies; Building a Community of

Care, Enhancing OEA’s Connectivity with Thai students, and Strengthening Internal

Alignment.

Enhance OEA’s Connectivity to better identify factors affecting students’ academic achievement by,• Conducting student visits in all regions;• Organising meetings & technical workshops at OEA;• Providing Help/ Care service; • Supporting student activities;• Communicating actively through Social Networks i.e. Facebook, website and e-mail

Strengthen Internal Alignment by

• Emphasizing student-focused rather than division-

focused problem solving;

• Strengthening internal knowledge base;

• Promoting flow of

communications and ideas

Build a Community of Care through• Proactive university visits;• Regular communications with Royal Thai government scholarship funding sources to ensure effective and timely scholarship management;• Annual conference at OEA to strengthen community of care with international units, professors, executives, and representativesof scholarship funding units.

“At first, I was very surprised how come I had been chosen as a scholar among thousand qualified candidates and very glad that they saw my ability and gave me the big chance despite my disability. …I have dreamt I can bring knowledge and experience I have harvested from my study and society in the UK to develop Thailand in field of sciences…Furthermore, I want to present myself as a deaf/hard of hearing person that disable people are not incapable to do anything, but can do everything…I found out that the UK is one of the best knowledge source in crystallography along with Europe and the Diamond Light Source of the UK is one of innovative synchrotron institutes and has just opened to operate since 2007 and the atmosphere in the UK is more suitable to develop my English skill and knowledge…It is very useful to have OEA stationed in the UK because there are many Thai students studying here and wanting some urgent assistance in case that someone in Thailand cannot help on time… I cannot imagine what if OEA is not in the UK”

Ms Jakrada Attarataya (Ming)Current course of study: PhD in BiochemistryPlace of Study: University of BristolScholarship: The Royal Thai Government Scholarship for Science 2008 (2551) to study in Master and PhD degree

“It is my honour to be a Thai government scholar. The scholarship, so far, has provided me invaluable experiences both socially and academically, which are beyond compare……I would love to express my gratitude to the OEA and all its officers for providing advice and helping me out with any problems that I have faced within my studies. This inevitably facilitates me to make the best out of my time studying abroad and to achieve a magnificent lifetime experience”

Ms Junjuda UnruangsriCurrent course of study: DPhil (Doctoral of Philosophy) in Inorganic ChemistryPlace of Study: University of OxfordScholarship: DPST scholarship (A-levels to DPhil)

Comments from the Scholarship StudentsComments from the Scholarship Students

The OEA UK is responsible for more than 1,200 Thai government scholarship students and around 300 privately funded students. Each year, about 200 new scholarship students come to The UK.

The Success of the OEA has been concretized with the continual flow of students who go on to take an important and distinguished part in many aspects of Thai life. 

Government Scholarship StudentsThese students have been awarded scholarships by the Royal Thai Government, universities and other official authorities as well as non-government organisations.The scholars study mainly postgraduate courses from Master degree to Ph.D. degree but a few students with high school leaving qualifications are sent to the UK each year to take course at GCSE and GCE A levels before entering into the First degree at British Universities. A few scholarships are given to disabled scholars. Government Officials on Study LeaveThese are government officials who have permission to further their studies or undertake training or conduct research in selective fields during a specific period of time. A few study on their own funds and report to the OEA. They are sponsored by either the Thai Government or the British Council in collaboration with British Institutes or by various sources. Some of them have permission to attend short courses on professional training programmes or are research fellows. The duration of the programme ranges from 3-12 months.

Privately Funded Students The privately funded students are financially supported by their parents. Majorities are young students studying at boarding schools, as well as undergraduates and some postgraduates. The parents or guardians of the privately funded students sign a contract with the OCSC to appoint the OEA as their education guardian in the United Kingdom.

Students under the OEA’s Care

M.R. Seni Pramoj 6th Prime Minister

Mr. Anand Panyarachun18th Prime Minister

Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva27th Prime Minister

M.R.Chatu Mongol SonakulFormer Governor Bank of Thailand and Permanent

Secretary Ministry of Finance

Prof. Dr. Pairash ThajchayapongFounder of National Electronics

and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC) & former

Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Science and Technology

Examples of distinguished former students under OEA’s care

The Legation as it was known (only very large countries such as France and USA had Embassies

before WWII) was situated in Barkston Gardens in Kensington and the Students’ Office was

established there. After the war the Embassy moved to 23 Ashburn Place (near Gloucester Road

Underground Station) which looked on to a lovely peaceful garden full of old plane trees and the

Students’ Office was established in 3 rooms at the top of the building which was demolished to

make way for a new Holiday Inn.

In 1954 Field Marshal Pibul Pibulsonggram the Prime Minister at the time was instrumental in

buying a property for the Students’ Office so in the same year the present building at 28 Princes

Gate was purchased. It was in very bad condition as apparently during the war it housed part of the

Home Office and suffered damage when part of Princes Gate in Exhibition Road was bombed.

Money for repairs was tight and it was difficult to source the right building materials so much of the

work was done with these constraints. The Field Marshal came to London especially to officially

open the building in 1955.

The OEA Building28 Prince’s Gate

SW 7 1PT

“…OEA has done everything possible to make Dol's first year in school warm and

comfortable. We were really touched upon learning that the OEA visited Dol's school in

November last year.      …the guidance on the approach to the examination and interview is valuable, it

enhances Dol's and his parents' confidence of the prospect of being accepted to one or more of these prestigious schools. In all, we think what you have done is above and beyond the

core of duty, this is a very rare phenomena for government services.

    … Thank you again for taking care of Dol’ Prakit Pradipasen, mother of ….”

Master Nadol Vatanatham (Dol)Current course of study: Year 6

School: Eagle House School

“The OEA has offered me invaluable support throughout my five years in the UK, whether by helping me with my visa application and

travel arrangements before I arrived in England, or by providing the advice which

allowed me to make an informed choice as to the most suitable 6th form school as well as the

most rewarding undergraduate university course. I have always found the officers to be

extremely helpful, accommodating, and generous with their time and have always felt reassured by my knowledge of the fact that I could always seek guidance and assistance

from them.” 

Ms Supapirom Kraisoraphong (Amie)Current course of study: First Degree in

English Language & Literature (Third Year)Place of Study: St John’s College, Oxford

Comments from the Private StudentsComments from the Private Students

“It has been such an interesting and rewarding  58 years working for the Thai students and to see their successes in life, both personal and for the country.”

Julia Plaistowe OEA Senior Advisor

Key Statistics on Thai Scholarship Students in UK

Key Scholarship Students Statistics in UK (Year 2011)Key Scholarship Students Statistics in UK (Year 2011)

By Subject (number 2011)

By Level (%)