Since starting out its higher education journey in 1916 with the introduction of its first formal University by the Thai Monarch King Vajiravudh, Thailand has come a long way and now it has a well established higher education structure with 170 higher education institutions and more than 2,800 study programs. While this expansion has helped the country to make its mark amongst the best higher education systems in Asia, over the years, higher education in Thailand is facing multiple concerns. The changing demographics, decline in student enrollment, and lack of technological investments in many institutions are some of these pain points. Even with that being the case, Thailand has continued to make impressive strides when it comes to developing into an attractive international higher education destination for foreign students. And as of 2021, there are over 30,000 international students pursuing different programs in Thailand. Some of the most popular higher education streams that international students choose in Thailand are Marketing, International Business Management, and Architecture. Let’s analyze why these program are popular among international students in Thailand.
Value for Money Marketing Education
The increasing cost of education is one of the biggest concerns for students and with top higher education destinations consistently increasing the cost of education, Thailand is a great value for money option that students can opt for. Aside from the fact that Thailand is one of the most affordable counties, in most scenarios, the fees of higher education for English-taught programs don’t exceed INR 2, 50,000 in Thailand. Aside from the tuition fees, the cost of living is also affordable for international students in Thailand costing anywhere between INR 28,000 and INR 56,000 per month. Aside from the low cost of education, there are plethora of scholarship options that students can opt for in Thailand which will reduce the cost of education even more. Even though, the cost of education is low compared to other top-tier higher education destinations, educators in Thailand has made sure that they offer great value for money marketing education for the students.
Kasem Byndit University is a great example that showcases the quality of marketing education in Thailand. The BBA in Marketing program offered by the University was created with an aim to make marketing leaders of tomorrow and it offers a stimulating and inspiring learning experience to the students. Through this program, Kasem Byndit University aims to inspire innovative ways of thinking, and problem solving among the students while at the same time developing their discipline and leadership. The program promotes a collaborative learning culture and covers a wide area of topics including social sciences, languages, science, humanities and physical education. And through this holistic teaching approach, many of their students have gone on to make successful careers in different marketing positions including marketing development manager, marketing researcher, product manager, and marketing researcher to name a few.
International Business Management and Real-world Exposure
International business management is one of the most in-demand education programs in many countries across the globe. With societies becoming more interconnected, MNCs are looking for employees who can solve cross-cultural challenges. Owing to this, in Thailand, educational institutions acknowledge the importance of equipping the students with a global mindset and the knowledge of global business environment. Higher education institutions in Thailand strive to ensure that their students are equipped with transferable skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving capabilities. And to ensure this, many of the educational institutions in the country like Bansomdet Chaopraya Rajabhat University, and Didyasarin International College offer international business management programs where practical training and real-world exposure is top priority.
The Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business Management (IBM) offered by Stamford International University is a 3.5 year program with 160 credits. Through their IBM program, the university aims to nurture professionals who are not limited by borders. And unlike many other institutions who train the students to identify business challenges, Stamford International University aspires to create students who can see global business opportunities. To achieve this, the university has assembled a team of teachers who themselves have global success managing businesses across the world. And aside from focusing on theoretical concepts, Stamford International University trains students on how to apply the concepts they have learnt in real-world scenarios through an array of practical training programs. The university also offers two specialized certificate programs for their IBM students and they are a) ‘Leadership and Management’ that aspires to create global business leaders, and b) ‘International Trade’ which prioritizes on creating leaders who can develop business relationships across the globe.
Research-centric Architecture Education
Some of the premier architecture educational institutions in Thailand such as the Thammasat University, Silpakorn University, and Chulalongkorn University helps the learners to combine multiple architecture principles including utility, durability, as well as beauty to stand out from the rest of their peers. And to ensure this, these institutions focus on research-centric and project-based teaching methods which will help students develop their critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities. Apart from that, Thailand has a growing construction industry which was valued at USD 26 billion last year and between 2023 and 2026, the industry is expected to grow even more. The booming construction market and the new companies mushrooming in the industry also help architecture colleges in Thailand to offer more hands-on experience and better employment opportunities for their students.
The School of Architecture and Design of King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi aspires to offer world class architecture education both at undergraduate and graduate levels. The school promotes research-centric architecture education while at the same time focus on the latest trends/changes happening in the global architecture space. The school prioritizes on project-based architectural leaning with key emphasis on experimentation. Through this, the school is aiming to nurture the culture of research and innovation among their students. And apart from just focusing on creating skilled architects who can make a name for themselves in the industry, the School of Architecture and Design also aims to nurture creative practitioners with socio-cultural and environmental awareness.
The infrastructure of international higher education is still evolving in Thailand and going forward, the country is aiming to be an education hub in the ASEAN region. In order to achieve this, higher education institutions in Thailand are aiming to increase the quality of their education while at the same time become more appealing for international students. Aside from this, significant changes should be introduced in the immigration rules of Thailand which will allow foreign teachers and students to stay in the country for longer periods of time. Also, as of now, higher education institutes in Thailand only have a few major international collaborations. And if Thailand wants to become a hot-spot for international students in Asia, then, collaborations with other top-tier international universities and colleges should be given top priority as well.
