Higher Education and Thai Development: Past Successes and Future Challenges

Abstract

Drawing upon historical and future perspectives, the evolution of Thai higher education and its many challenges in the current decade and next century are examined in this paper. The close relationship between national planning and policies towards higher education is described. Major themes and problems related to higher education identified in Thailand's six national development plans are summarized. In this historical segment, the management of higher education and the growing role of the private sector are considered. In the second, future-orientated part of the paper, Thailand's rapidly changing economic context is described in terms of potential implications for the future directions of Thai higher education.

The need for Thailand to increase its quality of human resources as a critical means to increase productivity and enhance international competitiveness is stressed. The related need to strengthen higher education's contributions to science and technology is emphasized. Among other key future policy issues considered are:

– problems of regional disparities in access to quality higher education and related under-utilization of talent;

– the role of higher education in promoting environmental education and research related to dealing with growing environmental problems;

– the relationship between higher education and quality of life;

– the challenge of the internationalization of the Thai society and economy.