BANGKOK, January, 2010 -- Towards a Competitive Higher Education System in a Global Economy is the latest in the Thailand Social Monitor series of reports. A product of collaboration between the World Bank and the Office of Higher Education Commission, the report was completed in late 2009 and released in January 2010.

This report reviews recent developments in Thailand’s higher education system and examines its strengths as well as weaknesses. It focuses on the important relationships between the private sector and higher education. It also explains the significant role universities play in generating new knowledge and in preparing graduates for an increasingly complex globalized economy.

The report details the need to strengthen educational institutions and their links with the private sector to be able to respond to the economy’s demand for skills and for entrepreneurship.  It discusses governance and financial reforms necessary for the education system to become flexible and adapt to the nation’s needs. Above all, it demonstrates the imperative for a new focus on quality at all levels of education.

The World Bank initiated the Thailand Social Monitor report series in 1999 as a contribution to the debate on Thailand’s key social challenges and policy responses.

Although looking at higher education from an economic perspective, Towards a Competitive Higher Education System in a Global Economy argues that investing in higher education also yields social returns.

In addition to providing better economic opportunities, higher education is also associated with reduced crime rates, lower population growth, better health due to greater awareness of disease prevention, better protection of the environment, and reduced maternal as well as child mortality rates.

DOWNLOAD CHAPTERS

 

Chapter 1: Why Invest in Higher Education ( pdf 317kb)

Chapter 2: An Overview of Higher Education in Thailand (pdf 461kb)

Chapter 3: Access to Higher Education  (pdf 511kb)

 

Chapter 4: Quality and Relevance of Higher Education (pdf 510kb)

Chapter 5: Financing, Governance, and Institutional Management of Higher Education  (pdf 358kb)

 

Chapter 6: Conclusions, Challenges, and Policy Implications (pdf 293kb)