Bizarre reporting or an artifact of Thai education?

The headline of the article below piqued my interest to find out with bated breath what those "educational strengths" are (especially irrestible for one who has long experience in Thai education). More often than not, my experience in this country tells me that "international courses" mean Thai lecturers use English to teach Thai students. The primary motivation (as with evening, training, up-country courses) is to generate money for the institution.

The story begins by relating that a group of "relevant agencies" (starting) to encourage the Education Ministry to seriously strengthen the country's transnational education.

So now I began to wonder with a tinge of impatience ..... the headline implicity asserts that Thailand has strengths in transnational education... what are these strengths? In what sense are they considered strengths?

Further down the lines, you find out these consist of "medical fields; nursing; tourism; service and hospitality; food; and agricultural fields" being "accepted internationally". Is anyone aware of these facts? A professor at Siriraj Hospital Faculty of Nursing told me that they barely manage to have 2 to 3 nursing students (who receive some kind of international scholarships). These students come from Bangladesh, China, Laos, etc. on the purportedly south-south kind of "cooperation". (This is the premier Faculty of Nursing in Thailand). Tourism? Hospitality?

When I worked at Mahidol University, the number of students studying hotel management at the international college was rather conservative and consisted mainly of rich Thai kids. Food? I wonder how many international students are studying in private universities in Bangkok to be chefs? Agricultural fields??? Really? Are these not in fact "spectacular claims" that have no bases in fact? "Accepted internationally" in reference to which countries, may I ask?

Instead of being enlightened, I became more confused with the seemingly illogical thought process of the reporter. It reminded me of the incomprehensible answers I get from my students in their test papers which they directly attribute to their lack of competence in English. (i.e., had they written in Thai, their thoughts would come out clearly.)

As you read further down the quote of the Dhurakij Pundit University (DPU)'s vice president, Prof Paitoon Sinlarat - you would have thought that in desperation, Thai universities are being encouraged to attract drug addicts to come to study to Thailand with the addition of "indigenous drugs" to international programmes. Thailand may have a few liberal notions about some areas of life, but I can assure you this is not one of those that Mr. Taksin believed when he conducted his drug war while Prime Minister. And how will that strengthen international programmes? Surely, in more civilized societies a vice president of a university saying that would end up in public disfavor and ridicule! But not in Thailand. Perhaps, the news reporter misquoted or did not probe for clarification from the distinguished Prof Dr (a statement is enough whether you understand or not because it comes from a professor)? or maybe it was a matter of poor translation and editing?

My acculturated Thai self tells me not to pursue 'deeper' thoughts. Farangs must conform to Thainess not the other way around. In the same way that I believe there was no flood mismanagement, and I believe the government when it guarantees that there will be no more flood next year (2012). (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/270327/govt-promises-flood-free-future)

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Focus on Thai educational strengths, govt told
Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation December 20, 2011 1:00 am

With demand for education growing and student mobility increasing due to globalisation and internationalisation, Thailand must act now or risk lagging behind other countries in this field. Relevant agencies are starting to encourage the Education Ministry to seriously strengthen the country's transnational education (TNE).

In particular, they have urged the ministry to promote TNE by focusing on those educational fields in which the country has already gained acceptance, instead of pushing Thailand as an education hub, arguing that the latter strategy is too difficult to achieve, Sudhasinee Vajrabul, deputy secretary general of the Office of the Education Council (OEC), said yesterday. Sudhasinee was speaking after a meeting with representatives from the Commerce Ministry's Department of Trade Negotiations (DTN), the Office of Higher Education Commission, the Office of Vocational Education Commission, and universities.

They agreed that the ministry should promote Thailand as hub in the medical; nursing; tourism; service and hospitality; food; and agricultural fields. These fields were accepted internationally, so Thailand would be able to succeed more easily in promoting these specific fields, rather than relying solely on the education hub strategy, to which the overall quality of education and English language literacy in the country are important barriers, they said.

Sudhasinee said the OEC would present the proposals to Education Minister Woravat Auapinyakul for consideration next Monday(Dec26) to seriously push Thailand's TNE forward.

"Universities in Thailand have provided international education, which is part of TNE, but it is like fashion. Some universities have opened international programmes just to promote themselves, but they are unable to generate profit. International education in Thailand is seen as second-class international education. Thus, we have to seriously provide quality programmes to lure more foreign students," Dhurakij Pundit University (DPU)'s vice president, Prof Paitoon Sinlarat, said.

He recommended the universities add something special or unique to their international programmes that students could not learn in other countries, like indigenous drugs, to make their programmes more attractive.

In addition to offering English language instruction, Paitoon urged officials to promote Thai language and Thai studies among Asean countries to increase the country's influence in the region, which is similar to what China has done. The idea was backed by many participants at the meeting.

More people in Asean - especially in Vietnam - are studying the Thai language, according to information presented at the meeting.

DTN official Ronnarong Poonpipat said Thailand should promote four areas of education to drive TNE - distance or online education; international education that brings foreign students to study in the country; international education in which foreign universities open branches or offshore campuses in Thailand; and "flying teacher" programmes.

"The Asean Economic Community is coming in the next three years... If we don't prepare for changes in education, Thailand will become a new educational market for other Other countries which have prepared an aggressive TNE strategy," Sudhasinee said.

OEC secretary-general Anek Permvongseni said he planned to host a national conference on TNE to discuss the issue more thoroughly, and a regional conference with Asean countries to learn from their experiences in promoting TNE.

"Singapore and Malaysia have aggressively promoted TNE. We should learn from them."

Agreeing that disjointed educational policies formulated by different political parties when they come to power posed a crucial obstacle, the meeting's participants agreed to look for ways to develop more seamless policies.