The number of Thai students enrolled in local international universities is expected to increase sharply in the next five years, as students look to equip themselves with the skills needed to compete with the regional workforce, according to an academic organisation.
Laureate Thailand CEO Gilles Mahe said a survey conducted by his company found 60% of tertiary-level students in Thailand want to study in international programmes. However only 3% are enrolled in such courses.
Laureate is an academic organisation with a network of 80 universities in 28 countries serving more than 675,000 students from around the world.
"Demand for international programmes and international universities is high in Thailand now because Thai students are paying more attention to improving their capacity to communicate in English, which is considered a weak point for Thais in the era of the Asean Community," he said.
For example, the number of students attending Stamford International University (SIU) Thailand, a university under the Laureate global network, has increased from 850 in 2011 to 4,444 this year. The figure is expected to rise to 11,000 by 2020.
Mr Mahe said that not only are more Thai students set to enrol in SIU, but the number of foreign students, especially from Asean countries, is also expected to increase because of Thailand's lower tuition fees compared with international universities in Malaysia and Singapore.
"International education is likely to become increasingly competitive, and we are happy to compete with more countries and I think Thailand is very competitive in the region," he said.
SIU Thailand president Andrew Scown said Thais are required to compete in the international market now that the country has entered the Asean Economic Community.
"Students in this and the next generation will need abilities to work or do business at regional and global stage which international universities can provide a better preparation to students," he said.
Mr Scown said SIU graduates have done well in the job market. According to a survey, the overall employment rate for Stamford's Class of 2015 graduates was 92.5% six months after graduation, with the university expecting the rate to rise to 98% within the next six months.
The SIU president said this year the institution will introduce new programmes such as Business Intelligence, International Relations and Applied Global Communication, which are in high demand from employers.
Meanwhile, the University of London, one of the world's leading institutions, recently signed a deal with Thai-based Regent's International College to provide teaching support in key subjects at the college's Bangkok Campus starting in September.
The college will provide teaching support in economics, management, finance and social science.
The programme will accommodate 200 students with teaching support expected to expand within the next few years.