Student mobility and Thailand's potential as a hub
Jun 22, 2010
Thailand as education hub?
- Published: 11/06/2010 at 12:00 AM
Traders, warriors and missionaries are generally regarded as the people who travelled all over the world exploring other civilisations and cultures. They ventured into unknown lands looking for avenues and paved the path towards a modern connected world.
Others are here for an education, too: Children of Burmese migrant workers gather for their lunch break at a charity primary school set up by migrants and monks in Ranong province, southern Thailand.
In ancient times, when travel was hazardous, dangerous and full of mystery and surprises, these people helped connect various civilisations and people.
In this age, one can add another category to traders, warriors and missionaries - students.
Students moving from one country to another and travelling across the seven seas has become a normal dimension of modern education. Student mobility is one of the most significant trends that is altering the landscape of education all over the world.
An intensely complex process, student mobility affects not just the life of individuals but has helped chart the destiny of nations.
The edifice of technological and economic progress of many nations squarely rests on the fact that it managed to attract the best international students. It is estimated that three million students study outside their home countries, a 40% increase since 1999. This number is set to cross seven million by 2025.
Former education editor of the US News & World Report, Ben Wildavsky, in his just released book The Great Brain Race: How Global Universities Are Reshaping the World, reveals the extent of international competition for the brightest minds across the globe.
His thesis is that while this "revolution" is transforming the world of higher education, it should be welcomed, not feared.
The US has more foreign students than any other country, but is now challenged by Australia where foreign students form one fifth of total university enrolments. Germany has 190,000 students from China alone.
According to the "Open Doors 2009" report, international students in the US reached an all-time high of 671,616 in the 2008-09 academic year, out of which India contributed more than 100,000 students followed by China with 98,510 students. Out of the top five countries which send students to US, four are Asian countries.
While assessing the issue of student mobility, one must analyse the causes which prompt students to move.
First and foremost is the pursuit of excellence. Students tend to travel to places and institutions which offer the best education. Top universities of the world have traditionally been a magnet to some of the best students from across the globe.
A second factor that prompts student mobility is the option of better professional prospects. Professionals consider moving abroad for studies as a gateway to better career opportunities concentrating on job-oriented engineering, medicine, management and finance courses rather than liberal arts.
The emergence of loans from banks and other sources has helped this trend of student mobility since bankers view such loans as good investment.
A third trend in student mobility is the desire to migrate. By allowing easier migration to facilitate the education route, countries get the best students from across the globe.
Countries, particularly the United States, have acted as a magnet for all three categories of students, helping it maintain its technological and educational dominance in the world.
In Asia, the issue of student mobility has a different dimension.
Traditionally, Asian students have travelled to other continents for further education. Asia has been the largest exporter of students all over the world with China, India and South Korea being the countries from where most students travel abroad for studies.
China and India have a combined student pool of 40 million, which is more than the population of some of the countries where students move for studies.
North America, Europe and Australia have been preferred destinations.
To counter this trend, two distinct developments are taking place. First is the establishment of branch campuses of foreign universities. And second is the rush to create world-class educational infrastructure at home.
Asian countries are inviting foreign universities to establish their campuses in Asia. Singapore is a leader in this direction. India is starting. China is enhancing its global competitive by allocating greater funds to its own C9 - China's Ivy League - while India intends to create 14 new comprehensive world class universities.
Another significant aspect is student mobility within Asia where students from one Asian country travel to another Asian country to study. By taking a course in an Asian university, a foreign student acquires a distinct competitive edge, particularly since the global focus is now shifting to Asia.
Even among American students, the aspect of student mobility is gaining momentum. Though Europe hosts more than half of outgoing American students, both Latin America (15%) and Asia (11%) are becoming hot destinations.
Student mobility offers a great opportunity for Asia as well. The development of branch campuses of top universities in Asia, coupled with the creation of top class universities can now act as a destination for North American and European students. Mobility within Asia is fast becoming an option for Asian students who have hitherto travelled to US and Europe for studies.
Thailand occupies a unique position in Asia, and it can act has a hub for attracting students from North America and Europe to help them acquire the "Asian experience".
With the global economy gradually shifting to Asia, the Asian experience will act as a magnet for international students. Asia is the place where maximum growth is taking place in education, and Thailand is lucky to be positioned right at the heart of global activity.
Tej Bunnag is a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Chairman of
the Board of Trustees of AIT. Said Irandoust is President of AIT. Link with Bangkok Post site here