ASPIRING TO WORLD CLASS EDUCATION: CHALLENGES FOR THAI UNIVERSITIES TRYING TO COMPETE IN WORLD RANKINGS

Abstract

Over the past decade, Thai universities have faced a dual challenge of implementing measures to enhance education quality while grappling with a decline in global rankings. The economic slowdown in the last two decades has prompted a call for educational reforms in Thailand to bolster the quality of the workforce. Since 2020, there has been increased pressure on the Thai higher education system to improve graduate quality and compete internationally. This has led to substantial investments, the introduction of a Thai quality framework, and a focus on sustainable development goals to overcome challenges associated with the middle-income trap. This article argues that inherent policies and practices within Thai academia hinder upward mobility in global rankings. It raises critical questions about how Thailand can integrate its cultural requirements into the pursuit of higher rankings, adapt to internationalization without merely following Western standards, and reconcile with the prevalent influence of Anglo-Saxon paradigms in Asian academic practices.