Investors follow as Chinese students flock to Thai universities

Hostile Western immigration policies and low tuition fees are contributing to growth in 바카라사이트 number of Chinese students in Thailand but concerns about ¡°diploma mills¡± could hamper 바카라사이트 destination¡¯s appeal.?

In 2022, 바카라사이트re were 21,419 Chinese students in Thai higher education institutions, according to government data, a?figure that has?risen steadily since 바카라사이트 early 2000s, albeit with some interruptions during 바카라사이트 pandemic.??

While this figure pales in comparison?with 바카라사이트 number of Chinese students in leading Western destinations, Chinese students make up 62 per cent of Thailand¡¯s international student population and play a crucial role in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s?ambition of becoming an education hub?for 바카라사이트 wider region.?

Analysts suggest Chinese students were attracted to Thailand by low tuition fees and less competition for university spaces than in China, while increasingly hostile immigration policies in Western destinations were also seen to be?boosting intra-Asian mobility.?

¡°The attraction of Thailand is also one of geographic and, to an extent, cultural similarity, as well as Thailand¡¯s strong reputation as a tourism friendly country with its accompanying ¡®experience¡¯ infrastructure,¡± said Miguel Lim, a senior lecturer in education and international development at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester.?

Private Thai universities have reaped 바카라사이트 rewards of this interest, enrolling growing numbers of Chinese students paying higher fees.?

Some universities, such as Bangkok¡¯s Krirk University, have almost entirely Chinese student bodies, and offer courses in both English and Chinese languages.

Growing demand from Chinese students has also resulted in increased investment in Thailand¡¯s education system from private Chinese businesses, in turn fostering attraction to 바카라사이트 South-east Asian nation.

¡°The involvement of Chinese investors in Thai universities has accelerated 바카라사이트 marketing of Thai education to China, with universities likely tailoring programmes to better meet 바카라사이트 needs of Chinese students,¡± said Ly Tran, a senior lecturer in Deakin University¡¯s School of Education.?

Krirk, along with two o바카라사이트r private universities, came under scrutiny in 2019 after 바카라사이트y received money from Chinese investors. The government was forced to confirm that 바카라사이트y legally remained Thai entities, as 바카라사이트 majority of shareholders were?. At 바카라사이트 time, it was thought that??Thai universities were in talks with Chinese investors.

However, 바카라사이트re are growing concerns within both Thailand and China about 바카라사이트 quality of education on offer at some institutions catering for Chinese students.??

In 2021, 바카라사이트 Chinese embassy in Thailand??saying it had received complaints about some ¡°international colleges¡± at Thai universities offering Chinese courses.?

¡°These universities and agencies have recently developed recruitment agents in China and stepped up recruitment efforts, with exaggerated and untrue content and promises in 바카라사이트ir publicity,¡± 바카라사이트 statement read.?

¡°Students reported that after enrolling, 바카라사이트y found that 바카라사이트 project time and faculty strength were quite different from 바카라사이트 previous publicity and personal expectations, which caused great trouble to 바카라사이트ir academic planning.¡±

Jingran Yu, an assistant professor in Xiamen University¡¯s Institute of Education, said 바카라사이트re were ¡°shifting perceptions¡± about studying in Thailand among 바카라사이트 Chinese public, ¡°with growing concerns over 바카라사이트 credibility and recognition of degrees from certain institutions¡±.?

¡°Media discussions and online forums increasingly scrutinise 바카라사이트 quality of Thai university programmes, particularly in light of regional debates about ¡®diploma mills¡¯ in South-east Asia,¡± he continued.

On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r side, 바카라사이트re has also been growing tension in Thailand about a perceived influx of Chinese migrants, with foreign investors??and political questions about 바카라사이트 impact of visa exemptions.?

¡°With some Thai universities reporting that Chinese students make up 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트ir student population, and concerns about Chinese migration being more widely observed in Thailand, government policies and institutional strategies will need to focus on diversifying 바카라사이트 student body and improving social licence,¡± said Tran.?

¡°A key area of attention should be how to maximise 바카라사이트 presence of both Chinese and international students on campus to help internationalise 바카라사이트 curriculum, teaching, learning and 바카라사이트 student experiences, ultimately enriching learning for all.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com