As mentioned above, there are four designated types of public institutions: limited
admission, open admission, autonomous, and community colleges. Collectively, this
institutional diversity serves a student population with differing motivations, expectations,
and qualifications. From highly selective research universities to open enrollment distance
education providers, Thai higher education has evolved in a manner that provides a wide
breadth of opportunities to maximize human capital potential.
Limited Admission Universities
The majority of public higher education institutions (63 of 78) have limited admissions.
Over the past 40 years, to gain admission to these institutions, high school students
need to pass a highly competitive national entrance examination. However, the government
recently issued a policy to expand the admission criteria to include students’ high school grades.
The old national entrance examination has also been replaced by a new Central University
Admissions System (CUAS) (Box 2-1) and a quota system is in place for each university toguarantee enrollment to specific groups of students from other regions, athletes, and students
with special interests in the arts and music.
BOX 2-1: CENTRAL UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS SYSTEM (CUAS)
The creation of the Rajabhat Universities introduced an innovation in Thai higher
education. These limited admission universities emerged in 2004 from the integration of
36 teacher training colleges—then known as the Rajabhat Institutes. These Institutes were
upgraded to gain university status. In 2008, the 41 Rajabhat Universities countrywide continued
to follow their mission in teacher preparation as well as careers in the social sciences.
The Rajamangala University was established through a similar process, by merging several
technical and commercial colleges. The Rajamangala campuses not only focus on science and
technology education, but also offer degrees in business and social sciences. Together, these
two multi-campus teaching universities dramatically expanded nationwide the educational
opportunities for Thai students seeking university degrees.
Open Admissions Universities
Unlike limited admission universities, the two open admissions universities (Ramkhamhaeng
and Sukhothai Thammathirat Universities) do not require a national examination
but select students based on their own entry requirements. These universities generally cater
to students who cannot gain access to limited admission universities or those who are already
in the labor market. In 2005, these two universities enrolled about 40 percent of the total
number of higher education students in public institutions.
Ramkhamhaeng University offers both regular on-campus classes and distance
learning, while Sukhothai Thammathirat University offers only distance education courses.
Along with less rigid admission requirements, these universities flexible distance mode of
instruction contribute directly to their high enrollment rates as students across the country
can take courses without having to relocate.
Open admission universities are playing an important role in the expansion of Thai
higher education. On the other hand, quality of instruction is generally conceived as poor
and remains a concern. Moreover, graduation rates tend to be low in these institutions.
Autonomous Universities
In recent years, CHE has promoted regulation concerning the administration of
both public and private higher education institutions. This legal framework aims to increase
both institutional autonomy and flexibility and encourage self-management under the supervision
of university councils. Within the framework of the law, each public higher education
institution can establish its own internal organization.
So far, seven universities have received autonomous status recently—Burapha
University, Chaing Mai University, Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, Thaksin
University, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Ladkrabang and King Mongkut’s University
of Technology North Bangkok as well as four traditional autonomous universities established
earlier (Four traditional autonomous universities including: Suranaree University of Technology (1990), Walailak University
(1992), Mae Fah Luang University (1998) and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (1998).). At present, the government has promulgated 13 acts to safeguard the operation
of autonomous universities. They have been granted full status to operate as independent
government agencies, receiving funding through block grants from the national budget and
have full autonomy to establish their administrative structures or formulate rules and regulations
relating to personnel and staffing.
In addition to these 11 autonomous universities mentioned above, there are also
two Buddhist autonomous universities. These Buddhist universities were established by
King Rama V to train students in the teachings of the Buddha and in the Pali language. These
universities provide education to monks, novices, and lay people. They offer undergraduate
and graduate degree level programs, emphasizing Buddhism and subjects relevant to
Buddhism.
Community Colleges
In 2001, Thailand established community colleges across the nation as a response
to growing provincial demand for higher education. The traditional obstacles to higher education
access such as high cost, distance and work obligations are addressed as part of the
community college mission. At these institutions, skills upgrading is also available for those
already in the labor market.
Fees charged tend to be low and course offerings include 2-year associate degree
programs and short-course trainings catering to local economic and social development
needs. The curricula for associate degrees include: Early Childhood Education, Community
Development, Local Government, Tourism Industry, General Management, Accounting, Computer,
Business Computing, Business Electronics, Technology Programs in Livestock Production,
Agriculture Industry, Electricity, and Auto-Mechanics.
Please note that we cannot take any responsibility for the correctness of the data shown on this Web site. We try our very best, but we depend on universities, their Web sites, and fellow students and lecturers, to get updates when ever programs, conditions, or tuition fees change.
