Red tape chokes unis

Re: “Covid-19 hastens university revolution”, (BP, July 19).

We should keep in mind that every problem in higher education is also caused by the Education Ministry and its allied entities, such as Ohec (now called the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovations), Onesqa, TCI, and many others. As a result, most state-funded universities have turned into teaching factories, not by accident, but by doing what is dictated by these entities.

In every world ranking, private universities dominate because of their autonomy, innovative teaching and learning practices, and cutting edge research. It is very sad to see that private universities in Thailand have been choked by the red tape tied around their necks. It is high time that they are allowed to be fully autonomous and lead the change in higher education.

Everything former higher education minister Suvit Maesincee mentions is key to the future of Thai higher education. Adoption of blended learning, outcome-based teaching, upskilling, collaboration with industry, and forging alliances with foreign universities is important. But he ignores the fact that for Thai universities to find their place in regional or global competitive space, the country must drastically change its immigration policies. To attract foreign faculty and bring students to conduct research will require proficiency in English, advance technical and communication skills and dynamic curricula. In addition, scholarships, student visas, work permits, and employment-related issues must be addressed. A pool of highly educated and talented expatriates living inside Thailand can’t contribute to this effort because of the arcane immigration and work-related policies. In a nutshell, a revolution in Thai higher education will require more than a lockdown to deal with the Covid-19 crisis.

KULDEEP NAGI