Looking west and east: Thailand’s academic development

Abstract

Of all the countries of South East Asia Thailand maintained its independence from colonial rule by astutely playing off the different colonial powers. Nevertheless, its rulers were strongly influenced by Western ideas which were modified to suit Thai culture. In much the same way the Thai leaders used, adapted and modified Western university models to develop their own system of higher education. Until the second World War French and English patterns were closely adhered to. Following the War North American influence became particularly strong. During the 1970s and 1980s the British Open University, a distance learning university, was used as a model for future developments. All these were models, however; they were not transplants. As a result Thailand has developed an unusual blend of traditional and modern approaches to its provision of higher education without seriously compromising cultural values, and some of the country’s solutions are particularly novel. This essay seeks to show how these developments have come about and what lessons can be learnt from the Thai example.