The Interview Dr. Richard Gustafson on Higher Education in Thailand (5 June 1999 F.M.95.5 & 105.0 MHz 7.00 A.M) The Office of the National Education Commission, has arranged a forum on Education Reform: Perspectives on Policy and Plan Implementation--USA, inviting Dr Richard Gustafson, President of New Hamshire College, U.S.A., the Fullbright Senior Scholar to give a comparative views of education reform between Thailand and the United States. Following is his very interesting openion interviewed by Khun Wallapat Sritongsuk, the Office of the National Education Commission on the issues concerning the education reform and, as he is also interested in the tertiary education, his views on the university entrance system in Thailand, as well as the issue regarding the internal and external quality assurance of the education institutions. 1. What are the challenges that you can see regarding education reform in Thailand according to the National Education Bill? I think the National Education Bill as is proposed will cause major changes in Thailand which respect to not only higher education but all of the education. The major shift from my perspective is a shift from a centralized to a decentralized approach to administer education in the country. Historically now for over hundred years, Thailand has has a very centralized approach to the education system. To make a shift to decentralization will cause changes at all levels, national as well as regional and local levels. Those changes will be difficult for many people to embrace. 2. What do you think about the new entrance examination system or admission process into the higher education institutions in Thailand? Is there any difference from that in the United States? I think it is a very difficult situation clearly where you have many more students than seats available in top universities across the country. Some fashion of an admission process must be put into place in order to make those difficult decisions as to who gets admission or who doesn’t. I am not sure what might be better way to do that at the present time. As you probably know the situation in the United States is fundamentally different. We have far more seats available for students than we have students in the States. We actually recruit students from overseas. So, in the United States, institutions themselves set their own entrance standards. They recruit students to meet those standards. They try to attract students to enter to their institutions. So, because of the law of supply and demand, the way in which students are admitted to colleges and universities in the United States is fundamentally different from the process which takes place here in Thailand. 3. Would you like to express any thought on education reform Thailand? All I mentioned to the group here earlier today, the Education Bill is currently working in its way to the parliament and onto the administration. There will be a major shift in education in this country. I don’t think I ever read a piece of legislation that is more sweeping in changes than this particular Bill. It also speaks to very---- washing away a much of the current structures in its administrator of higher education in Thailand. And this is in itself, is a fundamental change. Further, as I mentioned earlier, decentralization of authority is likewise a fundamental change. It also provides for a great deal, more of flexibility and easy operation for private institutions especially those in the higher education. I think that private higher education in Thailand has matured considerably over the last twenty years. It ought to be placed in the position of having far or less oversight at the federal level in term of the day-to-day operation. Another thing that struck me about this piece of legislation is it focuses on quality assurance. You are trying to assure the public that what is going on in colleges and universities especially is of high quality. There are provisions in the law for both internal and external review of quality and quality assessment and I think if such a process is put into place, people in Thailand can be sure that quality is being attended to in colleges and universities of the country. I think it is really a positive step in the right direction for Thailand.