Education with Enjoyment

Over the last 10 years, a number of overseas universities have been opening campuses in Thailand or have made agreements with Thai universities to run dual degree programmes. As a result, Thailand now has a wide choice of international-level education options. This has attracted students looking for world-class education in a country where they can be assured of a friendly welcome and a pleasant life with a low cost of living.

We now see a growing number of “educational tourists” attracted by the variety of training courses they can take in the Kingdom. As well as the already popular Thai cookery and Thai language courses and classes in Thai massage and Thai medicine, university and international school courses and English teacher training courses have been added to the syllabus.

Many world-class universities are now providing courses in Thailand. The benefits to Thai students of having world-class higher education on their doorstep are obvious, but there have been substantial benefits for Thailand as a whole, with the Kingdom growing to become a hub for foreign students who want an international standard higher education.

Students from China, Taiwan, the former Eastern bloc, Europe and increasingly the UK and USA take university courses in Thailand to enjoy the benefits of high-standard education at relatively low cost and the ability to enjoy Thailand while they study. The thought of a weekend on a tropical beach after a week’s study, or trekking through the jungle when exams are over has obvious appeal for students from overseas.

Thailand also has an ever-growing demand for English language teachers, and to meet it, a variety of English teacher training courses have emerged. Whether short basic courses or internationally- recognised courses that offer a stepping stone into the English teaching profession, there is a course in Thailand to satisfy most demands.These days, many people include teaching English as part of their itinerary for a trip to Thailand, and they are expected to be well qualified.

English is not the only language that can be studied in Thailand. As the country takes its place on the international stage, its influence grows around the world and increasingly, people take Thai language lessons for business and educational purposes. As a result, a number of commercial Thai language centres catering for expatriates and visitors have emerged to build their ability in the language.

With the continuing rise of tourism to Thailand, the world is now interested in all things Thai, most notably, perhaps, Thai food. There is an abundance of centres in Thailand teaching the intricacies of preparing Thai cuisine,
and they are very popular.

With the worldwide boom in spas and wellness centres, the demand for therapists able to offer Thai massage is increasing, and with it the number of visitors studying massage in Thailand also grows. The same may be said of courses in traditional Thai medicine, with students becoming practitioners in their own countries.