THAILAND: Call to merge universities

30 January 2011

Mergers in the university and tertiary research sectors may be the key to increased efficiency in education, according to a proposal introduced during a recent seminar organised by the Knowledge Network Institute of Thailand, Knit, a think-tank under the Office of the Higher Education Commission, to help spur the second decade of education reforms, reports the Bangkok Post.

Seminar delegates heard about the experience of education reform in Denmark, where universities were merged and tertiary research institutes bundled together for increased efficiency. As a result of the mergers, Denmark now has eight universities, down from 12 previously, and only four government research institutions, down from 13.

Knit director Piyawat Boon-long said reform of university education and tertiary level research should be carried out concurrently, as happened in Denmark. Staff shortages would be overcome at smaller universities, and big and popular universities could offer still more fields and faculties. However, the idea of university mergers can be applied only to state-owned universities.
Full report on the Bangkok Post site

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