75% of universities in danger of closing – Expert

An education expert has warned that three quarters of Thai universities are at risk of closing over the next decade due to low enrolment and increased competition from foreign rivals, writes Dumrongkiat Mala for Bangkok Post.

Arnond Sakworawich, a lecturer in actuarial sciences and risk management at the Graduate School of Applied Statistics of the National Institute of Development Administration, said he is worried the government's idea to allow institutions of higher education from overseas to create satellite campuses in special economic zones along Thailand's borders would put many Thai universities in danger of shutting down.

Arnond said Thailand's higher education market has been shrinking for many years due to a demographic transition from high to low levels of fertility. During last year's admissions, the 170 universities had vacancies for up to 150,000 prospective students to study various subjects, but only 80,000 applied for the entrance test, he said.
Full report on the Bangkok Post site