Thailand certainly has the potential to realise its ambitions of becoming the centre of international education in the AEC, but it won’t be easy. Some of Thailand’s neighbours, Singapore and Malaysia in particular, share long traditions of international education and also have some excellent schools. And like Thailand, these are also very livable countries . Singapore has the added advantage of having highly respected school system and neither of these countries have experienced the type of political turmoil that has tarnished Thailand’s international image over the past decade.
Thailand’s ambitions to become the AEC’s international education hub are not as unrealistic as they first appear and international schooling in Thailand has made phenomenal progress. But these ambitions will require Thailand to stave off stiff opposition from some its neighbouring countries if they are to become a reality.