Role of education
Although the ASEAN Community is based on the three pillars, education appears to be a cross cutting element that support a successfully and stability formation of the ASEAN Community. According to the ASEAN Charter, launched in 2007, a closer cooperation in education and human resource development will empower the people of ASEAN and strengthen the ASEAN Community.
The Office of Higher Education Commission (OHEC) is fully aware that education particularly the higher education has important role in supporting the establishment of ASEAN Community and preparing Thai people and Thailand for the regional integration.
Due to the Second 15-Year Long Range Plan on Higher Education of Thailand, covering 2008-2022, ASEAN Community is among the future scenarios impacting society as well as the Thai higher education system. The plan calls for Thailand and Thai higher education as a lead player in ASEAN higher education especially in terms of harmonising ASEAN higher education system. The plan suggests that Thailand and ASEAN could learn the European Union experiences and adapt its good practices to the region especially mutual recognition process and student mobility programmes.
To response to the establishment of ASEAN Community and the Second 15-Year Long Range Plan on Higher Education of Thailand, the OHEC launched the Higher Education Strategies for the ASEAN Community in 2015. The goal of the strategy is the Thai graduates meet the international quality and recognize their responsibility as member of ASEAN Community.