On 28^th September 2022, the Royal Thai Embassy, London in collaboration with Asia Matters, Ireland’s leading think tank on the Asia Pacific, organised a hybrid seminar under the theme “Higher Education Opportunities in Thailand” to promote and enhance cooperation on higher education between Thailand and Ireland. The seminar took place at Technological University Dublin where more than 50 participants in higher education circles from both Thailand and Ireland attended.

Ambassador of Thailand to Ireland assigned Ms. Urasa Mongkolnavin, Minister/Deputy Chief of Mission, to deliver an introductory remark in this seminar where two speakers from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation and the Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EEC) of Thailand also joined. The Thai side shared information on Thailand’s economic development policies, which are 20 years National Strategy, Thailand 4.0 policy, and Thailand Bio Circular Green (BCG) Economic Model, aiming to unlock Thailand from the middle-income trap, the inequality trap, and the imbalanced trap. These economic development strategies are driven by technology, Innovation, and creativity which must be based on a solid foundation of education. Thailand’s development models are coherent with Ireland’s expertise in several fields including agricultural technology, green innovation, and medical technology. This could be a window of opportunities between the two countries to enhance cooperation in higher education and research.  

The Thai speakers also shared their insights on the Thai government’s higher Education priorities, the recent launch of the higher education reform and the EEC human capital skill development, all of which aim to adequately prepare higher education students for the human resource need of Thailand's target industries for the future. Following the presentations by the Thai speakers, participants from both sides constructively presented their thoughts and exchanged views on opportunities and ways to further strengthen education cooperation between the two countries in the future.