Thailand

Written By Thom Howell

The UK remains one of the most popular English-speaking destination for Thai students with the majority who go to study there completing Postgraduate degrees related to Business and Administration. However, with the government’s new Thailand 4.0 policy, aimed at shifting the country’s economy from one based on manufacturing to services, jobs related to STEM and things like the automation and innovation industries are being increasingly promoted.

Whilst degrees in Business and Administration from UK universities are incredibly valuable in the Thai labour market, which hosts many multinational firms and receives lots of Direct Foreign Investment (DFI), there is an increasing need for workers with STEM and digital technology degrees.

The following industries are expected to see the most growth in the next few decades:

  • e-commerce and FinTech

  • AI and big data

  • cybersecurity

  • robotics and automation

  • electric vehicles

  • healthcare and wellness

  • green energy and sustainability

  • agricultural technology

  • tourism and hospitality

  • logistics and supply chain management

The following skills are currently being presented as desirable ones within the labour market:

  • digital literacy

  • innovation

  • sustainability

And the following soft skills are deemed the most important for Thai employers when employing graduates:

  • teamwork

  • interpersonal skills

  • creativity

  • English language

  • problem-solving

  • communication and presentation skills

Graduates from UK universities are at an advantage once they return to Thailand because employers recognise the quality of education from UK institutions. Furthermore, they value the soft skills acquired along with their degrees and graduates with good English language proficiency.

Thom Howell
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