Free Trade Agreement on Education Service: Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University

AbstractA study on Capability Development of Educational Institutions and Free Trade Agreement on Educational Service: A Case Study of Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University that aims to study the capability development of educational institutions to support free trade agreement on educational service in the ASEAN community. The data collection tools included participating observation, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Informants covered luminaries, executives of educational institutions and lecturers. It was found from the study that the free trade agreement on key educational services covers (1) cross border supply in which educational institutions provide educational services to overseas customers; (2) consumption abroad in which overseas customers use educational services of Thai educational institutions; (3) commercial presence in which educational institutions have educational offices abroad; and (4) movement of national persons in which academic personnel and students are exchanged. The capability development of educational institutions includes (1) increasing graduate capability to reach international standards; (2) strengthening higher educational institutions; and (3) enhancing roles of educational institutions in the ASEAN community. English and other ASEAN languages are to be set in educational systems. Collaborations with ASEAN countries on academic personnel and student exchange, research, training, curriculum and higher educational system development, have been created. As a result, the capability of Thai higher educational institutions will increase. Having high-potential personnel and modern teaching methods, as well as producing qualified graduates will enhance competitiveness at an international level