Released on: May 12, 2008, 9:25 pm

Press Release Author: PMB

Industry: Education

Press Release Summary: British Prestige University Scholar's Views on Thailand
Education System

Press Release Body:
British Prestige University Scholar's Views on Thailand Education System

British University of Nottingham scholar commented that the academic quality of Thai
students is as good as academic quality as all over the world. However, Thai
students still lack of English language skills, suggesting that Thai universities
should focus more on expose students to research.

The University of Nottingham is one of UK's leading university with an international
reputation of excellent engineering curriculum and strong links with a lot of
different universities all over the world, including the Twinning Engineering
Programmes" (TEP) & Thammasat English Programme of Engineering (TEPE), Thammasat
University (TU), Rangsit campus. Both the education institutions are members of the
Universitas 21 (U21). On the occasion of a collaborative program visit, Dr. Steve
Pickering, Associate Professor and Reader, has noted on a ten-year cooperation
saying that:

"The academic quality of Thai students is as good as academic quality as all over
the world. We find that some of the top students of the program are from Thammasat
University. So they compare very well. In my opinion Thai students are still weak in
English communication because English language isn't so strong in Thailand as in
other countries. That's what we concern about really."

"For Thai students who want to study abroad, they must work hard. But of course, the
most important they can understand English. They must expose to English while they
are here in Thailand to prepare themselves before coming to the UK by getting the
opportunity to visit to the UK in summer school. That would be good but we encourage
them to talk as much as possible and listen to English television."

"Education is kind of economic development. In the UK we are encouraging more
students, more young people to go to university and if the country wants to develop
well in the future, we need educated population. So, it\'s vital. If Thailand wants
to become a leading country, you have to have educated people in university level.
The important thing we can do it at Nottingham, because we are strong research
university. In five years of the course we can expose students to related
development and researches. I think that\'s important as well. So Thai university
need to expose to the research activity. That will make them more employable and
give them good quality. I think expose student to research makes engineering very
important," Dr. Steve Pickering further remarked.

"Therefore, any leading university wants to improve its position in the world need
to focus on research as well as education teaching. And also, in the global economic
today is dominated by English language. So it is important that all students in Thai
universities have to expose to speaking English, because leading universities around
the world committing the main communication," he concluded.

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About Thammasat University's TEP Project
The Twinning Engineering Programmes (TEP) was established in 1996 as a joint effort
between the Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University and the University of
Nottingham, England. This programme has proved to be successful in developing
well-trained engineers for Thai and international industries.

About University of Nottingham
Established in 1978, the University of Nottingham (NU)'s aim is to provide the
finest possible environment for teaching, learning, and research.

The Thammasat-Nottingham Universities collaborative program consists of six
engineering curriculums including:

- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering


For more information please contact: Project Communications Team;
Khun Natthakan, Khun Supiluk
Professional Media Business Co., Ltd.
Tel: 662-934 6718 # 16 Fax: 662-934 6720
Mobile: 085-812-9393, 081-836 1807



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Contact Details: For more information please contact: Project Communications Team;
Khun Natthakan, Khun Supiluk
Professional Media Business Co., Ltd.
Tel: 662-934 6718 # 16 Fax: 662-934 6720
Mobile: 085-812-9393, 081-836 1807