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Published on August 13, 2007

"Many important international organisations working in educational fields have their offices in Thailand," she said. However, Thailand - like most other SEAMEO countries - would need to improve English standards among its people, otherwise the language barrier would remain a great obstacle.

"Educational institutes in Hong Kong and Singapore can go far in the international rankings because their people use English as a daily language," Chantavit said.

She was speaking at a seminar on Thail-and's direction tow-ards the goal of becoming a regional education hub. Reed Tradex, a leading exhibition and conference organiser, hosted the event.

Chainarong Monthien-vichienchai, vice chancellor of St John's University, also believed that an English-speaking environment was one of the main deciding factors for parents selecting an overseas education destination for their children.

However, he said there were also other key factors: quality education, reasonable costs, modern educational facilities, safety and culture, as well as good economic, social and political conditions.

"Of course, it won't be easy for Thailand to become the regional educational hub - but the country has huge potential," he said, adding that both the government and private sectors should join hands to help Thailand into this role.

Chainarong said that Thailand used to be the regional education hub during the Ayutthaya period.

"Now, we have to identify the highlights of our country's education," he said.

Chainarong Limpkittisin, the general manager of Reed Tradex in Vietnam, believed Thailand had better foundations to serve as the regional education hub than Vietnam.

Innovative learning materials and personnel would be key drivers behind the effort to turn Thailand into the regional hub.

Chularat Saengpassa

The Nation