Bangkok: The world of education today is no longer limited to classroom learning for a degree. Professor Dr. Vilelert Poorivachara, President of Chulalongkorn University, has been entrusted with the position of Chairman of the Asian University Alliance (AUA), becoming the first Thai person to hold this position. His goal is not just to manage the institution, but to drive a "Future University Governance Model" to address the challenges of the world in 2026.
According to Thai News Agency, AUA is a network of 15 top Asian universities. Many may confuse AUA with Southeast Asia, but in reality, it's a coalition of 15 leading universities across Asia, each representing a single "top" university from their respective country. Examples include the University of Tokyo (Japan), Seoul National University (South Korea), NUS (Singapore), Tsinghua and Beijing Universities (China), and Chulalongkorn University as the sole representative from Thailand. Their primary mission is to foster collaborative development, shifting global educational focus from the West to the East, and strengthening "Asian Branding."
Under the vision of the university of the future, Prof. Dr. Vilelert proposes that the role of universities must be redefined in three main areas: Expanding to the Senior Market (Lifelong Learning), shifting from Knowledge-based to Wisdom-based learning, and promoting Integrated Learning across disciplines. In an era of declining birth rates, universities must not only cater to teenagers but also provide opportunities for people in their 40s and 50s to continuously reskill. A clear example is the establishment of the "Chula Extension College for Lifelong Learning" to promote non-degree learning for people of all ages.
The gap between what universities teach and what the job market demands is a major cause of graduate unemployment. Professor Dr. Vilelert has a policy to make Chulalongkorn University an Experience-based University, incorporating real-world work experience and entrepreneurship into the curriculum from the first year of study. This fosters learning through hands-on experience and enables students to adapt to new technologies constantly.
Taking a leap to the global level through collaboration, Chulalongkorn University was recently ranked 212th in the QS World University Rankings (a jump of 9 places) and 19th in the world for sustainability. However, Professor Dr. Vilelert emphasized that Thai universities are not competing with each other, but must collaborate to represent Thailand on the international stage. In the future, under the AUA network, we may see student exchange programs between top Asian universities, or even double degree programs where students study for four years and receive degrees from both Chulalongkorn University and a leading university abroad simultaneously.
In conclusion, educational reform in Thailand must begin from the foundation and the raw materials, not just by changing the external packaging. Professor Dr. Vilelert's mission as Chairman of AUA is therefore a crucial step in proving that "education can generate income for the country" and is a vital tool for sustainably transforming the economic status and quality of life of the Thai people.