The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI) has announced the National Credit Bank programme, to be piloted in the middle of 2023 by four leading universities in Thailand.

The National Credit Bank will enable learners to accumulate credits from various subjects, courses, or work experiences. Once they earn enough credits, they can apply for a degree certificate or cumulative learning outcome report from Thai HEIs.

The National Credit Bank will promote continuous skills development in this fast-changing world, aiming to cater to changes in employers’ needs and learners’ behaviours.

The four universities in the pilot phase include Chulalongkorn University Graduate School, Thammasat University, Chiang Mai University, and Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi.

Why does it matter?

The National Credit Bank system will help people develop the skills needed for their job. For example, they can study for a while and then go to work. They then identify the area they would like to know more about to help them with their work and return to study again. The new system will also support learning for people of all ages. It will help develop the skills needed in the modern world – benefiting learners, employers, and society.

This National Credit Bank programme is part of Thailand’s plan to make a paradigm shift in its HE system under the following aims: 1) to move from content-based to competency-based education, 2) to move from supply-driven to co-creation in which both educational institutions and employers work together to develop platforms and curriculums, 3) to move from degree-oriented to employability-oriented education, 4) to move from catering to three-stage life to meeting the needs of multi-stage life, 5) to move from institution-based to a credit bank system, 6) to move from limited access to open access, 7) to move from a local to a global perspective, 8) to make education more accessible and affordable, 9) to move from supply side financing to demand directed financing, and 10) to move towards a creative ecosystem.

British Council comment

UK universities wishing to collaborate or currently collaborating with Thai universities may consider the following as potential future directions for collaboration.
• To offer online courses and take a modular approach to course offerings
• To introduce subjects that serve job market needs, including hard and transferable skills
• To consider approaching the four Thai universities participating in the pilot scheme

Source:
1. News about the National Credit Bank: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/pr/2417840/mhesi-announces-partners...
2. Thailand’s plan for a paradigm shift in the HE system: https://www.nxpo.or.th/th/en/9578/