Thailand: Educational Services Market

1
Thailand Educational Services Market

• Nalin Phupoksakul
• U.S. Commercial Service
• U.S. Embassy Bangkok, Thailand

www.buyusa.gov/thailand/en
2
Presentation Content

• Thailands education sector outlook
• Educational services market size, growth and
  trends
• Market Profile
• Best prospects and prospective buyers
• Market entry
• Market challenges
• Trade events

3
Thailands Education Sector

• US Is Always No. 1 Choice
• 15,500 Students (estimated/2007)
• 10 Growth
• 65 Post Graduate (MBA, Computer Science,
  Engineering)
• 20 Undergraduate
• 15 Language Training/Work-Study/Exchange
  Programs (J1)

4
Market Size of Education Market
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How Thai Students Select the Country

• Students Academic Background
• Peer/Relative Influence
• Parent Influence
• Agent Influence

6
Where Do Thai Students Go in the US

• Big Cities, including Los Angeles, San
  Francisco, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston,
  Denver, Dallas
• Cities where they have relatives
• Cities where their friends are

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Best Prospects and Prospective Buyers

• Best prospects
• - Undergraduate and specialized graduate
  programs.
• - Boarding schools.
• - One Year Exchange Program High School
• - MBA and English Language Training remain all
  time
• best prospect among students from Thailand

8
Market Entry

• Attends Educational Fairs
• - Direct interaction with potential students and
  parent
• - No continuation of in country school
  promotions
• - Question on follow up activities
• Uses Local Agents
• In country promotion all year round
• Exposure to students
• Level of comfort for students and parents
• Multiple agents is a norm
• Compensation required
• Proactive

9
Market Entry

• Works with Education USA Advisers
• - Non bias
• - Free counseling and school promotion

10
Challenges and Barriers

• Challenges
• Locating potential students
• Locating agents to recruit students and promote
  schools
• Working with agents and Education USA Advisers
  proactively

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Barriers

• Agents require commission payment
• Misconception on the visa rejection
• Limitation in norm and culture
• Growing international programs in Thailand

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How we step in to help?

• Locating Potential Students
• - Single Company Promotion solo exhibition and
  promotion of school, US Embassy extend and
  invitation to potential students
• - Educational Fairs STUDY USA,
• Locating Potential Partners and Links
• - International Partner Search
• - Gold Key Service

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How we step in to help?

• Virtual Counseling
• -Webinar counseling and meeting with Education
  USA
• Advisors, potential agents, and school
  representatives.

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Regional and Local Trade Events

• Local Trade Events
• TIECA Intl Education Fair October, 08
• www.tieca.com
• OCSC Intl Education Fair November, 08
• www.studyabroad.ocsc.go.th
• Regional Trade Events
• IIE Study America Fair October, 08
• www.iiethai.org

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Thank you Welcome to Thailand

• Nalin Phupoksakul
• Commercial Specialist
• U.S. Commercial Service
• U.S. Embassy Bangkok, Thailand
• E-mail address nphupoks_at_mail.doc.gov