Thailand faces a challenging path to higher education attainment as global rankings spotlight rising international competition. New research from CBRE Group shows Ireland at the top for tertiary attainment, with more than half of adults aged 25-64 holding at least a bachelor’s degree. Switzerland and Singapore follow, while the United States remains above 40 percent, underscoring a persistent strength in universities and research ecosystems worldwide. For Thai readers, these findings spark questions about how Thailand can strengthen its own higher education system to support innovation and inclusive growth. Data and analysis from major think tanks and research outlets highlight these trends and their implications for policy and practice, including in Thailand’s neighbor and economic partner region.
Ireland’s ascent reflects sustained investment in accessible higher education since the 1990s, combining broad scholarship support with strong industry-university collaboration. Such models demonstrate how inclusive policies and connections to the labor market can translate into a knowledge-based economy. In Asia, Singapore’s policy choices also emphasize STEM and lifelong learning to maintain competitiveness. The UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, and others register high attainment through similar integration of education with economic objectives. The United States continues to rely on a large universe of graduates, though debates over cost and equity persist.
For Thailand, the picture is more nuanced. World Bank data show only about 17 percent of Thai adults aged 25 and older have completed a short-cycle tertiary qualification, far below the leaders and many regional peers. South Korea, frequently cited as a benchmark for Thai development, reports a tertiary attainment rate around 39 percent, illustrating the scale of the gap Thailand faces. These figures underscore the urgency of policies that bridge education with job-ready skills and digital proficiency.
Education remains central to Thailand’s future prosperity and social equity. The World Bank’s examination of skills and inequality highlights education gaps as a primary driver of income disparities. While basic schooling is widely accessible, participation in tertiary education declines after upper secondary school, particularly among boys. The pandemic amplified these challenges, with distance learning widening gaps for lower-income families and raising learning losses in measurements used by the Human Capital Index. Thailand’s score on this index declined from 0.61 to 0.55 between 2020 and 2022, signaling more work ahead.
Globally, higher education correlates with innovation, labor mobility, and economic resilience. Countries that lead tend to democratize access to higher education, position universities as engines of the knowledge economy, and promote continual learning to keep the workforce adaptable. Thailand can draw lessons from Ireland’s and Singapore’s approaches—strong university-industry links, targeted STEM investments, and inclusive scholarship programs—while aligning them with local needs and values.
Culturally, education is highly valued in Thai society, with a long history of public and temple-based learning supporting literacy and social advancement. Government initiatives, including long-running basic education reforms, laid groundwork for broader access. However, barriers to tertiary study persist, including entrance competition, cost considerations, and questions about the return on certain degrees.
Policy implications are clear. Thailand should boost participation in tertiary education and ensure that higher education translates into skills demanded by a digital, innovation-led economy. The Office of the Higher Education Commission and the Ministry of Education have flagged digital literacy and English proficiency as priorities, but rural and lower-income communities require targeted investment to close urban-rural disparities. Stronger industry partnerships, expanded online and blended learning, and clearer career pathways can help translate educational gains into real-world opportunity.
For families and students in Thailand, the message is practical: prioritize programs that build STEM capabilities, language skills, and lifelong learning habits. For policymakers, accelerating investment in high-quality, accessible higher education—especially in underserved areas—will be essential to narrowing gaps with global leaders. Employers and educators should collaborate more closely to align curricula with evolving labor market needs and to provide robust career guidance.
Looking ahead, the trajectory of Thailand’s tertiary attainment depends on coordinated reform and sustained investment. While the country has achieved meaningful expansion at basic and secondary levels, more ambitious efforts are required to raise college participation and ensure the value of degrees in a rapidly changing economy. The experiences of Ireland, Singapore, and other high-performing systems offer practical templates that Thailand can adapt—grounded in local context, culture, and regional opportunities—to help the next decade’s rankings reflect progress rather than setbacks.