#PolicyAnalysis

A recent editorial in The Economist flags a growing tension in UK higher education. Many universities chase “world-class” status at the expense of local impact. The piece argues that chasing international rankings can come at a price for institutions and the communities they serve. As Thailand aims to elevate its universities, these insights offer timely guidance for policymakers, educators, and students.

UK higher education has long earned international respect, with venerable universities setting benchmarks. Today, even mid-tier institutions feel pressure to raise their international standing. The editorial suggests resources are increasingly directed toward league-table metrics such as THE and QS. Efforts include recruiting international staff, publishing in global journals, and boosting research intensity. Yet these markers do not always translate into better student outcomes or broader national benefits. Data from respected institutions and sector analyses show that a narrow focus on rankings can overshadow local missions and social impact.

A recent article in The Economist has cast a spotlight on an intensifying debate within the United Kingdom’s higher education sector: the pursuit by too many British universities of so-called “world-class” status. According to the Economist’s July 2025 leader, this fixation with international rankings comes at a cost—not just to individual institutions, but to the wider society those universities are supposed to serve. As Thailand continues to elevate its own higher education ambitions, the lessons emerging from British campuses are timely and relevant for policymakers, educators, and students across the kingdom.

A new study published by BMC Public Health has revealed a dramatic rise in public attention toward infertility in China, using Baidu search data to map nationwide trends and public sentiment around reproductive health issues. As infertility rates have soared from 7.5% in 2007 to an estimated 18.2% in 2020—now affecting one in five Chinese couples of reproductive age—the demand for information and solutions is reaching new heights, underscoring both societal anxieties and gaps in healthcare infrastructure. The findings provide powerful insights for Thai policymakers and families as Thailand faces similar demographic transitions and a shifting culture around fertility and family planning.

A recent study in BMC Public Health analyzes Baidu search trends to understand how people in China seek information about infertility, IVF, and related topics. The findings show infertility rates rising from 7.5% in 2007 to about 18.2% in 2020, suggesting roughly one in five couples of reproductive age could be affected. The research highlights public demand for information and gaps in healthcare infrastructure, offering timely lessons for Thailand as it navigates similar demographic and cultural shifts around fertility.

In a controversial move set to affect students, parents, and educators alike, Missouri has become the latest US state to introduce a sweeping cell phone ban across all public schools. Signed into law by the governor and effective from the upcoming academic year, Senate Bill 68 prohibits students from possessing their phones on campus during the entire school day—including lunch breaks and time between classes—except in emergencies or for medical needs. This new policy, already practiced by some districts, now becomes mandatory statewide, with school authorities tasked to ensure its enforcement and navigate its consequences for the educational ecosystem.

A new statewide rule in Missouri bans students from carrying cell phones on school grounds for the entire day, including lunch and transitions. The policy, signed into law and set to take effect next academic year, requires schools to enforce the prohibition with exceptions only for emergencies or medical needs. While some districts have already limited phone use, the measure now applies to all public schools across the state.

Proponents argue the ban supports focused learning, safer hallways, and fewer distractions in classrooms. Critics worry about emergencies, parental communication, and broader effects on mental health and social development. The issue resonates beyond Missouri, contributing to a global conversation about smartphone use among youths and its impact on attention, performance, and well-being. Thai educators see relevance for Thai schools grappling with similar concerns.

Thailand began a sweeping crackdown in early 2025 to shield its reputation as a regional business hub and protect citizens from scam networks. New research and expert analysis show the fight is protracted and, some warn, unwinnable in the near term as syndicates adapt, relocate, and persist despite government actions. The latest findings illuminate how deeply rooted and complex scam networks are across mainland Southeast Asia, especially along porous borders and in neighboring countries.