#SocialInclusion

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.

New research highlights the lasting impact of childhood social rejection on mental wellbeing and personality development. Findings show that early exclusion increases loneliness and is associated with higher levels of the Dark Triad—narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. The study’s implications are relevant to educators, parents, and policymakers in Thailand, where social harmony and community integration are highly valued.

In Thai communities, where group belonging and collective well-being shape childhood experiences, social exclusion can carry heavy consequences. International research indicates that marginalized children—whether due to academics, disabilities, or family background—face greater risks of chronic loneliness. The study also suggests that early exclusion can contribute to traits marked by manipulation, grandiosity, and a lack of empathy. Researchers noted that individuals who faced rejection in childhood reported higher loneliness and more pronounced Dark Triad characteristics as adults.

Early experiences of social exclusion may have far-reaching consequences on individuals’ psychological wellbeing and future personality development, according to new research reported by PsyPost. The study, which investigates the knock-on effects of childhood social rejection, reveals that not only does exclusion increase loneliness, but it is also linked to a rise in characteristics known collectively as the “Dark Triad”: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. These findings could have significant implications for educators, parents, and policymakers in Thailand, where social harmony and group integration are held in high cultural regard.