ADAPTATION OF THE CURRICULA TOWARDS THE TENDENCY OF DISRUPTION IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Abstract

There are two main factors affecting the tendency of Thai higher education disruption, both of which have to do with the changing population structure. They are: an aging society, and a decreasing birth rate. These factors provide challenges when designing curriculum and result in the need for a shift in thinking about higher education curriculum. The shift involves: lifelong learning education in the style of experiential learning suitable for learners’ needs, a widely digitalized and innovative curriculum management in the style of online learning and using digital platforms, and a curriculum that is profession-oriented and aligned with the needs of the labor market. Such a curriculum rests on 3 pillars: Capabilities pillar, Communities pillar, and Civilization pillar. Such a curriculum would also need to cater to the needs of the new generation, namely emotional skills, life skills and work skills. Such curriculum management needs to also cater to a new generation of graduate students with high competency and potential to align with the business and industrial sectors and drive economy of the country in the future.