Bangkok: Yotsanun Wongsawat, the Pheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidate, spearheaded a meeting with the Executive Committee of the Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT) to address educational and research challenges facing the nation. The focus was on enhancing two key economic engines and asserting intellectual property sovereignty to propel the country towards high-value development.
According to Thai News Agency, the discussions were led by Mr. Yotsanun and Prof. Dr. Vilelert Phuriwatrach, President of Chulalongkorn University and Chairman of CUPT. They explored how the Pheu Thai Party's policies could effectively meet Thailand's educational and research needs. The meeting's atmosphere was marked by both intensity and camaraderie, reflecting the participants' long-standing involvement in higher education and development.
Mr. Yotsanun highlighted the "perfect storm" of challenges facing Thailand, including technological disruption and climate change, which are impacting the country's growth. He stressed that Thailand's low sunk costs allow for flexible strategic adjustments.
Strategically, Mr. Yotsanun proposed two main approaches. The first focuses on upgrading existing economic engines by enhancing productivity through science and technology, targeting tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing. This includes a 20-baht flat fare policy for the electric train system and addressing overlapping bus routes. The second approach aims to create new growth engines by attracting foreign direct investment and developing R and D infrastructure to advance agriculture, industry, and services.
Mr. Yotsanun emphasized the importance of intellectual property sovereignty and encouraged the education sector to adopt a more resolute approach to overcome structural issues. He expressed confidence that applying scientific logic to political issues would bring tangible changes, enabling Thailand to compete globally.
The meeting included discussions on policy implementation, the educational gap, the Eastern Economic Corridor's direction, and manpower development. CUPT praised the Pheu Thai Party's "One District, One Scholarship" policy and Mr. Yotsanun's comprehensive strategic planning, noting its potential to address Thailand's long-term educational and research needs.
Key figures from the Pheu Thai Party and senior executives from leading higher education institutions participated in the discussions. The aim was to collaboratively develop intellectual infrastructure, enhance research capabilities, and chart the future direction of higher education in Thailand.