ASEAN STUDENTS IN THAILAND: A CASE STUDY IN MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY

In year2010, the total number of international students has increased by 5.7% from year2009. Mahidol University ranked as one of the top ten universities that had number of international students in Thailand

There is limited number of studies of Asian students living in ASEAN countries. The lack of researches in this area is therefore making this issue interesting.

The objectives of this research are 1) to identify motivated factors influence ASEAN students to study in Mahidol University 2) to determine their expectation for being student here 3) to identify the their adaptation in difference culture 4) to investigate the need for ASEAN students to improve the learning process. Purposive sampling procedure is designed to select the cases. Case study approach was used by interview.

Result: there is no communication problem in class but it’s hard for ASEAN students to communicate with Thai people in their daily life because of the language barrier. The reason for selecting Thailand as their destination choice is because the cost is cheap, ASEAN countries have similar culture, which doesn’t require much of adaptation. Study oversea will give them a better opportunity to get a better paid. The result of the study will serve universities seeking the need of growing international students, there is much yet to be learned.