Impacts of the ASEAN Economic Community on BBA International Programs

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the impacts, opportunities, threats, and challenges of the upcoming 2015 ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) on the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) International Programs (IPs) in Thailand. The in-depth interviews with the directors of 14 BBA IP institutions indicated that the majority experienced minimal impacts as their programs were relatively established and were already internationally in alignment with the necessary preparations for the AEC. Opportunities were vast, particularly with the hopes of increased student enrolment, student and faculty exchanges, and joint research collaboration, while the biggest threats were competition, loss of faculty, and Thailand’s poor educational system. Challenges included maintaining and increasing student enrolment, curriculum revisions, increasing English proficiency, coping with the imminent AEC, and bringing about changes.