CHINA-THAILAND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE POST COVID-19 ERA: EXPERIENCES AND PROSPECTS

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Worapot Yodpet

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The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the International Cooperation in Higher Education (ICHE), bringing virtual learning into play. China and Thailand are the first two counties in the world that reported the COVID-19 cases reflecting the longest attempt to get through the pandemic. The purpose of this study were (1) to investigate the experiences and (2) to examine prospects of China-Thailand ICHE in response to the COVID-19. The study adopted the qualitative approach by interviewing 25 participants and reviewing the related documents. Random purposive sampling and criterion sampling were employed to select 11 Chinese and 14 Thai representatives from the government, university, teachers and students, and entrepreneurs by adopting online and offline semi-structured interviews. Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) was used to evaluate the validity of interview questions. The coding technique and desk research was used to analyze data.
 
The study found three main experiences of the China-Thailand ICHE, including (1.1) transforming for the unplanned plan, (1.2) virtual mobility of students and teachers, and (1.3) seminars for academic and public and six prospects for future cooperation, including (2.1) flexible cooperation framework, (2.2) mutual accountability, (2.3) virtual cooperation, (2.4) quality of education exchange, (2.5) virtual research collaboration, and (2.6) digital infrastructure. Overall, the paper addressed opportunities and challenges for future ICHE. It demonstrated a cooperation mechanism assisting public and business sectors to outreach more innovative and comprehensive cooperation regarding the uncertainty of COVID-19.

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