THAILAND A GREAT PLACE TO STUDY!

This eek IHC s Dea , D . Bill We hsle , a d I had

the pleasure of visiting the two campuses in
Thailand of our newest pathway partner, Webster
University. Webster, headquartered in St. Louis,
Missouri, in the American Midwest, is perhaps the
ost glo al of all the o ld s u i e sities. I
addition to its home campus, it operates ten
international campuses outside the United States,
plus serving the U.S. military with classes delivered
on up to 80 bases around the world. Students can
move freely between the campuses for example,
studying for a semester in each of China (Shenzhen,
Shanghai or Chengdu), Thailand, Europe (Vienna,
Geneva or London) and the United States. It makes me wish I was a student again!
IHC edits a e o e og ized We ste , allo i g ou g aduates to o plete thei Ba helo s deg ee
at any Webster location. I think that Webster Thailand may be a really interesting option for many of our
students, though. It offers an American degree combined with the relatively low cost of studying and
living in Thailand, in an atmosphere that is as international as our own (roughly 20% of students from
Thailand, 20% from the United States, and 60% from all over the world).
Thailand is a fascinating country, both economically and culturally. It might be thought of as two
countries in one: a vibrant, booming city of around 15 million people in the greater Bangkok region
(bigger than the populations of the UAE and Oman combined), set inside a gentle, economically poor
ut ultu all i h, u al Buddhist so iet still ased o t aditio al i e fa i g. (Thaila d is the o ld s
greatest rice exporter.) It is a country where the 21st century coexists with a timeless culture; the First
and the Third Worlds side by side.
With
illio people o e all, Thaila d is o e of the ig fou ou t ies of ASEAN, the Asso iatio of
South East Asian Nations. Each of those four differs in their dominant religion: Indonesia is Sunni
Muslim; the Philippines, Catholic Christian; Vietnam is mostly secular but has many indigenous religions
as well as traditional Mahayana Buddhism; and Thailand is predominantly Theravada Buddhist. However
the ten countries of the ASEAN region have much in common, including closely related ethnicity and
ultu es, a d ot least a sha ed fea of ei g s ueezed et ee Asia s t o gia ts, Chi a a d I dia. Thei
combined economy, of 650 million people, is an emerging giant.

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Bangkok makes the remarkable claim to being the second most-visited major city in the world by
international tourists, after Paris. After seeing its spectacular temples and royal palaces, its
extraordinary network of canals where millions live and work on the water, and its modern skyscrapers
hose a hite tu e a i al Du ai s, I a u de sta d h that is t ue. O l o e thi g su p ised e
not being obvious. Thailand has an infamous reputation for sex tourism. I can honestly say, though, that
in a five day visit we saw no sign of prostitution. It must exist, and Thai culture is very open about
se ualit , ut I sa othi g to o pa e ith hat ou see i Du ai s igga St eet o Te o dist i ts. It
seems like a safe, mostly clean, and courteous metropolis.
I hope some of our graduates will transfer to Webster Thailand to continue their studies. It is an exciting
option for us!

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