Thailand Education

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• Bilateral Linkages
• Trade and Economic
• Education
• Immigration and Tourism
• NZAID's Relationship

Thailand Education

Education is an important and rapidly growing element in the relationship. Thailand is now New Zealand's largest Southeast Asian and fourth most important overall source of fee-paying students. The numbers of Thai full time private students in New Zealand rose during the 1990s, and as at December 2007, there were 2669 Thai students studying in New Zealand.

A number of New Zealand universities have developed strong links with counterpart institutions in Thailand, including with Thailand's most prestigious universities. Such links promote New Zealand education as a quality product and represent an opportunity for building research and constituent links with Thai counterparts. New Zealand has had a long association with Khon Kaen University in the north east of Thailand.

Strong people-to-people links between New Zealand and Thailand had their foundation in Thai students coming to New Zealand under the Colombo Plan. An active Alumni Association based in Bangkok refreshes these bonds.