Higher Ed. in Hua Hin

[homeless_vagabond]

On the bus through Hua-Hin, I noticed the big sign: STAMFORD INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY... and a smaller one WEBSTER UNIVERSITY.

The World Weird Web has the usual self-promotional information about the school. What is the local reputation, the caliber of people attending, etc.?

I was thinking that MBA might compliment the rest of the alphabet after my name.

Opinions and advice welcomed. I'm too young to retire and my liver (and waistline) can't handle the bar scene. Figure school would be a good way to meet people.

Thanks in advance.

[brianks]

Don't know anything about Stamford as it is a British University but Webster is a small American University that has campuses all over the world. The one in Hua Hin is located out off the bypass by a bit Thai University there. Webster is very reasonably priced with all classes in English of course. Nice campus and should go out and visit. Check the web for their website.

[Spitfire]

The way to get a perspective on the viability or validity of degree from these sort of countries is to check how many 'points' they are worth in the west. What I mean is, a BA from Europe or the US is given so many points, say 340, a CELTA on top is given about an extra 30 etc. A Thai/Philipino BA, unless from Tammasat etc is accredited something like 150 points under the western system. The crux is, where do you want to use it? If around here, then fine, loads of Thai teaches pay the 2500 dollars for a "MA" from Manilla, turn up two times for a fortnight each time and they are an MA. Take it to the west and it's not worth the paper it's written on. As they say, "Horses for courses."

[homeless_vagabond]

I'm looking at the school as a social vehicle, not because I want to get a job working for Some Big Company in the West.

I'm in the West. It sucks.

I'm wondering about what kinds of students attend: Are they from 'good' families (e.g. high status/wealthy?) Do Thai families send only their sons to 'good' schools, or is it co-ed?

The big draw is that the courses are in English. (I've already fought with trying to study in a school where I am not totally fluent in the language. Never again.)

The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology has a reputation for being a diploma mill in some circles, but as a 'foreign uni' in Vietnam, it appears to enjoy a certain status.

If I went to school there, would I be a part of Greater Hua Hin, or would I be some 'falang' who goes to school with the other outsiders and thus a pariah in HH?

[hhfarang]

I thought Stamford closed down their Hua Hin campus about a year ago.

[The understudy]

I thought Stamford closed down their Hua Hin campus about a year ago.

Hi there hhfarang

Stamford have not quite closed down Hua Hin Campus just yet. They just moved the International Section to their spankin New Facilities on Rama 9th road just 10 Min. from Swampy Airport. And now they have moved the Thai section of Stamford to the Hua Hin Campus. to maintain Hi ed for Hua Hin area.

Your's The understudy

[brianks]

In the for what its worth department: Webster U. has about 350 students and most are farangs. All teaching is in english. Campus is a ways out of town but free bus to and from town daily. Check out their website for more info. MBA is one of their degrees if I remember correctly.

[homeless_vagabond]

THhe Webster Univ.website is very self-promotional and, as an advertising piece, doesn't tell me much. They are recruiting students in places like India and Vietnam, too.

Knowing that most students are farangs DOES tell me something. So much for using it as a springboard into the community.

Thanks for everyone's input so far. No hurry- one burping volcano has shut down the EU air transport network.

[da]

I cannot imagine that Webster Thailand is doing very well given the current political problems.

Last I heard their enrollment was around 188 students. Then Webster in St Louis had them hand out some scholarships to Asians to try to get the enrolment numbers up.

One of the things about Webster was the two tiered pricing- A farang price and then another price for Indians, Thais, Burmese etc.

I am not surprised they are marketing to South Asians and Vietnamese-- they were always the strongest demographics in the past. Generally few Thais would go and then there would be some study abroad farangs who would stay for a short time.

Most of the Vietnamese deserted Webster some time back when RMIT became a viable option. The word degree mill was mentioned but RMIT is no more a degree mill then Webster.

Somebody said Stamford was British -its not-- it is originally from Malaysia albeit with namesake to Sir Stamford Raffles.

Supposedly Webster Thailand has been through a raff of directors and the current boss is this little Indian guy who once he came aboard fired most of the top Western faculty, kept the spineless ones, and brought in some of his local cronies to solidify his level of incompetence.

All this aside I think attending at Webster has times been a fun party eexperpalce fr the studnets

[da]

I cannot imagine that Webster Thailand is doing very well given the current political problems.

Last I heard their enrollment was around 188 students. Then Webster in St Louis had them hand out some scholarships to Asians to try to get the enrolment numbers up.

One of the things about Webster was the two tiered pricing- A farang price and then another price for Indians, Thais, Burmese etc.

I am not surprised they are marketing to South Asians and Vietnamese-- they were always the strongest demographics in the past. Generally few Thais would go and then there would be some study abroad farangs who would stay for a short time.

Most of the Vietnamese deserted Webster some time back when RMIT became a viable option. The word degree mill was mentioned but RMIT is no more a degree mill then Webster.

Somebody said Stamford was British -its not-- it is originally from Malaysia albeit with namesake to Sir Stamford Raffles.

Supposedly Webster Thailand has been through a raff of directors and the current boss is this little Indian guy who once he came aboard fired most of the top Western faculty, kept the spineless ones, and brought in some of his local cronies to solidify his level of incompetence.

All this aside I think attending at Webster has times been a fun party experience place for the students

Reason for edit is to correct typos