TIECA

What has TIECA been up to over the last 12 months?

TIECA currently has around 80 members. Over the past year, while 10 members have discontinued their business, we’ve successfully welcomed over 15 new members—established industry professionals who recognized the value of TIECA membership. We hosted the 39th TIECA Fair in October. This year’s fair focused on the theme of lifelong learning and featured institutions across various sectors, including high schools, exchange programs, work and travel opportunities, language schools, and higher education.

Preeyaporn Sinchalong, the new President of Thai International Education Consultants Association (TIECA)

TIECA welcomed a new President and a new board this year. What does this new board hope to achieve this year?

TIECA determine to strengthen the agency network in Thailand and become a source of knowledge by working collaboratively and sharing knowledge within the industry. We aim to help TIECA members become a more knowledgeable and keep up-to-date in terms of skillsets in both hard skills and soft skills. The three main projects that we aim to achieve this year:

• Organize student visa training and knowledge-sharing sessions for TIECA members
• Launch a CSR campaign and roadshow targeting Thai high school students, leveraging the expertise and network of TIECA members
• Develop and implement a new marketing training initiative for TIECA members, covering topics like social media marketing, TikTok, and ChatGPT

How does 2024 outbound agency business in Thailand compare to 2023 so far?

So far, in 2024, the outbound agency business in Thailand has shown some shifts compared to 2023. The main observation is that students enquire for more varied destinations. There’s been a noticeable increase in interest in more diverse destinations. Students are exploring options beyond the traditional countries like the UK, USA, and Australia, with growing interest in places like China and European countries. Moreover, language programs abroad continue to be highly popular among Thai students. A majority of student clients still request these programs, often as a stepping stone to further academic or career opportunities in the destination country.

Thailand was a top 5 source of students in Australia, according to English Australia’s annual 2023 report. How have recently introduced government policies affected demand in the Thai market? What are your predications going forward?

The policy changes could lead to a decrease in the number of Thai students choosing Australia. However, the long-standing reputation of Australian education, coupled with efforts to maintain flexibility in enrolment caps, may help mitigate some of the negative effects. The overall prediction is that while there may be a short-term dip in demand from Thailand, Australia’s appeal as a study destination will likely endure, especially if the government and education providers can adapt to these new challenges.

Thailand is a focus market for Education New Zealand. Is New Zealand a popular destination for Thai students? Please give reasons. Is it growing in popularity given current restrictive measures in Australia?

In light of Australia’s stricter visa rules and other regulatory changes, New Zealand’s more welcoming and supportive environment for international students is likely to continue drawing more Thai students in the near future. The combination of world-class education, a safe and clean environment, and active promotion by ENZ positions New Zealand as a strong competitor in the international education market for Thai students.

StudyTravel Ltd recently confirmed that agencies that are part of a national agency association member of FELCA do not require references to attend ST Alphe Conferences. What does this mean to TIECA and its members?

This simplifies the process for TIECA members, enabling them to participate in these global networking events more easily. These conferences are key opportunities for agencies to meet with educational institutions from around the world, forge partnerships, and stay updated on industry trends.

TIECA has successfully welcomed over 15 new members recently and currently has around 80 members

Tell us more about TIECA’s platinum members scheme.

The Platinum Members Scheme is an exclusive membership program offering enhanced opportunities for institutions to collaborate closely with TIECA members. Platinum Members enjoy the privilege of delivering a presentation at the TIECA’s member meetings and also an opportunity to attend training sessions, as well as receiving special discounts on business matching services and participation in the TIECA Fair.

What challenges are affecting agency members currently?

Many agencies are experiencing difficulties with visa processing in certain countries. For instance, Australia has introduced stricter visa requirements, including higher financial thresholds and more rigorous checks on the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement, which are making it more challenging for students to obtain visas. Additionally, delays in visa processing times are causing uncertainty and disruptions for students planning to study abroad.

What does the association have planned for the next year?

For TIECA members, TIECA is focusing on providing relevant training for TIECA’s member. We are planning to schedule a TCEC (Training Certificate for Education Counsellor) in early 2025.