Young Thais have a dream that is not very different from that of many of their peers in the rest of the world: they want their own company, they want to be entrepreneurs. In short, they prefer to work on their own rather than being hired as employees in some company, even an important one, or working in the public administration. The spread of this aspiration is bringing an ever-increasing number of students into the classrooms of business management courses and Thailand's universities, especially prestigious ones such as Bangkok University, are complying.
22% of Bangkok University students who graduated last year opened their own business, compared to only 10% two years earlier, and the trend, experts say, will continue to grow. "It's a global trend," observes Petch Osathanugrah, chairman of the university's board of directors, "the new generation wants to be self-employed and they want to achieve success - and enjoy it - while they're young." "Thai youth" he adds "is no different from that of other countries, the dreams are the same and the parents share the aspirations of their children".
To succeed in the business world, however, special skills are needed, which university studies can only refine and enhance. "The qualities of a 'creative entrepreneur' are passion, courage, ability to project oneself into the future, imagination," says Mathana Santiwat, president of Bangkok University "and in our university we take care of those who possess these talents, also offering the possibility to gain concrete experiences in various sectors of the business”.
In this respect the university has established close links with many large companies to offer their students attractive and well-paid internships or traineeships. Among the most popular entrepreneurial projects are the design of industrial products, catering and health services for the elderly. In 2012, given the growing demand for entrepreneurial skills, Bangkok University founded, together with the US Babson College, a "Higher School of Management", which relies on the collaboration of American teachers and an exchange program for students of the two Villages.
