Engineering, dentistry and nursing are likely to be the most popular fields of study which Thai university students will pursue this year, according to a recent trend analysis conducted by the Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT).
CUPT chairman Suchatvee Suwansawat said a surge in Thailand's infrastructure development is one of the main factors which will make engineering a first-choice major for many students.
"As there will be several big projects developed in Thailand in upcoming years, such as high-speed railway projects, the expansion of motorways and the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor, employment of engineers is projected to grow," he said.
Mr Suchatvee said students who enrol in engineering studies will not find it hard to find a well-paying job straight out of school as Thailand currently still faces a severe shortage of skilled workers in these fields.
"Thai parents still have big influence on their children's career choice," he said. "They always want their children to study in fields that can lead them to secure jobs, which is why we expect to see a huge number of students apply for engineering courses."
Mr Suchatvee said CUPT also expects to see a large number of students opting to study in health-related fields especially dentistry and nursing as demand in these areas is high in Thailand.
"As Thailand will become an ageing society in a decade, the country will need more nurses to look after elderly people. We also expect to see more students choose to study dentistry because dentists now get paid at the same level as doctors but work fewer hours," he said.
In social science fields, he said law and communication arts will still be popular majors even though they are considered as outdated by many parents and students.
"Although we have seen a significant decrease in the number of students studying in law and communication arts, especially journalism, in recent years, many universities have already adjusted their curriculum to catch up with the changing world, so we think they will still be able to attract students," he said.
Mr Suchatvee said many journalism schools are focusing more on digital platforms to survive the age of social media as the concept of journalism is not limited to just print media, but is offered via many platforms.
"Two to three years from now, students will choose to study majors which they think can land them high-paying jobs, so universities need to adapt and undergo fundamental shifts in how their courses are taught or they will face declining enrolments," he said.
Mr Suchatvee suggested Thai universities in the near future may need to have more partnerships with the world's top universities as well as provide more international programmes to attract students from neighbouring countries. This is because the number of Thai students attending universities is expected to decrease due to a demographic transition to low levels of fertility.
According to CUPT, there are 131,784 applicants in the first round of its university admissions system this year in which students' records, or their portfolios, were considered by universities as the main entrance criteria.
Out of all applicants in the first round, 59,032 students have been accepted by universities.
However only 29,715 students have confirmed their place, while many have forfeited the place they gained in the first round to try their luck in next rounds.
