Internationalizing Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna (RMUTL) in the context of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)

Abstract

        It is no longer an option to internationalize higher education institutions in Southeast Asian countries in the ASEAN era. Therefore, this study is intended to explore the most crucial issues, and tactics required to internationalize one of the largest public universities in Northern Thailand, namely Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna (RMUTL). The researcher selected a qualitative approach and purposive sampling is used in this study, in order to value the diverse approaches to the internationalization of RMUTL in the ASEAN community. Data was collected from 16 executives, 13 of whom are in the upper-level of management in RMUTL, One participant is the former director of the (SEAMEO), and 2 participants are executives in a Thai Higher Education Institution. Further, the major findings of this study are constructed by providing a model for internationalizing RMUTL in the context of the ASEAN community. Ultimately, the researcher made some recommendations for future studies, and drew some conclusions.