On 2 September 2026, Prof. Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University and Chairman of the Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT), and Dr. Surachai Sathitkunarat, President of NXPO, led a delegation of Thai university executives in a meeting with executives and experts from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), including Prof. Arturo Bris, Professor of Finance and Director of the IMD World Competitiveness Center; Ms. Sarah E. Toms, Chief Innovation Officer at IMD; and Prof. David Bach, President of IMD and Nestlé Professor of Strategy and Political Economy. Held at IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland, the meeting focused on key issues ranging from Thailand’s competitiveness and transformations in education and the labor market in the AI era to how universities can adapt to generate greater economic and social impact.
Prof. Arturo Bris presented an overview of Thailand’s competitiveness based on the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2026, in which Thailand ranked 26th out of 70 economies. Education remains one of the country’s weaknesses, ranking 52nd, while Scientific Infrastructure ranked 37th. At the same time, Thailand has several important strengths, particularly its proportion of science graduates, which ranked seventh. Nevertheless, gaps remain in language skills, the alignment of higher education with the needs of the economy, and workforce development from education to employment.
Regarding university and workforce development in the AI era, Ms. Sarah E. Toms shared IMD’s experience in adopting AI across teaching, working, and research, while emphasizing the importance of AI governance, transparency, and data accuracy. She noted that AI is simultaneously transforming learning and work, making it essential to redesign skills development and learning models to align with a rapidly changing world of work.
However, the use of AI should not focus solely on improving efficiency; it must also preserve critical human skills, particularly human interaction and collaboration. Consideration should also be given to the potential impact of AI on entry-level jobs, which provide an important pathway for young people to develop skills and gain valuable work experience.
Regarding how higher education institutions can adapt, Prof. David Bach shared IMD’s management approach, which emphasizes creating impact for leaders and organizations, supported by an agile organizational structure, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and strong connections between learning and real-world business challenges. IMD positions itself at the intersection of academia and the world of work, with a strong focus on developing leaders who are navigating critical decisions and significant changes.
Lessons from IMD also demonstrate that university transformation extends well beyond curriculum reform. It encompasses organizational structure and governance, faculty management and motivation, learning models, and the outcomes and impact that universities seek to create. IMD emphasizes experiential learning and peer exchange, while developing programs tailored to the needs of target groups and the changing demands of the world of work.
Overall, the discussions highlighted the interconnected factors needed to strengthen Thailand’s competitiveness. These include developing a strong talent pipeline, preparing for future skills and AI readiness, and enabling universities to adapt rapidly to change. These efforts should be supported by data-driven decision-making and stronger linkages among education, research and innovation, and the needs of the economy and society.
The exchange also provided an opportunity to advance collaboration among NXPO, Thai universities, and IMD by connecting international knowledge and experience with policy development and efforts to strengthen Thai universities. Such collaboration will contribute to enhancing Thailand’s competitiveness.
