Thailand Takes Crucial First Step in Adopting Framework to Cultivate Entrepreneurial Problem-Solving Mindset in Higher Education

BANGKOK — Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) has officially issued a landmark national policy to embed entrepreneurial skills across all higher education institutions nationwide.

Signed into effect on December 11, 2025 (B.E. 2568) by Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul, this directive marks a crucial first step for the region in formally adopting the proposal by GEN Thailand, the national chapter of the UNESCO Entrepreneurship Education Network, or EE-Net.

This major milestone was achieved through a close and strategic collaboration between GEN Thailand and the Asia Institute of Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Diplomacy (AISED), which serves as the Southeast Asia chapter of the UNESCO EE-Net. Their joint efforts successfully bridged global frameworks with national policy execution.

This official announcement serves as a vital baseline recognition that modern higher education must actively cultivate an entrepreneurial, problem-solving mindset to prepare graduates for a rapidly changing world.

Cultivating a Problem-Solving Mindset for the Future

The decree emphasizes that developing entrepreneurial skills is no longer just for business majors. Aligned with UNESCO’s international framework for 21st-century skill development, the policy aims to equip all graduates with creativity, adaptability, and business management capabilities.

These are recognized as foundational tools necessary to handle complex future challenges and drive the country’s innovation-based economy.

The Four Core Mandates for Thai Universities

The official announcement outlines four operational directives that higher education institutions must implement moving forward:

1. Activity Support

   Institutions must actively support and organize activities or learning formats that enhance entrepreneurial skills, either independently or in collaboration with external organizations.

2. Experiential Learning

   Universities are directed to integrate courses or content focused on entrepreneurship, with strong emphasis on practical business management and hands-on, experiential learning.

3. Faculty and Executive Upskilling

   The policy mandates that university executives and faculty members undergo specialized training programmes to build their capacity to teach these mindsets.

4. Ecosystem Building

   Higher education institutions are tasked with developing internal mechanisms and environments that foster a supportive campus ecosystem for creating new entrepreneurs.

   By adopting the proposal championed by GEN Thailand and AISED, MHESI has established the foundational groundwork necessary to shift the educational paradigm toward active, real-world problem-solving.

Support Letter from Ministry of Higher Education

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