THAILAND’S LL.B CURRICULUM TOWARDS ASEAN COMMUNITY

Abstract

This research studied the identifying characteristics of Thailand’s LL.B Curriculum towards ASEAN Community 2015. The research had two main purposes 1) to study the structures and characteristics of the bachelor of laws curriculums of various universities in Thailand; and 2) to analyze characteristics of the bachelor of laws curriculums in Thailand in order to prepare for the ASEAN Community 2015. The research utilized both quantitative and qualitative methods in the study. Data via questionnaire was collected from 500 entrepreneurs who were divided in the form of legal establishment and regions. The four regions were selected by purposive sampling method. Second, questionnaire and in-depth interview were conducted with eight deans or directors of law schools or legal studies programs in various universities. They were selected by location of the universities and type of the universities through purposive sampling. Third, focus group, attended by ten participants selected by purposive sampling method, was also organized to discuss the past development and desirable characteristics of laws curriculums in Thailand in ASEAN community context. The questionnaire and interview form on “Characteristic  of bachelor of laws curriculums for ASEAN community 2015” were developed and used by the research team for data collection and interview. Analysis was done on both descriptive and inferential statistic.

The key findings were 1. the revision for the future of the bachelor of laws curriculums, Thai law school should focus on the new and updated contents and subjects in order to respond to new changes and needs of the society and students, and also with the aim to serve as an educational foundation of advanced studies and support of the professional standards. Specifically, English and ASEAN countries languages and ASEAN legal subjects should be added to the curriculum. 2. Preparation of Thailand’s bachelor of laws curriculums to enter ASEAN community is needed, most law schools in Thailand were already adapting themselves witnessed principally by the switching English for Lawyers subject from elective to compulsory and providing other international and ASEAN countries languages classes such as, Khmer language and Islamic language as elective subjects, with the goals to be more internationalized and modernized.