How Many Expats Have a Masters Degree and/or PhD (they are not using)

[Pilotman]

Just wondering how many TV Members, located in Thailand,  hold an advanced degree from a western University, in whatever subject,  and that they are not using here.  Was it needed for your career, or was it something you attained that was largely unconnected with your main profession? 

 

I have no doubt that there is a very large pool of largely unemployed or retired expats, with advanced degrees, who could make a very considerable educational and intellectual contribution to the Thias if only they would be allowed to do so.  I hold both an MSc (In aeronautics) and  Doctorate (DBA) both of which are no use to the Thais (or to me now) because they will not allow me to contribute in any meaningful sense.  Many will be in the same position and it is a shameful waste of an available resource. 

[CharlieH]

Engineering some 40 yrs ago, as you "had to get a trade": was the thinking back then. (hated it)

So, Mechanical Engineering apprenticeship that led to my degree.

Later in Life (mid 1990's) after a divorce I went back to college and did a PGCE and a TEFL, which took me to China ! which in turn led me to Thailand, where I kinda got stuck !????

[BritManToo]

Why would I want to help Thais?

[SteveK]

I have a first class science masters from a good university that I needed for my profession back in the UK. No use whatsoever here.

[NancyL]

I doubt anyone in Thailand would be interested in the Masters degrees that my husband and I got over forty years ago. 

 

A few years ago, my husband got roped into helping "polish" the English of a Mechanical Engineering PhD thesis of a student of a Thai professor friend of his.  The English was atrocious as was the level of work -- it would barely quality as a senior project in the U.S.  I suggested he ask for the Thai version of the thesis in an attempt to figure out what the guy was trying to communicate.  I was in my fifth year of studying Thai at the time, focusing on reading and writing.  The Thai version of the thesis was a disaster, too, and my Thai teacher agreed with me.  The guy couldn't write a decent paragraph in Thai, let alone in English.

 

That was the end of our foray into using our advanced education to help Thai people.  Oh, a couple times I've helped the children of Thai friends to "polish" their essays for admission to western universities, but those are just one or two page documents and written much better than that PhD thesis.

[Pilotman]

18 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Engineering some 40 yrs ago, as you "had to get a trade": was the thinking back then. (hated it)

So, Mechanical Engineering apprenticeship that led to my degree.

Later in Life (mid 1990's) after a divorce I went back to college and did a PGCE and a TEFL, which took me to China ! which in turn led me to Thailand, where I kinda got stuck !????

But at least you were able to use all that education and qualification here. 

[Pilotman]

1 minute ago, NancyL said:

I doubt anyone in Thailand would be interested in the Masters degrees that my husband and I got over forty years ago. 

 

A few years ago, my husband got roped into helping "polish" the English of a Mechanical Engineering PhD thesis of a student of a Thai professor friend of his.  The English was atrocious as was the level of work -- it would barely quality as a senior project in the U.S.  I suggested he ask for the Thai version of the thesis in an attempt to figure out what the guy was trying to communicate.  I was in my fifth year of studying Thai at the time, focusing on reading and writing.  The Thai version of the thesis was a disaster, too, and my Thai teacher agreed with me.  The guy couldn't write a decent paragraph in Thai, let alone in English.

Thesis supervision for Higher Degrees would be an ideal use of the expat resource and would greatly aid Thai students who want a worthwhile degree behind them. 

[CharlieH]

Just now, Pilotman said:

But at least you were able to use all that education and qualification here. 

Unfortunately no, never used any of it here, although I have been approached many times by the local University. 

 

I used it to travel and let others pay me to do so. ????

[SteveK]

I would love to be able to help out teaching English, as I know that the local English teacher in my village is useless. I don't care too much about the salary as I don't have much in the way of outgoings, but obviously the red tape is horrendous.

 

A little bit of pocket money, a chance to meet some new people and improve my Thai whilst hopefully making a significant improvement to the school's English lessons. Everyone wins, but it's just a nightmare to do and stay 100% above board (no way would I risk working without everything in place).

Edited June 1, 2020 by SteveK

[Neeranam]

I was refused a job that I was qualified for because I was overqualified. It was sports editor for the Thailand Times.  I shouldn't have been honest about my previous jobs' salaries as an offshore petroleum engineer and a condition monitoring engineer. It was about 10,000 baht a day. But I was happy to pick up a job at ECC for 170 baht/hour ???? 

[Pilotman]

6 minutes ago, SteveK said:

I would love to be able to help out teaching English, as I know that the local English teacher in my village is useless. I don't care too much about the salary as I don't have much in the way of outgoings, but obviously the red tape is horrendous.

Yes I agree.  It's not about money. I find it quite frustrating  that I don't use the knowledge gained over so many years, at least not in Thailand.   My ex employers in Taiwan use me for various one off projects and some mentoring of aviation students, but that does not require a higher degree education, just a lot of experience. 

[Neeranam]

18 minutes ago, SteveK said:

I have a first class science masters from a good university that I needed for my profession back in the UK. No use whatsoever here.

If you search a bit, you'll find it could be very useful. There are many global companies around Bangkok.

[Pilotman]

1 minute ago, Neeranam said:

I was refused a job that I was qualified for because I was overqualified. It was sports editor for the Thailand Times.  I shouldn't have been honest about my previous jobs' salaries as an offshore petroleum engineer and a condition monitoring engineer. It was about 10,000 baht a day. But I was happy to pick up a job at ECC for 170 baht/hour ???? 

what a stupid reason to deny you the job.  

[drbeach]

I'm sure your advanced degree could be put to good use, if there is a company willing to employ you, or the industry you are in, is actually operating in the country.

 

An aeronautics or aviation degree will probably only find limited usefulness.

 

I hold a Bachelor and Masters qualification in engineering.

[Neeranam]

Just now, Pilotman said:

what a stupid reason to deny you the job.  

He said that he didn't think I would stay. Shortly after, the newspaper closed. 

[SteveK]

5 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

If you search a bit, you'll find it could be very useful. There are many global companies around Bangkok.

I must be looking in the wrong places. Though I'm not looking for work, it would be nice to know there are options should my position change in the future. 

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

I recommend to anyone looking for serious secondary level teaching in Thailand, which unfortunately is at private or international schools, to have at least a Master's, preferably in education.

 

Of course, this isn't required at this level. But it definitely gets you a leg up over the thousands of other expats showing up to teach with just their Bachelor's. It also proves to these schools you're more likely to be of the caliber they're looking for, rather than the majority looking to play Hangman for a few hours, then pick up their paycheck to go party.

 

Also, such a degree aids in getting your 5 year "permanent" teaching license, rather than the 2 year waiver others must keep getting.

[Neeranam]

4 minutes ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

I recommend to anyone looking for serious secondary level teaching in Thailand, which unfortunately is at private or international schools, to have at least a Master's, preferably in education.

After 25 years in the Thai education system, I recommend anyone with a Masters not to get into teaching for more than a couple of years, unless they are semi-retired. The money is terrible. 

[Mops59]

Master Home Economics from Agriculture University Wageningen, The Netherlands. Degree in teaching home economics and health science.

I could help to get more insight in financial problems in the ordinary Thai household. Manage income, budgetting, debts on credit cards, insurance, mortgages, saving, etc. Learn them cook, clean, wash and iron. Teach them about hygiene, medicines, healthy lifestyle, etc. It sounds not important, but it would help significant in day to day life for the blue collar working class.

[doctormann]

First degree in Applied Physics, more than 50 years ago.

Varied scientific career, ending up in Nuclear Reprocessing - you don't need to ask where!

Took early retirement and went back to university to do a PhD in Nuclear Instrumentation Engineering - just because i wanted to - and I was getting sponsored as well so there was money in it.

No use to anyone now - far too old and brain has gone soft.

i was offered a university teaching post when I first came to Thailand but, frankly, it was just too much hassle so I never took it up.

 

[cyril sneer]

18 minutes ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

I recommend to anyone looking for serious secondary level teaching in Thailand, which unfortunately is at private or international schools, to have at least a Master's, preferably in education.

anyone serious about teaching doesn't do it in Thailand

[RichardColeman]

Nope - left school at 16, joined a company at 18 gluing two bits of rubber together, and retired early (48) after working my up to the top, travelling the world for work, responsible for showing employees the use of  networked computers and responsible for millions of £ of a month in shipments from multiple worldwide sites.

 

Education is overrated - when i left the standard college students coming in for experience were so illiterate it was laughable.

 

Was I more intelligent that uni/master degree people ?  Nope. Was I a better employee ? You bet your life. 

 

Now, my Thai wife on the other hand DOES have a masters degree, though her knowledge of events outside Thailand is ridiculous

 

 

[timendres]

Live in Bangkok, but fully employed remotely by a Japanese company, which is more than happy to leverage my skills and experience.

[BobbyL]

I have an MA in Education from the UK. I don't really need it to teach in an international school here as I already have the PGCE + QTS. The only benefit I get from it is a slight increase on the school salary scale and it looks good on the CV when applying for leadership positions. I would say only 1 module out of the 6 I did were truly interesting and beneficial to my day to day teaching. 

[Dumbastheycome]

34 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

He said that he didn't think I would stay. Shortly after, the newspaper closed. 

I have been in that situation!  It is a strange feeling to be  told you are "over qualified".

 

[Samui Bodoh]

BA and MA in Political Science + History

 

I have always been unemployable...

 

 

 

[norfolkandchance]

42 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

I was refused a job that I was qualified for because I was overqualified. It was sports editor for the Thailand Times.  I shouldn't have been honest about my previous jobs' salaries as an offshore petroleum engineer and a condition monitoring engineer. It was about 10,000 baht a day. But I was happy to pick up a job at ECC for 170 baht/hour ???? 

Well I’m glad I’m not clever. I wouldn’t get out of bed for 10000 baht.

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Why would I want to help Thais?

Many of them have helped you fulfill your deepest desires.

[Neeranam]

5 minutes ago, norfolkandchance said:

Well I’m glad I’m not clever. I wouldn’t get out of bed for 10000 baht.

Why? It was a lot of money in 1990.

[Lacessit]

Research scientist, chemistry background. Process troubleshooter. Could still teach it if I was wanted, but I'm not.

I don't know what is needed to get a Masters or Ph.D. here, but I'd say problem-solving, correct use of statistics, and thinking outside the square are not part of the Thai education system.