Education Management Model to Enhance Cross-Border Employability Skills of Chinese Students in Thailand
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study aims to (1) examine employability skills and educational management components to develop an education management model for Chinese students in Thailand and (2) develop and validate a modular educational management model to improve cross-border employability skills for Chinese students in Thailand. An integrated mixed methods research design was employed. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires administered to 322 fourth-year Chinese undergraduate students from five Thai higher education institutions and analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with 30 Chinese executives and employees from five Thai–Chinese companies, together with 25 university administrators and lecturers, and analyzed using content analysis. The results indicated that the proposed models demonstrated a good fit with the empirical data. The employability skills model, consisting of 10 components, yielded a chi-square statistic of 23.079 (df=15, p=0.0825, CFI=0.998, TLI=0.993, RMSEA=0.012, SRMR=0.041), while the educational management model, comprising 11 components, showed a chi-square value of 28.423 (df =25, p=0.2888, CFI=0.999, TLI=0.998, RMSEA=0.012, SRMR=0.021). Overall goodness-of-fit indices met acceptable criteria and were consistent with the qualitative findings. Following the integration and joint interpretation of quantitative and qualitative results, a preliminary model was developed and subsequently validated by a panel of five experts. The refined model, termed the IDEALIST Model, consists of 20 training modules designed to enhance learners’ cross-border employability competencies, along with eight integrated educational management strategies. These strategies encompass learning environment design, instructional management, assessment, faculty development, resource allocation, and collaboration with industry.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
1. Any views and comments in the Journal of Social Innovation and Lifelong Learning are the authors’ views. The editorial staff have not to agree with those views and it is not considered as the editorial’s responsibility.
2. The responsibility of content and draft check of each article belongs to each author. In case, there is any lawsuit about copyright infringement. It is considered as the authors’ sole responsibility.
3. The article copyright belonging to the authors and The Far Eastern University are copyrighted legally. Republication must be received direct permission from the authors and The Far Eastern University in written form.
References
Agrawal, V., & Dasgupta, S. (2018). Identifying the key employability skills: Evidence from literature review. IOSR Journal of Business and Management (IOSR-JBM), 3(Innovation in Management), 85–90. https://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jbm/papers/Conf.1802-2018/Volume-3/Innovation%20in%20Management/11.%2085-90.pdf
Atobatele, F. A., Kpodo, P. C., & Eke, I. O. (2024). Faculty engagement in international student success: A review of best practices and strategies. International Journal of Applied Research in Social Sciences, 6(3), 440–459.
Aviso, K. B., Demeterio, F. P. A., Janairo, J. I. B., Lucas, R. I. G., Promentilla, M. A. B., Tan, R. R., & Yu, D. E. C. (2021). What university attributes predict for graduate employability? Cleaner Engineering and Technology, 2, 100069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2021.100069
Bao, W., & Wan, Y. H. (2025). Theoretical construction of employability of Chinese college students from the perspective of pedagogy. Employment of Chinese College Students, (1), 9–19. https://doi.org/10.20017/j.cnki.1009-0576.2025.01.002
Bates, T. (2019). Teaching in a digital age: Guidelines for designing teaching and learning (2nd ed.). Tony Bates Associates. https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/
Biggs, J., & Tang, C. (2011). Teaching for quality learning at university: What the student does (4th ed.). Open University Press.
British Council. (2022a). Thailand to pilot the National Credit Bank system. https://www.britishcouncil.or.th/en/education/higher-education/national-credit-bank
British Council. (2022b). The shape of global higher education: International mobility of students, research, and education provision. British Council. https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/h002_transnational_education_tne_ihe_report_final_web_2.pdf.
Cai, Y. (2014). Enhancing overseas Chinese graduate employability: The case of Chinese graduates with Finnish academic qualifications. Frontiers of Education in China, 9(3), 377–402. https://doi.org/10.3868/s110-003-014-0031-x
Chen, J., Zhang, S., & Wu, X. (2024). Talent cultivation path of Chinese international education majors under the background of the Belt and Road Initiative. Adult and Higher Education, 6(6), 101–108.
Cheng, M., Adekola, O., Albia, J., & Cai, S. (2022). Employability in higher education: A review of key stakeholders’ perspectives. Higher Education Evaluation and Development, 16(1), 16–31. https://doi.org/10.1108/HEED-03-2021-0025
Colman, H. (2024). How to create a training module: A step-by-step guide. iSpring Solutions. https://www.ispringsolutions.com/blog/how-to-create-training-module
Donnelly, R., & Fitzmaurice, M. (2005). Designing modules for learning. In G. O’Neill, S. Moore, & B. McMullin (Eds.),
Emerging issues in the practice of university learning and teaching (pp.99-110). AISHE. https://arrow.tudublin.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=ltcbk
Gundling, E. (2007). Twelve people skills for doing business across borders. Employment Relations Today, 34(2), 29–42. https://doi.org/10.1002/ert.20150
Hillage, J., & Pollard, E. (1998). Employability: Developing a framework for policy analysis (Research Report No. 85). Institute for Employment Studies.
Hofstede, G. (2011). Dimensionalizing cultures: The Hofstede model in context. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 2(1), Article 8. https://doi.org/10.9707/2307-0919.1014
Holmes, L. (2013). Competing perspectives on graduate employability: Possession, position or process? Studies in Higher Education, 38(4), 538–554. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2011.587140
HREX.asia. (2022). Skills required to enter the global labor market today. https://th.hrnote.asia/tips/190809-skills-for-globalization/
Jackson, D. (2016). Re-conceptualising graduate employability: The importance of pre-professional identity. Higher Education Research & Development, 35(5), 925–939. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2016.1139551
Knight, J. (2005). Cross-border education: Not just students. International Higher Education, 41, 2–3. https://doi.org/10.6017/IHE.2005.41.7499
Knowles, M. S., Holton, E. F., & Swanson, R. A. (2015). The adult learner: The definitive classic in adult education and human resource development (8th ed.). Routledge.
Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Prentice Hall.
Lan, X., Lu, Z., & Peng, X. (2022). Cross-cultural adaptation of Chinese students learning Thai language online in the
post-pandemic era: A case study of the Sino–Thai cooperation program at Guangxi University of Foreign Languages.
US–China Foreign Language, 20(8), 287–295. https://doi.org/10.17265/1539-8080/2022.08.002
Lim, S., Falaq, L., Nguyen, T., & Dela Cruz, M. (2022). Graduate employability in ASEAN: The contribution of student mobility. ASEAN Secretariat. https://connectivity.asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FINAL-Digital-Version-V1_221108_Graduate-Employibility-in-ASEAN.pdf
Liu, J. (2024). New path of foreign-related legal talent training in universities under the Belt and Road Initiative. Region – Educational Research and Reviews, 6(12), 156.
Liu, Y., & Almor, T. (2016). How culture influences the internationalization of Chinese firms. Management International Review, 56(6), 855–882. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11575-016-0296-7
Ministry of Commerce People’s Republic of China. (2023). The Thailand-China Rayong Industrial Park promotes the high-quality development of the “One Belt, One Road” and China-Thailand economic and trade cooperation ushers a new period of opportunities. http://fec.mofcom.gov.cn/article/fwydyl/zgzx/202306/20230603415827.shtml
Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. (2022). The notification of the Commission on Higher Education Standard on criteria and guidelines for the promotion of CWIE program provision B.E. 2565 (2022). https://cwie.mhesi.go.th/
Mulder, M. (2012). Competence-based education and training. Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 18(3), 305–314. https://doi.org/10.1080/1389224X.2012.670379
Mulder, M. (2014). Conceptions of professional competence. In S. Billett et al. (Eds.), International handbook of research in professional and practice-based learning (pp. 107–137). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8902-8_5
Nurhikmah, N. (2024). Educational management functions: Planning, organizing, actuating, controlling. Intiha, 1(2), 82–91. https://doi.org/10.58988/intiha.v1i2.293
Nukitrangsan, K., & Chantrapaha, K. (2021). A preliminary study on Chinese students in Thailand (Final report). National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT). https://www.khonthai4-0.net/system/resource/file/kpfgo_content_attach_file_313_1.pdf
OECD. (2020a). Strengthening the governance of skills systems: Thailand. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264307551-en
OECD. (2020b). Education in the digital age: Skills, learning, and policy implications. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/5f3ff2fd-en
Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. (2024). Graduate statistics database. Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. https://info.mhesi.go.th/stat_graduate.php?search_year=2567
Pham, T. (2021). Communication competencies and international graduates’ employability outcomes: Strategies to navigate the host labour market. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 23(2), 733–749. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-021-00869-3
Pham, T., Bao, D., Saito, E., & Chowdhury, R. (2018). Employability of international students: Strategies to enhance their experience on work-integrated learning (WIL) programs. Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability, 9(1), 62–83. https://doi.org/10.21153/jtlge2018vol9no1art693
Peltokorpi, V., & Froese, F. (2014). Expatriate personality and cultural fit: The moderating role of host country context on job satisfaction. International Business Review, 23(1), 293–302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2013.05.004
Reynolds, J. (2017). The top 7 skills needed for success in international business. Hult International Business School. https://www.hult.edu/blog/skills-needed-in-international-business/
Sathiyay, R. (2024). Strategies adopted by employees toward meeting the requirements of international company needs and developing global efficiency. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, 6(3), 1–10.
Scalberg, E. J. (2013). Professional development for cross-border managers: New growth opportunities for executive education. Journal of Teaching in International Business, 24(3–4), 238–261. https://doi.org/10.1080/08975930.2013.860062
Selmer, J., & Lauring, J. (2015). Host country language ability and expatriate adjustment. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 26(3), 401–420. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2013.809097
Siricharoen, N. (2023). Enhancing university education business: Motivations of Chinese students studying in Thailand. Journal of ASEAN PLUS Studies, 4(2), 51–69. https://so06.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/aseanplus/article/view/266858
Subandi, A. R., Putri, A. I. A., Sanusi, H. A., & Kusumaningrum, H. (2024). Strategies for developing the competencies of teachers and staff in educational human resource management. Edukasi, 21(1), 106–122. https://doi.org/10.31571/edukasi.v21i1.7080
Sun, J. (2022). A Malaysian research university’s initiative to develop international students’ employability skills. In T. L. H. Nghia, B. C. Bui, J. K. N. Singh, & V. N. Lu (Eds.), Graduate employability across contexts (pp. 187–205). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-3119-1_10
Tharasisuthi, P., & Towanabut, W. (1999). Principles and theories of educational administration [in Thai]. Ramkhamhaeng University Press.
UMASS Amherst College of Social & Behavioral Sciences. (2024). Top 10 skills required in international development and for overseas jobs. https://sbspathways.umass.edu/blog/2021/12/01/top-10-skills-required-in-international-development-and-for-overseas-jobs/
UNESCO. (2023). Micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability: Regional developments in Asia and the Pacific. UNESCO.
Xiao, T. (2024, September 27). China–Thailand economic ties: Trade and investment opportunities. China Briefing. https://www.china-briefing.com/news/china-thailand-economic-ties-trade-and-investment-opportunities
Xu, S., Mansor, A. N., & Amat, S. (2025). Higher education strategies for enhancing the employability of international students: A systematic review of the postpandemic era. Journal of International Students, 15(5), 119–138. https://doi.org/10.32674/mv48v134
Yorke, M. (2006). Employability in higher education: What it is – what it is not. Higher Education Academy.
Zhang, B. (2016, March 16). What kind of people do multinational companies need? China Youth Online. https://qnck.cyol.com/html/2016-03/16/nw.D110000qnck_20160316_1-17.htm
Zheng, Z., Buarabha, H., Sriruksa, A., & Syers, S. (2025). Understanding stress and academic adaptation: A comparative study of Chinese international students in Thailand. Journal of Ecohumanism, 4(1), Article 1049. https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v4i1.5911
