Thailand and the ASEAN Community: A Lookback after the 2015 Launch
By Janpha Thadphoothon
Let's talk about ASEAN again. It's my personal belief that the building of ASEAN is a long-term endeavor, and what's more, the community should also be a people's community – not just the cooperation of governments, economies, and militaries.
I am sure you would agree with me that the year 2015 marked a truly significant moment for our beloved Southeast Asian region. It was the year when the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) formally launched the ASEAN Community at the 27th Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This wasn't just another meeting; it was a pivotal moment, a culmination of decades of effort to bring our diverse nations closer together. The ambition? To foster deeper integration across various facets of life here in Southeast Asia, encompassing the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).
As we know, such a grand endeavor demands a substantial level of preparedness from each member state. It’s all about leveraging opportunities and navigating the challenges that a more integrated community inevitably presents. My conviction is that every nation had to truly roll up its sleeves and get ready. I am not an expert, but I have read somewhere that every state should get ready for the ASEAN community. The building continues. There is always room for deeper cooperation and growth.
In anticipation of this pivotal moment, various studies were conducted to gauge the readiness of ASEAN member states. Among these, a study commissioned by Dhurakij Pundit University in Bangkok, Thailand, specifically investigated Thailand's educational readiness and overall preparation for the impending ASEAN integration. What we all know and agree upon is that understanding our own readiness is key to a successful journey.
This article serves as a lookback, nearly a decade after the formal launch of the ASEAN Community. I think it’s incredibly valuable to revisit the conceptual framework utilized in that seminal study: the EKSA Model. By re-examining the EKSA Model, we aim to understand how it conceptualized preparedness and to reflect on its implications for Thailand's journey into the ASEAN Community post-2015. It has perplexed me how quickly time flies!
Unpacking Readiness: The EKSA Model Explained
Let me introduce you to the notion of the EKSA Model. The study on Thailand's preparedness for ASEAN integration employed this specific conceptual framework. This model provides a structured approach to assessing and enhancing readiness for complex regional integration, particularly focusing on the crucial role of education and preparation. Indeed, as depicted in its original formulation, the EKSA Model illustrates a dynamic interplay between foundational readiness, strategic interventions, and desired outcomes.
You may wish to read the full research report here.
https://libdoc.dpu.ac.th/research/149789.pdf
The model can be broken down into three primary stages and four key pillars. You may wish to picture this scenario: you're getting ready for a big exam. What do you do? You prepare, you study, and then you're ready! It's a bit like that.
Stages of Readiness:
- Preparedness: This refers to the foundational actions, existing capacities, and initial prerequisites necessary for engagement with the ASEAN Community. It represents the starting point or baseline condition. Fundamentally, it is all about what you have in place before you even begin.
- Education: Serving as the central mechanism, education is the process that facilitates the transformation from the state of preparation to the desired level of readiness. It encompasses all learning, training, and awareness-raising initiatives designed to bridge identified gaps. As a language teacher, I see education as the bridge to almost everything.
- Readiness: This represents the ultimate goal or desired outcome. It signifies a state where individuals, institutions, and the nation as a whole are adequately equipped and capable of functioning effectively within the integrated ASEAN Community. This is where we want to be.
Central Context:
- ASEAN COMMUNITY: This is the overarching environment and the specific target for which the preparation, education, and subsequent readiness are calibrated. The model specifically addresses the unique demands and opportunities presented by ASEAN integration. Make no mistake, this integration is a massive undertaking.
The Four Key Pillars of EKSA:
The core of the model lies in its acronym, EKSA, which identifies four critical areas of competence essential for achieving readiness. These pillars are subject to varying levels of proficiency (High, Medium, Low), indicating that different degrees of mastery contribute to overall readiness.
- E - English: This pillar emphasizes proficiency in the English language. English is recognized as the working language of ASEAN and a crucial tool for communication, collaboration, and engagement across diverse member states. A low level of English proficiency, for instance, in a population like Thailand's, would necessitate targeted educational policies promoting English language learning to mediate this gap. I must admit that as a language teacher, this one resonates deeply with me.
- K - Knowledge (ASEAN Knowledge): This refers to a comprehensive understanding of ASEAN itself. It encompasses knowledge of ASEAN's history, founding principles, organizational structure, objectives, key policies, regional initiatives, and the cultural nuances of its diverse member states. It's not enough to speak the language; you need to understand the culture and the framework.
- S - Skills (ASEAN Skills): This pillar focuses on practical abilities pertinent to working effectively within the ASEAN framework. These include a range of soft and hard skills such as cross-cultural communication, negotiation, problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork, and the capacity for regional collaboration. Critics such as those who prioritize rote learning would tell you that these are often overlooked.
- A - Attitudes (ASEAN Attitude or Mindset): This crucial pillar pertains to cultivating appropriate mindsets, values, and cultural sensitivities necessary for effective engagement in the region. Key attitudes include openness to diversity, a spirit of cooperation, respect for different cultures, and an embracing of multiculturalism, moving beyond narrow nationalistic perspectives to foster a sense of regional identity. This, perhaps, is the most profound element.
Thailand's Journey: An EKSA Lens
Applying the EKSA Model to Thailand's context, the original Dhurakij Pundit University study would have assessed the nation's "Preparation" across the four EKSA pillars. The "Education" component of the model then served as the proposed intervention to enhance these pillars and drive Thailand towards comprehensive "Readiness."
In the years leading up to 2015, the model would have allowed researchers to evaluate:
- English Proficiency (E): The prevailing levels of English language competence across various sectors of Thai society – including education, business, and public service – would have been critical. The study likely identified areas where proficiency was low, suggesting that educational policies promoting English learning were vital for bridging this gap and enhancing overall readiness for regional communication and economic interaction. People say that English proficiency in Thailand is not where it should be, and I tend to agree based on what I observe.
- ASEAN Knowledge (K): An assessment of how much Thai citizens, from students to professionals, understood about ASEAN as an organization, its goals, and its implications for Thailand would have been paramount. Gaps in knowledge would highlight the need for curriculum integration and public awareness campaigns. I am not sure but I guess awareness campaigns were quite strong in the lead-up to 2015, but perhaps less so now.
- ASEAN Skills (S): The extent to which the Thai workforce and graduating students possessed skills relevant to a more integrated ASEAN economy – such as cross-border communication, negotiation, and collaborative problem-solving – would have been analyzed. This would inform the development of vocational and higher education programs. In my opinion, these are the skills that truly make a difference in a globalized world.
- ASEAN Attitudes/Mindset (A): Perhaps the most nuanced, this pillar would assess the prevailing mindset among the Thai populace regarding regional integration. This includes openness to multiculturalism, a willingness to collaborate with neighboring countries, and a positive disposition towards regional identity. Educational and cultural initiatives would be key to fostering these attitudes. It is my personal belief that fostering these attitudes is paramount for true integration.
The Road Ahead: Insights and Implications
Looking back from 2025, the EKSA Model offers a valuable lens through which to evaluate Thailand's journey since the 2015 launch of the ASEAN Community. The insights derived from applying this framework would have informed policy recommendations aimed at strengthening Thailand's "Readiness." For instance, if English proficiency was identified as a significant weakness, the model implicitly suggested the need for targeted educational reforms, curriculum enhancements, and increased investment in language training. Similarly, if ASEAN knowledge or attitudes were found to be lacking, educational campaigns and cultural exchange programs would be advocated.
The model underscores the dynamic nature of preparedness; "Readiness" is not a static endpoint but an ongoing process requiring continuous "Preparation" and "Education." The challenges and successes Thailand experienced post-2015 in areas like economic integration, labor mobility, and cultural exchange can be directly linked to the strengths and weaknesses identified by the EKSA pillars. While the AEC has undeniably brought about increased economic connectivity, the effectiveness of Thailand's participation is contingent upon its human capital's readiness across these dimensions. What's more interesting is that the world keeps changing, and so must our readiness.
An Ongoing Journey
The EKSA Model, developed by myself, Janpha Thadphoothon, and commissioned by Dhurakij Pundit University, provided a robust conceptual framework for understanding and addressing Thailand's preparedness for the 2015 ASEAN Community launch. By dissecting readiness into foundational "Preparation," transformative "Education," and the specific pillars of English, Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes, the model offered a comprehensive roadmap for assessment and intervention.
Nearly a decade after the formal establishment of the ASEAN Community, the enduring relevance of the EKSA Model lies in its ability to highlight the continuous need for educational investment and strategic preparation to ensure Thailand's sustained and effective engagement within an ever-evolving regional landscape.
Needless to say, the journey towards full integration is ongoing, and the principles embedded in the EKSA model remain pertinent for policymakers and educators striving to enhance Thailand's position within the ASEAN Community. Ultimately, it is my long-held belief that we must keep preparing, keep educating, and keep adapting.
Please join me in welcoming the 11th member of ASEAN - Timor-Leste, or East Timor.
About the Author:
Please cite as:
Thadphoothon, J. (6 June 2025) "Thailand and the ASEAN Community: A Lookback after the 2015 Launch". in JT Blog. https://janpha.blogspot.com/2025/06/thailand-and-asean-community-lookback.html
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