Loosing a local school? Webster is on the ropes?

[Big A]

There is this story out of St Louis regarding Webster Thailand.

http://media.www.webujournal.com/media/ ... 0174.shtml

There is even a nasty commentary that follows.

Decide for yourself.

[DawnHRD]

I have no idea as to the veracity of the claims made here. However, the first paragraph gives me a clue as to the journalistic research & integrity...


Since opening in 1999, Webster University Thailand has narrowly dodged a tsunami, a coup and various bombings around the country - but it has not been able to fend off falling enrollment and financial instability.


Narrowly dodged? Really? Was I asleep when these things hit Hua Hin?

Methinks some sensationalism, generalisation & ignorance at work here?

[Big A]

I didn't write the article, But American Media and media in general is known for the excesses and shortcomings you mentioned, good call!

[The understudy]

Vo Big A

some of those Ajarn Names mentioned in the nasty Commentaries I Know myself form Stamford years.

A. Roy I don't know maybe came just as I Graduadet.
A. Ratish he was my marketing teacher a good Ajarn but gave me just the grade to barely pass his freaking demanding class.
A. Leonida Ricafort had classes with her too.

Basically both Stamford and Websters had problems in diffrent end. While Stamford has probelms with Management and pulling out the real potential out of the Facility and teachingforce and websters has problemes with the students and parents arent able to pay for the High Tuition and some Management problems as well.
Actually I could care less about my old University and it's rival which me and My fellow mates and friends welcomed them when they opened 8 years ago but I still had my best times overhere and learned a lot at that place (more from friends rather than the faculty) way inside Palm Hills. I wish to see both places getting their act together and start care about REAL Education and pulling all of their recources out rather than gaining as much money as possible out of those students and ther parents!!!

Your's the understudy!!!

[STEVE G]

I think this is the relevant bit here:
“Former campus director Kit Jenkins, who resigned from her position February 2007, said WUT has yet to turn a profit for Webster, but finances have stabilized.â€

[DawnHRD]

Just reread the whole thing - I was a bit spaced out after 13 hours travelling, yesterday. Seems like a lot of discontent over there. I still wouldn't know about the veracity of anything claimed particularly in the first commentary ("Da" seems to have a very large axe to grind! ). It seems to be more a "pass the buck & blame everyone else" exercise than a constructive article, though. Or am I reading it wrong?

[Chas]

Al, VERY interesting questions and commentary. The poll is difficult because I want to check off several of those boxes!

Anyway, the commentary on that rather badly written news article is spot on with regard to the two who were bounced from here.

Nobody wants them back believe me!

Not often do you run into people who will ignore you when you say hello to them as these guys did. They were incredibly rude to students as well as to staff and fellow teachers. (The phrase that comes to mind is that they were depriving a village somewhere of an idiot. ) They are now somewhat legendary as being just about the worst teachers ever to enter our doors. .. .and you know that is saying something.

Anyway, I have no idea where they have gone or are they still at Webster? Certainly they are a big part of Webster's problem if they are still involved. An unsuccessful effort was made two semesters ago to bring them back here for a class and it was strongly resisted by nearly everyone on the faculty.

As our competition, we have always ( and I speak from general sentiment as I perceive it here at Stamford) wished Webster well and tried to build bridges with them over the years through mutual events, parties and sports.

However, I do think sharing faculty is not a good idea as I have yet to see it work well. It seems to cause more problems than it is worth.

[Big A]

Hi Chas,

Good luck to you and I hope everything is going fine.

Wish I was there. I love Hua Hin, people, place the whole nine yards.

The article was on one of the media sites, in actuality a blog from Webster’s own media dept.

I am completing an affiliation of sorts with the Webster media dept in St Louis and that article caught my eye because of my familiarity with Hua Hin and some of the people named in the article.

Take care,
BA

[seasides]

what about the third option?

the new english campus of somtawin?

are they building it?

[Chas]

Curiously, Somtawin came up for a mention a few minutes ago during a discussion at the coffee pot involving several of us who have lived here for several years and the unanimous conclusion was that none of us would ever send our kids there! I have never heard anything good about the place in fact ( I have known people who worked there) and wonder why they would even consider expanding in the face of so poor a reputation. (Money??)

[Big A]

With all the growth taking place in the local region, I think eventually, a new school for kids will open up in order to meet the demands of local market needs.

It is possible Somtawin could reinvent itself or maybe there will be a new player.

[seasides]

one wonders how hua hin will have to expand.

it has to expand and will, but the infrastructure is already tremendously overburdoned.

the main road through hua hin?

go figure how hua hin wants to swallow more traffic on wknds and long holidays.

fortunately there's the long low season.

[buksida]

Curiously, Somtawin came up for a mention a few minutes ago during a discussion at the coffee pot involving several of us who have lived here for several years and the unanimous conclusion was that none of us would ever send our kids there! I have never heard anything good about the place in fact ( I have known people who worked there) and wonder why they would even consider expanding in the face of so poor a reputation. (Money??)

Probably because there is no decent alternative, its a problem I'll be facing when my two are old enough to attend. Until a good alternative is available that competes with Somtawin they are going to retain their monopoly, prices, and reputation.

Lets hope they clean their act up with this expansion project.

[Norseman]

one wonders how hua hin will have to expand.

Don't know how many of you know the municipal homepage, but they do mention their vision of the future in Hua Hin

http://www.huahin.go.th/en/event_dream_detail.asp?id=14

[Big A]

Oh Nordic one if this all only comes to pass.