A UK Degree, British Higher Education to study in Thailand
BTEC EDUCATION AT RIC: “Student needs meet with the needs of industry & internation education standards.”
At the start in this decade 2011, a true British Higher Education programme didn’t exist in Thailand as a future pathway for students graduating from IB, M6, GCSE or British A-Levels. There was also room for another alternative at Year 11 & 12 for high school students. An alternative which focus on practical learning, work based training and was continual assessment based, with little or NO EXAMS!!
A programme which students worldwide could study in Thailand and provide a bridging programme for Thai M6, “A” Level and IB students who were finding hard to secure placements into UK Degree programmes in Britain.
“This college was founded to teach British education in English and prepare students to cope with the rigors of a UK degree in the United Kingdom, Thailand or anywhere in the world when BTEC’s are accepted. All RIC programmes are encouraged, supported and approved with the consent of the Thailand MOU, as the first BTEC programme in Thailand”.
Today RIC is the flagship for Pearson BTEC in Thailand and a shining beacon for Thailand Vocational Colleges to aspire to, as many more colleges and institutions are being introduced to BTEC curriculum by RIC parent company International Vocational & Business Education Thailand (IVBE Thailand).
What is the typical profile of a student who elects the RIC BTEC programme?
In Thailand, we attract students of all nationalities and we have taught British, American, Thai, Russian, French, German, Chinese, Korean, Nepali, Cambodian and Dutch students over the past 7 years to name a few.
Level 3, which is the same age group as students of IB, A-Levels or the American High School Diploma, are typically between 16 and 18 years of age. At Level 3, those opting to take the BTEC program as an alternative to IB or A-Levels, tend to be students who wish to continue on with UK Higher Education but have struggled in the past with exam-based assessment. Not all students respond well to exams and the BTEC program offers an academic learning environment based on continual assessment.
At Levels 4 and 5, the higher-level courses, students are currently between 18 to 30 years old, but there are no age limits. In fact the HND program is ideal for mature students with written assignments throughout the duration of the course, rather than one which prepares the student for a final exam at the end of the program. All students have different learning styles and respond differently to various teaching and assessment methods.
There are two main profiles of BTEC students, Those who want to achieve specialized qualifications to use in the workplace and those who want to progress to university. A BTEC qualification grants access to university degrees in over 900 universities.
What are the biggest misconceptions that parents, students, or educators have about RIC and BTEC programs?
The biggest misconception is that BTEC is purely vocational based. In reality, students acquire skills in combination with theory. For example, if you teach someone to swim, all the person can learn is to swim. If a student studies swimming, then they’ll understand the importance of it, the different strokes and their advantages, breathing, etc. Similarly, we provide teaching that embraces the practical and the theoretical sides of business. We teach the ‘hows’ and the ‘whys’ to result in a solid foundation.
This is a dynamic program, which involves traditional classroom teaching with what we call blended learning. This is not just about being lectured for two hours. It is practical, modern teaching such as that taught at colleges and universities around the world. Making a true International Education experience.
To give a BTEC example, in our Business and Hospitality Management programmes, when teaching the module on Human Resources Development, we are not just teaching our students about the importance of training in the workplace, but how this relates further to employee performance, retention, satisfaction and organisational profitability.
What kinds of teachers lead RIC BTEC units?
Our teachers are highly qualified academic practitioners from all around the Globe; to accommodate student need we employ teachers from the UK, France, Italy, Belgium, China and Thailand to name just few. Our entire UK faculty have delivered UK programmes in universities for many years. When this is coupled with additional faculty, with strong industry backgrounds and experience, then the subjects come alive and this is the very heart of the RIC BTEC learning concept.
Which BTEC courses does RIC currently offer?
BTEC at RIC in Thailand is a new qualification and is new to the education system here.
We offer BTEC Level 3 in Business and Hospitality Management, which is the alternative but equivalent education level to IB and A-Levels.
BTEC Level 4 (Higher National Certificate – HNC) and BTEC Level 5 (Higher National Diploma – HND) in Business and Hospitality Management, which is the equivalent to the first 2 years of university globally.
What types of careers do RIC BTEC graduates go on to pursue?
BTEC programs provide students with a sound foundation in their chosen industry. The careers students choose to pursue are as diverse as the students and their interests.
Link to suggested Business Career Pathway Link to suggested Hospitality Career pathways
Some students who follow BTEC choose to go on to university studies and others choose to enter the workforce, by preparing students to excel in the workplace, the BTEC program also meets the needs of industry. Some of the world’s leading companies such as Tesco Lotus, Deloitte, Coca-Cola, and Vodafone all accept BTEC qualifications from applicants. Hundreds of universities accept BTEC qualifications.
Link to the Universities page
What are some specific workforce skills students learn during the program?
BTEC programs provide students with a toolkit. In business, for instance, students are able to prepare a marketing plan or they can read balance sheets and accounts and understand what they mean. A hospitality student will learn customer service, the skills to engage with people, and the necessary confidence to converse with a diverse set of people. The BTEC programmes typically instil a real world and practical approach to learning. Academic theories are applied to real life situations, business cases and in some cases internships providing a practical depth of knowledge to the subject studied.
At RIC we pride ourselves in providing high quality experience to all our learners. In order to achieve this, we provide small class sizes and focus on the individual needs of our students. We encourage our students, through innovative teaching and student-focused learning to work to the very best of their ability through practical activities and projects. Students are encouraged to question and debate, to form their own opinions as they apply the theories taught to the practical business environment.
With progress measured throughout the course, students can monitor their own performance and progress on a continual basis. This keeps our students motivated and engaged. Students have to meet deadlines set and learn to manage their study time effectively between home and college, which is a valuable life-skill. Our teachers and lecturers monitor the students’ progress by providing support and guidance individually, mentoring them throughout the program.
The BTEC program offers students a full higher and further education progression route from level 3, if required, through to Level 5 Higher National Diploma – HND (the equivalent to the second year of university), which in turn opens the door to entry onto an undergraduate degree course. Having successfully completed the HND, our students can apply to the third and final year of a UK bachelor’s degree at a UK university, any university globally that excepts BTEC qualifications and soon SPU in Thailand. 2020 will see the British college open within Sripatum University with BTEC programmes studied in English.
Link to Sripatum British College
Many students leaving school are not ready mentally to leave the home environment and embark on an undergraduate degree in the UK with no family or support structure. The BTEC HND Bachelor’s Degree route enables students to spend an additional two years with family here in Bangkok, gaining the study skills and levels of maturity necessary to then embark on the final year of the Bachelor’s Degree globally. The financial advantages of completing the first two years of the UK Bachelor’s Degree here in Bangkok are also considerable and this is also an important consideration differentiating the BTEC route against 3 to 4 years in an international university globally.
When RIC students complete their degree they also have the added bonus of being an alumni at the university where they completed their degree plus an alumni of RIC. Two future networks to help students during your career building years. “Good networks are the key to quicker success” something taught by our lecturers to all students at RIC.
RIC is still accepting applications for BTEC Level 3 and Level 4 for 2020 – 2021 in Business and Hospitality Management. Please contact RIC Student Admissions for further information on ……………………………..
In which ways do the BTEC offerings at RIC differ from comparable programs in Bangkok?
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” The BTEC Business qualifications aim to widen access to higher education and enhance the career prospects of those who undertake them. “
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” Specialise course in 2D – 3D – 4D animation, special effects, 360VR, video gaming and industrial design “
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” RIC is a further education college in Bangkok, Thailand offering students a range of courses including Hospitality Management “
