Thai businesspeople and politicians seeking to build an impressive academic background have long had the choice of “buying” their way to success.
But achieving the respectability they crave depends on not being exposed.
Recent controversy surrounding top senatorial candidate Keskamol Pleansamai has reignited concerns about murky educational profiles, highlighting the exaggerated value that Thai society places on degrees and academic rank.
“About 20 years ago, having a US degree was practically a guarantee of landing a job at a leading company. While many Thais rushed to study in the US, others used loopholes to procure degrees without really studying anything,” said Assistant Professor Dr Singh Singhkhajorn, dean of the Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University’s Faculty of Management Sciences.
Before the digital age, it was difficult to verify if an overseas degree used in an application was fake, Singh added.
Yet even in our internet era of advanced communication technology, the loopholes persist. Buying and selling of degrees has kept pace with fast-changing technology and become more sophisticated.
Nowadays, anyone with sufficient funds can purchase a degree from certain overseas institutes at the click of a button, complete with transcript and graduation gown.
If they are willing to pay more, the institutes will send them souvenirs as fake evidence of time spent studying. Some customers are even invited to join graduation photo sessions overseas.
Singh recalls once being offered a doctoral degree in exchange for US$3,000. The institute agreed to throw in a graduation gown if he shelled out an extra $500.
The full package, costing $4,000, also included memorabilia such as a polo shirt, mug, and flag of the institute.
“There are no study requirements. All you have to do is pay,” he said. “If you want to know how easily available this service is, Google the phrase ‘Buy PhD in the US’.”
Degrees-for-sale are nothing new, confirmed Assoc Prof Dr Weerachai Phutdhawong, secretary-general of the Coordinating Centre for Public Higher Education Staff.
“It’s just that the degrees on sale in the past were simple fakes. This is no longer the case.”
Nowadays, there are two main methods of procuring a degree without studying, he explained.
In the first method, buyers simply pay for the credentials issued by an institute. In the second, they travel overseas to attend a “graduation ceremony” in a respectable-looking hall in the hope that it will lend extra credibility to their degree.
To offer this service, sellers of academic credentials often rent a hall at an unsuspecting university. “I call the second method cosplay,” Weerachai said.
Even academic ranks like professorships can be bought online through certain websites.
Degrees for sale in Thailand
In 2013, the World Peace University was accused of offering university degrees and academic ranks for between 15,000 and 300,0000 baht.
Nine of its executives were later found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in jail for public fraud and uploading false information into a computer system.
Several prominent Thai figures hold degrees from the World Peace University.
Among them are national artist (now deceased) Sombat Metanee, actor Kowit Wattanakul, and former red-shirt leader Kwanchai Praipana.
Weerachai said other universities have sold degrees in a subtler manner.
He cited the example of students who pay a fee of 200,000 baht for a surrogate to attend classes for them. Using this method, the purchaser can earn a degree in just four months, he said.
Singh said most degrees sold to registered students were at the graduate or doctorate level, because there are far fewer courses for sellers to manage.
Weerachai said anyone in the market for a fake degree could also visit Khao San Road in Bangkok, where counterfeiters specialise in the speedy printing of fake academic papers to order.
Minister in the spotlight
Current agriculture minister Thamanat Prompow was accused of owning a fake doctoral degree in 2019, when he was serving as a deputy minister.
He emerged unscathed from the controversy after insisting he had graduated from California University Foreign Credential Evaluation (CUFCE), the same institute under the spotlight in Keskamol’s case.
Issara Sereewatthanawut, deputy secretary-general of King Prajadhipok’s Institute, said CUFCE does not hold classes as part of its mission.
“Its core service is to evaluate academic credentials,” he said.
Verification of degrees
Singh said it was possible to verify the authenticity of a degree via the Office of Civil Service Commission (OCSC) or the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovations.
“We verify the degrees of all the new lecturers we recruit,” he explained.
Pradit Wannarat, who chairs the Higher Education Commission, said Thai authorities do not automatically confer holders of overseas doctoral degrees with the title “Dr”.
“Also, assistant and associate professors can only be appointed by university councils. For a full professorship, a royal endorsement is required,” he explained.
Keskamol, 46, removed the titles of PhD and professor from her social media profile after the controversy surfaced.
No problem
While degrees from overseas universities that are not certified by the OCSC cannot be used in job applications for public service, there is no such restriction in the private sector.
“Using this type of degree at a private company is not against the law,” Pradit said.
Weerachai noted that many businesspeople buy degrees to look credible and “cool” in the eyes of their peers and wider society.
“Actually, they may already have knowledge in their field, but many prominent figures want to look good so badly that they will pay for a degree,” he said.
Keskamol has medical training and owns a string of beauty clinics.
Authorities are investigating whether she deliberately misled voters in last month’s Senate election by claiming to hold a doctoral degree and professorship. Observers say those claims may have helped her to secure a Senate seat by topping the poll with 79 votes.
If found guilty, she could be disqualified from the Senate, face a prison term of one to 10 years, and be banned from voting or contesting in elections for 20 years.
By Thai PBS World’s General Desk//File photo : Keskamol Pleansamai
