Abstract

In a world of globalization and intensified competition in higher education, internationalization has become a significant policy and institutional strategy for advancing educational quality and enhancing global competitiveness. However, prior studies conducted in Thailand show that specialized and professional higher education institutions still face structural constraints, fragmented implementation, and a lack of systematic strategic management frameworks. Internationalization of such institutions continues not to align with their specific organizational missions and national policy contexts. This research aimed to develop a strategic management model for the internationalization of specialized and professional Higher Education Institutions in Thailand, drawing on theories of higher education internationalization and strategic management. A Research and Development approach to examine and analyze the components and indicators of internationalization in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), and to develop and evaluate a strategic management model for the internationalization of specialized and professional Higher Education Institutions. A conceptual model comprising 5 components and 30 indicators of internationalization has emerged, with 4 steps and 4 strategic directions. A comparative analysis of highly internationalized and general institutions reveals 2 distinct patterns of policy implementation and institutional practice: proactive and defensive strategies that lead to differential impacts on educational quality and international competitiveness. This research contributes to comparative and international education discussions by demonstrating how national policy environments and institutional capabilities shape internationalization.

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