Presenting the topic, Walter Kretschmar, the German
director of The Thai-German Institute laid out the vision and the mission of
a renewed initiative in Dual Vocational Training to suit industrial needs.
“Company employers often complain of a shortage of
skilled labor, particularly the highly-trained technical staff with
practical understanding of the real working environment. Yet to face and
handle challenges of a global economy, Thai as well as international
companies need to keep or regain their competitive positions.
On
behalf of the Thai German Institute, Chonburi, Walter Kretschmar, the German
Director receives an award from H.E. Pongpol Adireksarn, Minister of
Education during a ceremony at the Queen Sirikit center. The reward reflects
the Institute’s role in bringing vocational education to the industrial
sector. TGI was jointly established by the Thai and German governments, to
provide training in the field of Advanced Manufacturing Technology to
Thailand’s industrial workforce. The awards were organized by the
Vocational Education Commission.
“Many questions have arisen. How to obtain or increase
the number of skilled workers in their companies? How best to prepare Thai
people for the challenges of the modern world of work?
“The freshly baked graduates often need many more
training hours before they are accepted by most companies that require
experienced staff. But how can they get any experience if they are not
employed? Catch 22?
“Bridging the gap between education and actual
industrial needs was attempted when with the support of the German
government, a system called Dual Vocational Training or DVT was introduced
to Thailand in 1988.
“It is a system which generates very close cooperation
between colleges and companies, both acting as equal partners in the
development of the training curriculum, selection of the apprentices, and
testing at the end of the training. The companies then take these
apprentices into their own workforce. In 1995 the system was put into
nationwide use and by 2002 it was offering training in 40 different
occupational fields.
“However, DVT in Thailand has still not reached its
full potential. The need to bring the vocational education sector closer to
the professional workplace in order to understand the real working
environment is still there.
“Additional hurdles are when many companies in Thailand
are not familiar with the DVT system available, and do not know how to find
apprentices or Lehrlinge, while most colleges still run on their traditional
system and are not proactive on industrial focus.
“The process of creating awareness and cooperation in
DVT must be speeded up and move on to the next stage if we are to be able to
keep up with fast paced changing world, especially with the technology
innovation that doubles every second year.
“With this in mind, The Thai-German Institute has been
developing a more efficient strategy, to act as the match maker between
International companies in Thailand and the colleges under the Department of
Vocational Education (DOVE) which has recently been changed to Vocational
Education Commission (VEC).
“A user group will be set up for each industrial estate
e.g. Chonburi/Eastern Seaboard. This user group will help define the
standards and procedures out of industry’s point of view and synchronize
with the colleges. The companies then take the active role in curriculum
development and the recruitment of trainees, offer in-house training and
work experience.
“The user group will be implemented in October this
year, and apprenticeship projects will commence early next year.
“A pilot project is already underway with BMW
(Thailand) agreeing to act as a lead industrial partner, proposing a plan
which matches European standards, while the participating colleges carry out
the training.
“TGI and DVT are seeking more companies to participate
in this new initiative. The benefits for your companies are clear: access to
highly skilled staff chosen and trained in a curriculum designed
specifically to meet your own requirements, and with direct experience of
your workplace.
“The training will be supported by Vocational Education
Commission (VEC) while TGI will be the liaison between your company and the
training institutions,” Kretschmar said.
“Walter ended his presentation with food for thought:
“We, as international companies are guests here in Thailand. We have a
responsibility to help and share with our host country. Your contribution to
the human resource development will not only boost the potential of your own
company, but it will also show your personal commitment to the betterment of
Thailand in economy and society.”
Please contact TGI now for more information or to make an
appointment for a visit at our Customer Relationship Management Center:
038-456800
Email: [email protected] For personal contact with the
German Director of the institute: Email: kretschmar @tgi.or.th