news department of skill development joins forces with chevron enjoy science project to establish “TVET automotive hub”
The Department of Skill Development is joining hands with the Chevron Enjoy Science Project to establish a “TVET Automotive Hub” in Chonburi province to produce “Technicians 4.0” in response to policies aimed at promoting Thailand’s automotive industry, improving workforce skills, closing gaps among workers, and supporting the development of the nation’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Project.
Hatairat Articharte, Policy, Government and Public Affairs manager at Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production, Ltd., said, “One of the major keys to national development is a skilled workforce, especially in light of rapid advances in manufacturing technology and the government’s policy of promoting the automotive and auto parts industry as one of ten industries that will drive the nation’s future economy (the New S-Curve). The government’s increased focus on electric vehicles (EVs), driven by technology and innovation, is set to increase Thailand’s competitiveness and maintain the nation’s position as an automotive manufacturing and export leader. To achieve this goal, we must urgently develop the skills and knowledge of current workers and vocational students to match advances in technologies and industries.”
Hatairat stated further that “For this reason, the Chevron Enjoy Science Project seeks to boost the nation’s competitiveness by promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, as well as developing the skills of vocational students and workers to meet the needs of the industrial sector. We are therefore collaborating with the Department of Skill Development to set up a ‘TVET Automotive Hub’ at the Chonburi Institute for Skill Development Region 3 to train workers to become ‘Technicians 4.0.’ The eastern region was selected due to its status as an automotive and auto parts manufacturing hub, and the institute will play a key role in elevating Thailand’s industrial sector, reducing gaps in workforce skills, and supporting the goal of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Project.”
Piyabutr Cholvijarn, president of Kenan Institute Asia, said, “The TVET Automotive Hub will play an important role in three areas, including cultivating knowledge by organizing training courses for Department of Skill Development instructors and teachers from participating vocational institutions. These instructors and teachers will transfer their knowledge to vocational students to build necessary skills and develop future generations of technicians. The training courses incorporate the Chisholm Institute’s curriculum, used to train technicians entering skilled workforces of Australia and other nations around the world, with the Thai-German Institute’s curriculum, which includes both theoretical and practical components. At the same time, we are working with the private sector to train teachers from vocational education institutions in order to roll out a new curriculum that takes into account the emergence of new technologies, such as Artificial intelligence and automation.”
“The hub will also provide training equipment and heavy machinery for vocational students to practice on to enhance their work skills, thereby solving the problem of limited space and insufficient equipment at technical colleges.”
Meanwhile, Theerapol Khunmuang, director-general of the Department of Skill Development, said, “The TVET Automotive Hub will be managed by a committee comprised of members from eight organizations, with the Chonburi Institute for Skill Development Region 3 taking the lead. The institute is fully equipped with training equipment and possesses the automotive industry expertise to develop more than 5,000 workers in the eastern region per year, building confidence that the TVET Automotive Hub will be capable of producing “Technicians 4.0” to help solve workforce quality and quantity issues faced by many growing industries in the eastern region. In addition to supplying workers for the automotive and auto parts industry, the hub will assist other industries, such as aviation and logistics, in accordance with the EEC plan. It will also support the Thailand 4.0 strategy to drive the nation’s economy with technology and innovation.”
The eight organizations that will jointly manage the TVET Automotive Hub under the “Public -Private Partnership” agreement include the Chevron Enjoy Science Project, the Chonburi Institute for Skill Development Region 3, the Thailand Automotive Institute, the Thai – German Institute, Chonburi Technical College, Panyapiwat Institute of Management, Thai Summit Automotive Co., Ltd., and Sangcharoen Tools Center Co., Ltd.
