Background
Integrating Occupational Health, Safety, and Environment (OHSE) principles is vital for advancing Thailand’s 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2023–2027) and promoting the Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG) Model, aligning with the United Nations SDGs. OHSE ensures safe and healthy working conditions, fostering decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and supports sustainable industrialization and innovation (SDG 9), as well as responsible consumption and production (SDG 12). This alignment enhances Thailand’s economic competitiveness and sustainability, ensuring workforce well-being and promoting a resilient BCG economy.
For technical students, mastering OHSE principles is crucial for navigating complex industrial environments safely and sustainably. As they enter high-skill sectors, OHSE expertise becomes a key differentiator, offering better job security, career advancement, and competitive salaries. Employers in Thailand are increasingly recognizing the value of OHSE skills, adjusting pay scales to attract and reward proficient graduates, thereby reducing risks and liabilities. Therefore, the “Preparing Technical Vocational Students for Sustainable Careers Program” was initiated.
Objective
To strengthen students’ industrial capabilities and competencies in terms of safety and sustainable environment in the fields of electricity (including solar cell systems), automotive (including electric vehicles), mechanics, and electronics, in order to produce quality workforces that meet the needs of Thai industries.
Project Activities
The project operates for 2 years. In the first year, the project will be implemented in collaboration with 4 colleges in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) through the development of an OHSE-enhanced curriculum and teacher development. In the second year, the project will expand by developing first-year teachers into master trainers to extend benefits to more teachers and create digital learning resources on OHSE for students. The project activities include:
In 2025, the project will develop a standardized OHSE-enhanced curriculum that effectively raises teachers’ and students’ awareness and value. Thirty targeted teachers are trained with the enhanced curriculum. Then, the project provides a Professional Learning Community (PLC) and mentoring to support them in applying the enhanced curriculum with their students. Teachers also have a factory visit to obtain industrial OHSE experience. After the implementation with the students, teachers participate in the seminar to exchange best practices and lessons learned. At the end of the first year, the project revises the OHSE-enhanced curriculum based on suggestions from the seminar.
In 2026, the project will build the capacity of first-year teachers to become master trainers in OHSE and deliver training to 50 more technical teachers from the targeted departments across the different colleges. The master trainers also provide PLC and mentoring activities to the new teachers. Then, the new teachers participate in the factory visits to obtain industrial OHSE experience.
After two years of implementation, the project anticipates delivering a standardized OHSE curriculum across colleges in key locations of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). This curriculum will be further expanded to reach a broader audience of technical teachers and students through digital OHSE learning resources developed by the project. The standardized OHSE curriculum will receive TPQI certification and be available as micro-credential courses, enabling teachers and students to upskill effectively.
Expected Outcomes
The implementation of this project is set to enhance students’ professional competencies in Occupational Health, Safety, and Environment (OHSE), thereby increasing their competitiveness in the job market. Through the application of advanced OHSE practices, students will be equipped to operate more safely and efficiently. Furthermore, this initiative will raise their awareness of the environmental impacts of industry, ultimately supporting the sustainable development of Thai industries.
