EDC promotes vocational skills training
The Education Development Center (EDC) has teamed up with vocational institutes in Thailand to provide an innovative skills training and work-based learning opportunities.
The EDC is a US-based global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity.
Since 1958, it has been designing, implementing, and evaluating educational programmes in 80 countries.
In Thailand, the EDC’s accelerating work achievement and readiness for employment 2 (AWARE2) programme has been developed and supported local technical education and vocational training (TVET) graduates to handle the digital economy.
The scheme was started locally in 2013, said Rebecca Stoeckle, vice-president of the company.
“AWARE2 is funded by J.P. Morgan, a global financial services firm, and implemented by the EDC,” she said.
The programme has provided timely, innovative skills training and work-based learning opportunities to Southeast Asia youths who are prepared to enter the workforce in the digital economies of Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia.
The EDC is also demonstrating its value for students, teachers, and local companies by laying the groundwork for a network of partners allied in ensuring TVET graduates are drivers of innovation and increased productivity.
“Disruptive technology will continue to affect the world of work and the gap between the skills taught in school and the skills needed for work is growing,” said Ms Stoeckle.
Thailand is doing a cross-sector transformation to prepare for the 4.0 stage, and the country has committed to build up digital literacy nationwide.
“The EDC programme creates an innovative approach to work readiness in the digital economy and preparing TVET students to compete and succeed,” she said.
Ms Stoeckle said the EDC strategy is to bring together educators, government stakeholders and industry representatives to provide an intensive, contextually relevant set of work readiness trainings, exposure to innovative thinking and work-based challenges through boot camps.
The company aims for meaningful engagement with employers as part of promoting students’ readiness for work.
In Thailand, the EDC has provided this programme in two provinces — Chiang Mai and Lamphun — for seven schools 1,200 targeted students.
Arian Hassani, vice-president of global philanthropy in Asia-Pacific for J.P. Morgan, said it provides the educational programme to support and help TVET students in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines because these three countries have many opportunities and the local governments want to improve skilled labourers to match market demand.
“J.P. Morgan will provide volunteer service activities for employees in local communities by using many resources, including those that stem from access to capital, economies of scale, global reach and expertise,” said Ms Hassani.
“Two parties plan to expand the AWARE2 programme to other provinces in Thailand, such as manufacturing areas in the eastern region.”
She said Thailand faces a shortage in highly skilled labour to serve the new targeted industries under the government’s S-curve policy, so the programme is expected to prepare new students for this economic model.