As foreign investors increasingly select Thailand as their Southeast Asian hub, demand for localised, globally competent talent is surging. Companies now seek professionals who combine technical expertise with cultural fluency, leadership across diverse teams, and an understanding of both Thai and international standards, said Mr Fu Yuxin, President of the Southeast Asia International Education Association, during a forum on ‘The Role of Education in Shaping ASEAN’s Industrial Future’ at the Sustainability Expo 2025 (SX2025), held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.
Fu noted that industries continue to face challenges such as mismatched skill standards, cultural integration, and the need to build robust talent ecosystems from the ground up.
Echoing his message, Prof Dr Surin Khomfoi, Vice President of the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO), said Thailand is improving its capacity to produce higher-skilled STEM workers – but not fast enough.
‘We don’t have enough skilled workforce in the industries we want to focus on,’ Dr Surin explained. ‘Only about one in three students in the system is pursuing STEM studies. Most of our skilled workforce must come from these students. Thailand needs to inspire more young people to take this path before they enter high school.’
NXPO has been developing co-creation programmes that unite various institutions to produce more potential students and skilled workers. It has also introduced a skill-mapping platform that helps students identify possible career routes based on their abilities and chosen curricula.
‘The gap is narrower than in previous years, but we’re still not catching up. This problem isn’t unique to Thailand – the whole world faces the same issue: there aren’t enough STEM talents,’ Dr Surin said.
Vocational Pathways to Industry
Dr Rangsan Thepmondhri, Director of the Public Sector Development Group at the Office of the Vocational Education Commission, highlighted the vital role of vocational education in meeting industrial demand. Thailand currently has about one million vocational students, producing around 300,000 graduates annually – a small number compared to national needs.
‘Our curriculum is 70% focused on industrial areas, and 30% on home economics, tourism, and agriculture,’ Dr Rangsan said.
The Office oversees nearly 900 public and private vocational colleges nationwide, designing programmes aligned with industry demand. ‘We try to make sure students will get a job. They need to graduate with skill certifications from the Department of Skill Development and also from Thailand’s Professional Qualification Chambers. There are more than a hundred skill certification centres working with the Ministry of Labour,’ he said, emphasising the government’s efforts to increase employability.
Changing Students Means Changing Education
‘If you want to change students, you need to change professors as well, because technology is changing so fast,’ said Dr Surin, stressing the need for educators to continuously upskill. Currently, three majors have been fully developed, with curricula tailored to another nine sectors in progress.
Dr Rangsan added, ‘We want to encourage lifelong learning, even after leaving school. Speaking is easy – doing it is not.’ He also pointed to ongoing work in recognising informal learning, experience validation, and making curricula more flexible.
Dr Surin further highlighted the importance of gender inclusion in STEM and vocational fields. ‘Although men are still more common in these industries, women are very welcome. If we want to build a better future for women through workforce development, we cannot do it alone. We need more partnerships and networks,’ he said.
He concluded, ‘Education can change someone’s life. Better education means a better future – not just for Thailand, but for the world.’