Vocational Education and Training in Thailand

Vocational Education and Training in Thailand offers a thorough and timely examination of Thailand’s VET landscape, tracing its foundations in the Vocational Education Act of B.E. 2551 (2008) through to its contemporary challenges and opportunities. The chapter maps out the full spectrum of VET delivery — formal, nonformal, and the increasingly prominent dual VET programs — all operating under the oversight of the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) within the Ministry of Education. Central to Thailand’s VET agenda is a commitment to improving quality of life, driving economic development, reducing poverty, and expanding employment — goals achieved in part through meaningful collaboration with industries and businesses. The chapter also takes a critical look at cross-cutting issues including curriculum design, student assessment, digital technology integration, inclusion and equity, and the professional development of trainers, culminating in a frank discussion of the key trends and structural challenges that will shape the future of vocational education in Thailand.