BIBB co-operation plays major part in German-Thai education collaboration
The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Thai Education Ministry have intensified their co-operation in the field of vocational education and training in a memorandum of understanding. The trilateral co-operation activities between the BIBB, the Thai Office of Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) and the Thailand Professional Qualification Institute (TPQI) plays a major role in this German-Thai co-operation.
Germany and Thailand have been maintaining a long-standing, close relationship of economic co-operation and development co-operation. The field of vocational education and training constitutes a key area of co-operation. A co-operation agreement between the Thai Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) and the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) has been in effect since 2003. It was expanded in the summer of 2014 to form a trilateral co-operation agreement, including the Thailand Professional Qualification Institute (TPQI).
The partners in Thailand hold the German vocational education and training system in great esteem and had repeatedly stressed their desire for an intensification of the co-operation activities. In the context of a delegation trip in January 2015, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Thai Education Ministry now signed a memorandum of understanding for the further intensification of co-operation in the field of vocational education and training.
Prior to the signing of the memorandum, the German Deputy Ambassador to Thailand reported on the current political situation and the activities of German stakeholders.
The Thai partners presented their institutions to the members of the delegation during a workshop meeting. They subsequently discussed the current state of affairs and the further organisation of the co-operation activities in the field of vocational education and training as well as other subject-areas for potential co-operation. The workshop meeting was attended by representatives of the Thai Education Ministry, the German Embassy, the OVEC, the TPQI as well as by representatives of the OPEC and the Technical Colleges.
On the occasion of the launch of the VETNET project organised by the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce (AHK Thailand), the delegation gained insight into the vocational education and training project "German-Thai Dual Excellence Education (GTDEE)", which is being carried out in this context. The delegation subsequently visited the Thai project partner Chonburi Technical College, Mercedes-Benz and the Chitralada Technology Institute.
The delegation members included the Head of the BMBF Directorate-General European and International Co-operation in Education and Research, the Head of the Department EU Education Programmes / International Cooperation in Education at the BMBF, the Head of the Division International Co-operation and Advisory Services / GOVET at the BIBB, a representative of the Division iMOVE International Marketing of Vocational Education at the BIBB and a representative of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK).