MHESI-NXPO, in collaboration with the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) and the Taiwan Printed Circuit Association (TPCA), organized an “Online Job Matching” event. The initiative provided recent graduates and soon-to-graduate students in Thailand the opportunity to interview with leading Taiwanese printed circuit board (PCB) companies planning expansions in Thailand.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Supachai Pathumnakul, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) emphasized the crucial role of the PCB industry in the Thai economy. He highlighted the growing interest from numerous global companies in investing in Thailand and underscored how this initiative helps Thai students understand the skills and competencies these companies look for, thereby preparing them for future employment. The event attracted 338 applicants from universities across Thailand, including Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University, Khon Kaen University, Mahidol University, Thammasat University, Ubon Ratchathani University, Suranaree University of Technology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi.
“MHESI initiated this project as part of our mission to develop a competent workforce for the industry, particularly in high-tech and innovation-driven sectors. This effort not only promotes employment opportunities but also allows Thai students to become part of leading global technology companies, leveraging the potential of Thai graduates to drive the nation development,” said Prof. Dr. Supachai.
Dr. Sampan Silapanad, Chairman of World Association for Cooperative & Work-Integrated Education, remarked that human capital plays a crucial role in attracting top global companies to invest in Thailand. Following this job matching event, the project will focus on a cooperative & work integrated program for university students, equipping them with necessary knowledge and skills, including soft skills, to support the smart electronics industry. This project will serve as a model for workforce development in other fields to support Thailand’s target industries.
Mr. Gordius Chang, Advisor of TPCA, stated that TPCA established the PCB Academy in 2005 to provide vocational training, foster industry-academia cooperation, organize professional examinations, internships, thesis competitions, support for master’s and doctoral research, and publish professional guidelines, aiming to strengthen the PCB industry. Since the establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015, the ASEAN economy has grown significantly, encouraging robust competition. Taiwanese PCB companies have been expanding their businesses in Thailand and ASEAN countries, increasing the demand for skilled workforce and vocational training.
With support from the Thailand Trade and Economic Office (TTEO), the first meeting between the Taiwanese PCB industry and Thai academic institutions took place in 2023, forming the foundation for robust academic cooperation between Taiwan and Thailand. In March 2024, a meeting was held in Bangkok, with participation from 10 Taiwanese companies and 11 Thai academic institutions, further paving the way for future collaborations.
Mr. Chang expressed appreciation to MHESI, NXPO, TTEO, BOI and Thailand Printed Circuit Association (THPCA) for jointly organizing this event with active participation from faculty members and students. He expected that activity would strengthen human resource collaboration and drive Thailand’s social and economic development.
The event also featured presentations from six Taiwanese companies with subsidiaries in Thailand and detailing their job openings. These companies included Gold Circuit Electronics (Thailand), Unimicron (Thailand), Unitech Printed Circuit Board (Thailand), Dynamic Technology Manufacturing (Thailand), Zhen Ding Tech. Group, and C Sun (Thailand). The available positions, with salaries ranging from THB 20,000 to THB 40,000, are open from June to December 2024. Additionally, there are opportunities for applicants with strong English skills to work in Taiwan.
In the closing session, Ms. Panisa Harnpathananun, Director of Higher Education Innovation and Future Skills Development Division at NXPO, offered valuable guidance to participating students and introduced them to various services provided by the STEMPlus Platform.
For additional information, please visit: https://stemplus.or.th/news-detail/46.
