ADDRESSING THE SKILLS GAP BETWEEN THAI EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY IN THE FACE OF COVID-19 AND LIFELONG LEARNING

Abstract

Abstract

             The disruptive effects of Covid-19 on education and industry have increased the urgency of aligning these sectors to solve the current skills gap in the face of changing demographics and industry trends. However, there are pitfalls which must be overcome even as future trends suggest pioneering a new approach to close the gap between education and industry resulting in a common culture of lifelong learning for all Thais. This article presented the key factors which have contributed to the widening gap between education and the Thai workforce compounded by the effects of Covid-19. Skills shortages in the rapidly changing labor market and the inability of Thai education to respond to these changes had resulted in unbalanced development. To establish an encompassing framework, several global trends were explored, including the urgent need for lifelong learning, career guidance, a new approach to vocational training, wider use of re-skilling and upskilling, and implementation of a nationwide credit bank system. The development of a nationwide policy to support lifelong learning would have far-reaching consequences on the nation's economic prosperity, global competitiveness and social cohesion including job satisfaction, education and quality of work, transforming Thailand from a developing country into full membership in the 21st century global economy.