GTDEE Insight

GTDEE meeting with BIBB at GTCC

On 21 October 2022, GTDEE organised a meeting with Ms. Eva Hanau from the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), Division for International Advisory Services and Cooperation. The meeting invited partner institutions with Ms. Dominique-Navina Pantke, Project Manager for "SCHOOLPLATE", and Scientific Officer and Diploma Engineer Mr. Klaus Schmid, Group Manager Electroplating Processes and Plants from Fraunhofer IPA Institute.

The objectives of the meeting were to exchange knowledge and information about the SCHOOLPLATE project, vocational training and qualification measures for the electro-plating industry in Thailand as well as experiences of the implementation of DVET in Thailand.

Meeting on Apprenticeship Development batch 2023 at Pathumthani Brewery Co., Ltd.

On 28 October 2022, GTDEE held a meeting with Pathumthani Brewery Co., Ltd. and Don Bosco Technological College on the apprenticeship development in the mechanics profession for Pathumthani Brewery Co., Ltd.

The participants representing the four parties at the meeting were Engineering Maintenance Section, Knowledge Management of Boonrawd Group, Don Bosco Technological College, and the GTDEE Project Director together with GTDEE Senior Project Manager.

Handover Certificates for Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) Apprenticeship Programme

On 1 November 2022, Mr. Roland Folger, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) Limited presented Level A Certificates and Level B Certificates to about 116 graduates of the Mercedes-Benz Thailand Apprenticeship Programme (Automotive Mechatronics), Batch 2019 and Batch 2020 at MercedesBenz Training Center. Mr. Hans-Ulrich Südbeck, Deputy Head of Mission, German Embassy Bangkok, and GTCC Executive Director Dr. Roland Wein delivered congratulatory remarks.

The graduates attended the DVET programme offered by MercedesBenz (Thailand) under a partnership with GTDEE/GTCC, MercedesBenz dealerships and five educational institutions – the Eastern Technological College, Don Bosco Technological College, Bangkok, Samutprakarn Technical College, Lopburi Technical College and Don Bosco Technological College, Banpong

AdA International Examination

On 27 October 2022. the "AdA International Train the Trainer 2022 (Full Version) Examination" was successfully organised by GTDEE for nine technical teachers from Don Bosco Technological College, Bangkok. Dr. Sathipharp Khamsa-Ard, Chief People Officer of Ananda Development Public Company Limited and GTCC representative as well as Asst. Prof. Dr. Panarit Sethakul, President of the Faculty of Technical Education Association were invited to participate in the examination as a committee. The examination was organised by GTDEE Project Director Markus Hoffmann and Senior Project Manager Dr. Kamonsak Suradom.

Handover AdA International Certificate at KMUTNB

On 11 November 2022, GTCC Executive Director Dr. Roland Wein handed over AdA International certificates to 29 technical teachers from the Thai-German Pre-Engineering School, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB). The management team of KMUTNB joined this event including the Director of the Thai-German Pre-engineering School, College of Industrial Technology (CIT), Asst. Prof. Dr. Saowakhon Khunnawut, who reported the project progress. He was followed by a welcoming speech given by the Assistant to the President for Academic Promotion and Quality Assurance, representing the KMUTNB President. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sumet Umchid. Chargé d'affaires ad interim at the German Embassy Bangkok and Mr. Hans-Ulrich Südbeck delivered congratulatory remarks. Mr. Markus Hoffmann, GTDEE, and Senior Manager, Dr. Kamonsak Suradom joined this event.

Co-operation in dual vocational training for Don Bosco Technological College

On 8 November 2022, a new milestone in the German-Thai co-operation in dual vocational training was celebrated. The occasion was held to mark the handover of the new Mechatronic Textbook, AdA & Pedagogic Certificates presentation as well as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between Don Bosco Technological College (DBTC) and Boon Rawd Brewery Co., Ltd. GTCC, in co-operation with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), has also developed a new training approach with training textbooks and guides based on the German standard for the profession of mechatronics. GTCC is pleased to have handed over the textbooks to 27 DBTC students as well as nine certificates by AdA International and eight Pedagogic Certificates by Faculty of Technical Education, KMUTNB. The event concluded with the MoU signing ceremony between DBTC, represented by the Rector, and Boon Rawd Brewery Co., Ltd., represented by Deputy First Senior Executive Vice-President of Boonrawd Brewery Co., Ltd., Mr. Piti Bhirombhakdi.

Monitoring project-based learning of mechatronics students at Eastern Technological College (E.Tech)

On 10 November 2022, Mr. Markus Hoffmann, GTDEE Project Director, and Dr. Kamonsak Suradom Senior Manager provided advice to 12 mechatronics students at E.Tech. The meeting focused on a project-based learning approach for conveyer belt automation control systems. The students were presented with system designs, preparation materials, tools and equipment. The GTDEE team also explained desired competencies, safety system and planning to be developed by individual and group work.

PAL Final examination guideline for Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) Apprenticeship Programme batch 2021

On 10 November 2022, Mr. Markus Hoffmann, GTDEE Project Director, and Dr. Kamonsak Suradom Senior Manager held a workshop on guidelines for the PAL Final Examination Part 1 in Automotive Mechatronics. The meeting was held at the Mercedes-Benz Competence Centre (MBCC), Bangna-Trad Road KM. 19. One apprentice from Don Bosco Technological College demonstrated at station 1: Car Inspection. A total of 33 apprentices participated in the workshop.

Visiting BMW Service Apprentice Programme in co-operation with GTDEE

In November, the GTDEE team visited the apprentices in the BMW Service Apprentice Programme Batches 2020 and 2021, who are undergoing practical training at BMW dealers. The GTDEE team and teachers from Bangkaewfa Don Bosco Technological College, Bangkaewfa Industrial Community Education College and Banphai Industrial Community Education College participated in the visit eight dealers.

Final examination in mechatronics

Between 22 and 23 November 2022, GTDEE organized the final examination in mechatronics at Faculty of Engineering and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Rayong Campus. The examiners came from the industrial and academic sectors as well as GTCC. This final examination was organized for graduates from the Robert-Bosch Automotive Technology Thailand (Hemaraj plant) Apprenticeship Programme, Batches 2019 and 2020 in co-operation with the ThaiAustrian Technical College.

Discussion on Business and Vocational and Higher Education: Case Studies from Germany and Thailand

Mr. Markus Hoffmann GTDEE Project Director, and GTDEE Senior Manager Dr. Kamonsak Suradom, joined the Forum for World Education (FWE) 2022 Conference for a panel discussion on “Business and Vocational and Higher Education: Case Studies from Germany and Thailand”, on 1 December 2022 at CP Leadership Institute, Nakhon Ratchasima. Dr. Leon Fourie, Chief Executive of Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, New Zealand, also joined the discussion as a panellist. The session was moderated by Prof. Dr. honoris causa Wilfried Hartmann, Hamburg University, Germany. A total of 150 participants took part in the conference on-site, while others joined it online.

Interview with Khun Supalak Rattanarangsimon KM Manager from Boonrawd Group on “Cooperation in DVET Program”

Q: What is the role of coordinators in developing successful apprenticeships according to the German standard?

A: First of all, the co-ordinator should understand the current company policy, requirements and issues. Then projects will be proposed according to what the company requires. We proceed with those projects under the company regulations and co-ordinate with other business departments in order to achieve the projects as planned.

More important is that we should not be afraid to take action and should collaborate with other departments in order to gain mutual benefits. We provide a system that collects and shares the knowledge and experience of talented employees. This knowledge-sharing system can help others to increase their potentials and improve their skills.

When proceeding with projects, everyone has to have the same direction and help each other to solve all issues. All of these aspects are the crucial cores that help to implement new projects successfully. Besides apprentice development, DVET Program’s key part is to make the apprentice understand their values and needs. This project encourages them to eagerly learn new skills to improve capabilities and become quality people in the future”.