16 INTERVIEW
Mr. Phongpak Sritulanon studied Mechatronics, and his projects included the construction and design of mechatronic equipment. One of his projects was called ‘Pick and Place Devices.’
A student’s viewpoint on the success of GTDEE Phongpak Sritulanon, co-practical instructor at the Eastern College of Technology (E.Tech) The Thai-German Technical College was founded in 1959 to meet Thailand's large need for technicians and skilled workers as a result of the country's industrialisation efforts. More than 300 projects have been completed since then, as has the link that incorporates all areas of achieving sustainable development through capacitybuilding and transformation processes. The primary purpose of German-Thai Dual Excellence Education (GTDEE) is to produce brilliant individuals with flexible qualifications who are mobile and capable of working in their chosen areas. It was in Germany that the dual vocational training approach, in which students are taught both theory and practical technical abilities, was developed. Later, collaboration efforts shifted to higher academic levels and more specialized training needs, particularly in the field of engineering, in conjunction with B.Grimm, BMW Thailand, Robert Bosch, GTCC and the German International Corporation (GIZ), with the establishment of the dual vocational eduationa and training (DVET) programme for Thailand in 2013. Recently, the Chamber had an exclusive interview with Mr. Phongpak Sritulanon, a 20-yearold student currently studying at the College of Advanced Manufacturing Innovation at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL). He is now a co-practical instructor at the Eastern College of Technology (E.Tech). In student batch 2019, he studied Mechatronics at E.Tech through Project-Based Learning under the GTDEE Programme, which was funded by GIZ. He was a first-generation student to graduate in Mechatronics under the GTDEE Programme in 2021. How did you become involved in the Project-Based Learning pilot programme in Mechatronics? I was informed by the institution's public relations that there would be a new style of teaching and learning in accordance with German standards, referred to as project-based learning. As a result, I was certain that now was an excellent time to give it a shot.
UPDATE 2/2022
How did you find your experience with Project-Based Learning in Mechatronics? How does it vary from a normal Thai education? Could you elaborate on the areas in which you are studying? In comparison to the Thai learning standard, instructors advise students on what they need to accomplish, and they help to create the complete process of learning and work, which will later be the final goal of the courses. Students have considerable latitude
