Developing the mechatronics technicians based on the project-based learning standard

Markus Hoffmann, Director of the German-Thai Dual Excellent Education (GTDEE), GIZ Business Scouts for Development on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Dual vocational training is a special way of learning a profession in Germany. The dual training consists of a lot of practical work. It usually lasts between two and three and a half years depend on the profession. The combination of approximately 30% in theory and 70% in professional practice prepares trainees particularly well for what companies expect of them: not only specialist knowledge, but also practical experience in applying this knowledge.

The idea of training mechatronics technicians in Thailand based on German vocational education and training standard began in a discussion between Mr. Markus Hoffmann, GIZ Business Scouts and Programme Director of the German-Thai Dual Excellent Education (GTDEE) and the Eastern Technological College (E-TECH) on 11 November 2018. The first Thai edition of the Mechatronics textbook was further developed and finally launched last year.

UPDATE interviewed Mr. Hoffmann about GTDEE, which is a programme developed by the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce (GTCC), on the development of German mechatronics technicians under the project-based learning standard and the Thai mechatronics textbook.

Please explain how the German Mechatronics Technician under Project-Based Learning Standard has been developed in Thailand and what kind of reference books are available for mechatronics technician development in Germany?

The discussion with E-Tech on 11 November 2018 centred on how best to develop the competence of mechatronics students at the vocational education level. Initially, in accordance with German vocational standards and guidelines, attention was given to general academic knowledge and practical skills under project-based learning as a key part of the programme. The programme was partially funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) from November 2019 to September 2020.

Importantly, the education of German mechatronic technicians under project-based learning standards places great emphasis on the students' ability to produce their own workpieces. This involves them in the following tasks: planning the work; producing machine parts; producing technical drawings of workpieces and devices; assembling mechatronic parts; customizing workpieces; machine operation programming; maintaining a written work manual; formulating maintenance guidelines; and organising delivery of customers' orders. Work safety regulations and environmental responsibilities are taught and complied with at every stage of the programme.

We held consultations with an international team of experts from the public and commercial sectors about which German quality literature is most suitable for the Thai education market. We selected one of the largest German publishers, Europa-Lehrmittel Nourney, Vollmer GmbH & Co. KG, based in Haan near Düsseldorf.

GTCC then acquired the licences for the “Mechatronics textbook”, “Mechatronics Examination Preparation” and “Mechatronics Examination Preparation with Solutions” in order to make these books available in Thai language for the local education market.

Unlike other textbooks, the Mechatronics textbook teaches different levels of metal technology, electrical engineering, electronics and information processing. It provides the mechatronics technicians with all the interdisciplinary information needed for the job, and is the latest (sixth) edition from 2019. It covers all the content relevant to the field of "Industry 4.0" based on the longstanding experience and best-practice of Germany.

From your experience, what are the challenges to implementing this programme in Thailand?

Achieving a successful mechatronic vocational education essentially depends on the ability of the VET education personnel ability to innovate, communicate, collaborate and integrate. Another important aspect is the very close co-operation between vocational schools and the private sector. The private sector actually plays a key role in dual vocational training.

Mechatronics VET demands a diversity of teaching objectives. Students should not only acquire professional skills in the classroom. They must also have the opportunity to develop their interests, to strengthen their social and emotional competencies, and to practice self-reliant, self-reflective and democratic thinking and acting. It is not so much the surface structure that determines the quality of the mechatronics lessons, such as the school's financial resources, class size or school types. It depends rather on the depth structures. This includes, for example, the credibility of teachers, a learning-friendly climate, the comprehensibility of the teacher's language, a feedback culture, the art of encouraging students to reflect, and joint thinking about their own learning, and moreover the right educational equipment of all learning venues. Frontal lessons, group work and individual work should complement each other and not be separated from each other. A holistic approach with action-oriented project tasks should therefore be the focus of any mechatronics training.

Unlike other textbooks, the Mechatronics textbook teaches different levels of metal technology, electrical engineering, electronics and information processing. It provides the mechatronics technicians with all the interdisciplinary information needed for the job, and is the latest (sixth) edition from 2019. It covers all the content relevant to the field of "Industry 4.0" based on the longstanding experience and best-practice of Germany.

From your idea, how do we take the next step to success in mechatronics development in Thailand?

Our goal is to achieve the German quality requirements for dual vocational education and training by implementing systemic and content-related standards, and integrating them as effectively as possible into the Thai education market. We intend to establish a future training structure with Don Bosco Technological College, in which learning and training content from the German training framework plan and framework curriculum are integrated into the Thai vocational certificate and diploma certificate levels. Dual vocational education and training based on German standards will be developed in collaboration with Don Bosco Technological College partner companies.

In addition, the GTCC will offer courses approved by the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce to improve the quality of teachers in vocational schools and training personnel in companies to produce vocational education workforce to supporting the growth of educational institutions and new sources of learning.

I would like to express my gratitude to all of the experts from the Faculty of Technical Education, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), the Thailand Professional Qualification Institute (public organization), Thai-German Institute (TGI), all partner companies and colleges who have helped us achieve our goal.

Contact details: Markus Hoffmann Programme Director German-Thai Dual Excellent Education (GTDEE) hoffmann@gtcc.org https://thailand.ahk.de/gtdee

Interviewed by GTCC Team