ส.อ.ท. เดินหน้าพัฒนากำลังคน ต่⁠อ⁠ย⁠อ⁠ด LPCE–Micro-credentials ตอบโจทย์ทักษะอุตสาหกรรมยุคใหม่FTI Advances Workforce Development with LPCE–Micro-credentials to Address Skills for the New Industrial Era

FTI advances workforce development to align with the needs of the industrial sector through LPCE and Micro-credentials, connecting learning with practical skills while continuously supporting reskilling and upskilling.

Recently, on September 24, 2026, Mr. Thavorn Chollathee, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and President of the Human Capability Enhancement Institute/FTI Academy, participated in a discussion on the topic “Perspectives, Ideas, and Roles of the Federation of Thai Industries in Developing High-Competency Workforce through the LPCE (Lifelong Professional Capability Ecosystem) and Micro-credentials (MC) Platforms” during a workshop organized by the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (Office of the Permanent Secretary), at the Century Park Hotel, Bangkok.

This workshop was initiated as the Office of the Permanent Secretary is advancing its study on the framework for creating a new educational ecosystem for skill and competency development, alongside enhancing the capabilities of enterprises to offer new services. It aims to connect education with the industrial sector to ensure that the mechanisms for workforce production and development can respond to the new business models transitioning from traditional goods manufacturing to high-value services.

As a result, FTI collaborates with the Office of the Permanent Secretary in planning the drive for the LPCE (Lifelong Professional Capability Ecosystem) learning ecosystem along with the Micro-credentials (MC) certification system and Credit Bank System, which are crucial mechanisms to help bridge the skills gap and create a “ready-to-use” workforce to drive the industrial sector, under the concept of “learning what is needed – in the amount needed – at the time needed” (Just-in-time Talent).

This mechanism will provide opportunities for workers to reskill and upskill throughout their lives without needing to leave their jobs, while also receiving certification in specific skills that are practically applicable, accumulative, and can be built upon. It helps reduce time and costs for learning while also presenting a clear Skill Profile, which the industrial sector values more than just formal educational qualifications. This will lead to a sustainable increase in the country's competitive capability.

During the meeting, Mr. Thavorn mentioned three major challenges regarding the workforce that the industrial sector is currently facing:

1) Talent Shortage & Skill Mismatch: There is a shortage of skilled labor in target S-Curve industries, such as electric vehicles (EV), smart electronics, digital technologies, and AI.

2) Skills Gap: New graduates often possess skills that do not align with the actual job requirements in Industry 4.0 workplaces, including both technical skills and soft skills.

3) Speed of Change: The rapid technological advancements have resulted in traditional four-year degree programs being unable to adapt quickly enough to the production sector's needs.

FTI believes that building the workforce of the future is not merely about increasing the number of graduates but ensuring that “skills match jobs and people meet the industry's requirements.” It is ready to advance in collaboration with the Office of the Permanent Secretary and network partners to promote LPCE, Micro-credentials, and Credit Bank as practical mechanisms linking learning with the working world, enabling Thais to learn and develop skills throughout their lives. Simultaneously, the industrial sector will have personnel ready to embrace new technologies and business models, thereby enhancing productivity, creating employment opportunities, and improving Thailand's long-term competitive capabilities.