On 21 November 2024, Asst. Prof. Dr. Matchima Naradisorn, President of Mae Fah Luang University, welcomed participants of the “English and Chinese Language Skills Development of High School Students in EEC Area through Promotional Video Creation for Local Tourism Promotion” project at Mandarin Eastville Hotel Pattaya, Chonburi Province. Dr. Tachaphol Kanjanakul, Deputy Secretary-General of the Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thaialnd, presided over the ceremony, and Dr. Natthawut Yodsuwan, Director of the Center for Academic Services at Mae Fah Luang University, gave a project report.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Matchima Naradisorn stated that Mae Fah Luang University is honoured that the Eastern Economic Corridor Office has once again entrusted the university with funding for 2024-2025 to implement the “English and Chinese Language Skills Development of High School Students in EEC Area through Promotional Video Creation for Local Tourism Promotion” project. This is the third and final phase of the project, which will showcase how the Smart Teachers, who have been involved in the programme for two years (2021-2023), can mentor students and teachers from 15 schools in the EEC area.
The main objective of this year's project is to showcase the potential of 10 model teachers or Smart Teachers, comprising five English language teachers and five Chinese language teachers, who will serve as Learning Coaches for their assigned 15 schools. Each Smart Teacher is responsible for three schools, providing consultation and teaching techniques in English and Chinese language use, and implementing all learning processes to develop the capabilities of 120 teachers and students, as well as creating a network of teachers in the EEC area.
Dr. Natthawut Yodsuwan revealed that this third phase focuses on 120 upper secondary school students and teachers from 15 schools, which have not participated in the previous first and second phases, in Chonburi, Rayong, and Chachoengsao provinces (five schools from each province). The participating schools included:
• Banbung Uttasahakamnukhro School
• Banglamung School
• Chonkanyanukoon School
• Phothisamphanphitthayakhan School
• Phanthong School
• Rayongwittayakom School
• Makudmuang Rajchawaitthayalai School
• Pluakdaengpittayakom School
• Nikhomwittaya School
• Srinagarindra the Princess Mother School Rayong
• Phanom Sarakham Phanom Adun Witthaya School
• Benchamaracharungsarit School
• Benchamaracharungsarit 2 School
• Datdaruni School
• Watsothornwararamworawiharn School
Each school has eight members, consisting of two teachers and six students, divided into two teams: English language (four people) and Chinese language (four people). The teachers in each team will mentor and advise students in their schools. All participants will receive language knowledge and IT skills training from Mae Fah Luang University instructors to create short video clips promoting community tourism and tourist attractions in the EEC area, incorporating EEC development plan’s content, missions, and goals to raise awareness among Thai and foreign citizens and businesses. At the end of the project, a competition will be held for these creative short video clips, with monetary prizes awarded to the winners.
Dr. Tachaphol Kanjanakul stated that the EEC Office has a crucial policy to elevate Thailand's economy beyond the "middle-income trap" towards becoming a high-income country. This is driven by 12 targeted industries, or S-Curve industries, which utilize advanced technologies as the main engine for national development. Since the inception of EEC development, the most urgent issue identified has been the development of skilled personnel with advanced labor skills to support investment in target industries and gain an advantage in becoming a new production base.
The EEC Office has recognized the need for highly skilled personnel since the beginning of EEC operations and has prioritised personnel development as a top policy. To date, EEC has developed over 100,000 personnel out of the total target of 400,000, with some currently undergoing training. The office has also consistently encouraged investors to participate in personnel training programmes. "Today, I would like to thank Mae Fah Luang University for joining us in driving the educational system in the area and supporting EEC's human resource development policy. I also thank the administrators from the Secondary Education Service Area Office of Chonburi-Rayong and Chachoengsao, who recognize the benefits of expanding this project model to other schools more broadly. Finally, I thank all administrators, teachers, and students who are eager to be part of developing our area.”
Read more about the previous project on ‘The Advancing English and Chinese Language Skills for Smart Teachers and Developing Students into Smart Local Leaders Project’ at global.mfu.ac.th/global-news/global-5216/detail/News/19579.html
