Bangkok, 1 September 2025 — The Council of Engineers, Thailand (COET), led by President Mr. Kittipong Weerapoprasit, met with Professor Dr. Supachai Pathumnakul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), to map out strategies for upgrading Thailand’s engineering education and professional standards to meet global benchmarks.
The high-level discussion, held at MHESI Headquarters, focused on accelerating Thailand’s readiness to stand alongside the world’s leading engineering communities.
Highlights of the meeting
- Global accreditation goal — Thailand aims to achieve Full Signatory status under the Washington Accord and Sydney Accord through COET’s TABEE framework by 2027, paving the way for international recognition of Thai engineering graduates.
- Stronger academic-industry collaboration — Plans were raised to establish a nationwide network between COET and the Council of Engineering Deans of Thailand, fostering Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and curricula that reflect international standards.
- Tackling real-world challenges — The parties addressed gaps flagged by international reviewers, such as inconsistent adoption of OBE across programs and underdeveloped Capstone Design Projects that need to better integrate technical expertise, social impact, and communication skills.
Agreed next steps
- Common professional standards to reduce disparities among curricula nationwide;
- Elevating Capstone Design Projects as a national priority;
- Proactive communication with higher education institutions to build shared understanding of the two Accords and their requirements;
- Formation of an agile task force on international accreditation under MHESI to serve as a central support unit for advancing international-level program accreditation.
This milestone marks a bold step for Thailand in securing a stronger foothold on the international engineering stage — ensuring that Thai engineers are equipped, recognized, and ready to compete worldwide.
