From: sl2k+@andrew.cmu.edu (Schitt Laowattana)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: [REPOST] part(1); Major Problems and Limitations in S&TD in Thailand
Date: 26 Aug 92 17:24:03 GMT
Organization: Doctoral student, Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA


    I hope that Thai professionals ,who have lots of experiences, won't
stand still when there is demand for their helps (, eventhough, it's not
publicly advertised).  Below is  a series of information on "Major
Problems and Limitation in S&TD in Thailand".  Please share your helps
and opinions in these important issues.
 
Your Respectfully,
Schitt(DJ)
 
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                       Part 1: Manpower Shortage
 
    This is one of the most critical problems constraining the
technological capability development of Thai industry in general and in
the three group of industries in particular:electronics and computer,
metal and material and biotechnology.  Suitably qualified personel at
all levels: skilled labour in certain fields, technicians, engineers and
speicialists, are in short supply.  The problem in material
technology-based industries is particularly severe because of the nature
of the industries which require experience and skills as well as
technical knowledge, in addition to the ability to use modern
manufacturing facilities.  As this group of industries is relatively new
to Thailand, experience and skills are lacking and knowledgeable
personel is rare.  Mould and die makers, precision machinists, materials
engineers and metallurgists, for example, are in great demand at
present.  One of the results of the manpower shortage is frequent
job-hopping.  Samll and medium size firms are reluctant to invest in the
training of personel as it is likely that they will eventually lose
these tranied people.  Frequent job changes is also and impediment to
specialization which is crucial importance in material-based industries.
 
    The shortage of gradute scientists and engineers is pervasive in
both the private and public sectors.  Almost all the firms surveyed
indicated that they would like to recuit more engineers but find it very
difficult to do so.  This is particularly true in the materials and
electronics-based industries which need engineers of various
disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, production, computer,
metallurgical and materials.  In biotechnology-based industries, the
problem, in general, is less severe but shortages of certain types of
personel such as chemical and process engineers and modern
biotechnologists do exist.  Technological capability development in
whatever area needs these types of people.  One cannot really do very
well much without an adequate supply of suitably qualified personel.
 
    There are very few scientists and engineers who can actually carry
out R&D work.  This is true in all three fields, particularly in
materials and electronics.  University staff generally carry a heavy
teaching load due to understaffing and there is little time left for R&D
activities.  Real experts in the fields of electronics, materials and
new biotechnology are very few.  Much investment and hard work therefore
needs to be done to create the critical mass of high calibre R&D
personel, even in the universities.
 
    Furthermore, the qaulity of graduates from technical colleges and
universities leanes much to be desired.  This results from the
inadequacy in the quantity and quality of the teaching staff themselves
as well as the educational system which does not pay adequate attention
to professional content during training.  Poor and outdated teaching
equipment and facilities which result from insufficient budgets also
paly a part.  Measures must therefore be taken in order to improve the
quality of graduates.
 
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Please continue Part(2) on "Inadequate Information Service"... in this net. 


Schitt(DJ)  Laowattana

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Current Address in USA:

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
USA
Tel. No. 268-8880
Fax. No. 268-3348
e-mail: sl2k@andrew.cmu.edu


Permanent Address in Thailand:

Center of Operation for FIeld roBOtics Development(FIBO)
King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Thonburi
91 Suksawasd 48  Ratburana  Bangmod
Bangkok 10140, Thailand

Tel. No. 428-3374, 427-4421 and 4270151-9 Ext. 461
Fax. No. 427-8077, 427-8787

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Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai