The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) together with the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC), Ministry of Education, Thailand, in close collaboration with the Royal Thai Embassy in Manila, SEAMEO INNOTECH, and TESDA Philippines, organized the Special In-Country Program on Change Management for TVET in commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Thailand. A total of 20 college administrators, policymakers, principals, vice-principals, and college directors from Thailand attended the program from June 10 to 14, 2024 in Manila, Philippines.

The program was designed for the participants to understand the concept of change management in TVET, equip their skills relevant in preparing learners upon entering the modern workforce, and develop leadership capabilities to manage change processes within the TVET environment.

The program was co-supervised by Prof. G. L. D. Wickramasinghe, CPSC Director General; His Excellency Tull Traisorat, Ambassador of the Royal Thai Embassy, Manila; Mr. Yodsapol Venukosess, OVEC Secretary-General; and Dr. Leonor Magtolis Briones, Center Director of SEAMEO INNOTECH; and Sec. Suharto T. Mangudadatu, Ph.D., TESDA Director General.

Logo of the 75th Anniversary of Thai-Philippine Diplomatic Relations
Photo courtesy of Royal Thai Embassy, Manila

Dr. Leonor Magtolis Briones, Center Director of SEAMEO INNOTECH (top left); Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe, CPSC Director General (top right); His Excellency Tull Traisorat, Ambassador of the Royal Thai Embassy, Manila (bottom left); and Ms. Rosanna Urdaneta, TESDA Deputy Director General for Policies and Planning (bottom right) deliver their welcome remarks as they formally inaugurate the symposium

The program commenced through a symposium titled Strengthening Skills Through Multilateral Cooperation: A Retrospective on the 75 Years of Diplomatic Relations Between Thailand and the Philippines, which was held on June 10, 2024 at the SEAMEO INNOTECH Headquarters in Quezon City. During the opening ceremony, Dr. Briones along with Prof. Wickramasinghe and H.E. Traisorat welcomed the participants and extended their congratulatory messages to the Philippines and Thailand. TESDA Deputy Director General for Policies and Planning Ms. Rosanna Urdaneta, on behalf of Sec. Mangudadatu, as the Chief Guest of the program, also delivered a welcome speech.

Executive Director El Cid H. Castillo, Qualifications and Standards Office, TESDA (top left); Mrs. Tankamol Chimme, Director of Information Support for Teachers and Educational Personnel of Private Vocational Education Division, OVEC (top right); Dr. Diosdado San Antonio, Manager of Educational Research and Innovation Office, SEAMEO INNOTECH (bottom left); and Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe (bottom right) facilitate the keynote sessions in the symposium

Shortly after the opening ceremony, keynote sessions were facilitated by Executive Director El Cid H. Castillo, Qualifications and Standards Office, TESDA; Mrs. Tankamol Chimme, Director of Information Support for Teachers and Educational Personnel of Private Vocational Education Division, OVEC; Dr. Diosdado San Antonio, Manager of Educational Research and Innovation Office, SEAMEO INNOTECH; and Prof. Wickramasinghe. Their sessions covered topics on Digital Transformation in TVET: Leveraging Thai-Philippine Partnerships for Technological Advancement; Green Technology Integration in TVET: Best Practices of Greening TVET in the Global Context; Education Innovation for Economic Development & Sustainability; and Inclusive TVET: Promoting Access and Equity through Multilateral Cooperation.

Participants during the institutional visits at the TESDA Women’s Center (top) and Toyota Motor Philippines School of Technology (bottom)

On the succeeding days, the participants conducted institutional visits to the TESDA Central Office and TESDA Women’s Center in Taguig City, as well as Toyota Motor Philippines School of Technology (TMP Tech) in Santa Rosa, Laguna. Sessions during these visits highlighted the best practices of the institutions wherein facilitators discussed their management, operation, and production systems.

Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan, CPSC Senior Faculty Specialist (top left), and Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen, CPSC Governing Board-Engaged Faculty Consultant (top right) facilitate the sessions

Furthermore, Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan, CPSC Senior Faculty Specialist, and Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen, CPSC Governing Board-Engaged Faculty Consultant facilitated the presentations and workshops on change management and competency leadership at CPSC Manila, Philippines.

(From left to right): Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan; Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe; and Dr. Rangsan Thepmondhri, Director of Policy and Strategy Division, OVEC express their appreciation and give their closing messages

During the closing program, selected participants shared their learnings and expressed their appreciation to the program organizers. Likewise, Engr. Dr. Mian thanked the participants for their active involvement in the program. He also extended his gratitude to CPSC, OVEC, Royal Thai Embassy-Manila, SEAMEO INNOTECH, and TESDA Philippines for their commitment and continuous support. Lastly, Prof. Wickramasinghe together with Dr. Rangsan Thepmondhri, Director of Policy and Strategy Division, OVEC, concluded the program as they look forward to the greater heights awaiting for TVET in Thailand. In their closing messages, they also hoped for the Philippines-Thailand relations to maintain strengthened relationships for the coming years.

Group photo of the Thai participants together with Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan, Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe, and Dr. Rangsan Thepmondhri