The Office of the Vocational Education Commission (Ovec) has launched a project called "Bring the Factory to Technical Colleges" to upgrade vocational skills in robotics and mechatronics.
The project, a collaboration between Ovec and Chevron Thailand, is part of the "Chevron Enjoy Science" programme.
The scheme aims to increase the number of skilled workers in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) to match the demands of the key industries there. Under its first phase, 27 technical colleges will be given industrial robots worth a total of 30 million baht by Chevron to use in their learning.
"This will enhance vocational students' skills and allow them to catch up with global challenges" for the fourth industrial revolution, said Gen Sutat Karnjananonkul, an adviser to Deputy Education Minister Gen Surachet Chaiwong.
The demand for technicians and labourers with skills in mechatronics and robotics is increasing, he said.
Mechatronics is a combination of mechanical engineering, robotics, telecommunications engineering, systems engineering and control engineering. Ovec has started collaborating with the private sector on some forms of automated production such as welding.
Artit Krichphiphat, Chevron Thailand's GM for business support, said the kingdom needs to equip technicians and vocational workers with new skills for an era in which robots and automation will increasingly replace people at work.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) forecast this year that machines and artificial intelligence would displace 75 million jobs in the near future. As such, investment in related education and training must be accelerated to prepare the future workforce, Mr Artit said.
Most Thai vocational students lack the practical skills to handle machines and partially or mostly automated processes, according to a survey conducted by Chevron Enjoy Science project.
In the near future, factories will employ an additional 40,000 robots meaning human workers that lack competitive skills or knowledge might not get hired, officials said.
The study found that most vocational students have no direct experience with the kind of robots currently being used in factories. Once they complete their studies they are unable to use the machines that already stand at the heart of the manufacturing process, it added.
"The robots we provided to vocational schools are called IRB 120. They share the same robotic standard employed by S-Curve and other industries and this is the first time students can learn from a teaching robot at this grade," Mr Artit said.
He added that students can develop new skills such as how to manoeuvre the robot, and learn from simulated programs as if they work in factories.
The industrial robot and automation course is being developed to match Ovec's curriculum.
Piyabutr Cholvijarn, president of the Kenan Institute Asia, said all vocational schools joining the project would receive assistance in the form of a package comprising a robot, teaching plan and teacher's manual, developed in conjunction with King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok.
However, the project is not restricted to only learning how to operate robots. Students will also be taught about problem solving and teamwork when using modern technology.
"Mechatronics and robotics is a new scientific field and few technical colleges offer this course," Mr Piyabutr said.
