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MHESI announces partnership with SkillLane to launch “National Credit Bank System” – a new credit accumulation system kicking off in 4 leading Universities in 2023

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) joins forces with SkillLane to introduce the National Credit Bank System pilot program, which promotes Lifelong Learning by supporting skill development for people of all ages.

With the system in place, learners without student status can turn learning outcomes from various subjects, courses, or work experiences into credits that can then be accumulated at the National Credit Bank. Using sufficient credits at the National Credit Bank, learners can apply for a degree certificate from Thailand’s higher educational institutions or apply for a cumulative learning outcomes report. This project is planned to kick off in the middle of 2023 with four of Thailand’s leading universities, including Chulalongkorn University Graduate School, Thammasat University, Chiang Mai University and Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi.

Nowadays, as the world modernizes rapidly, there’s an emergence of new types of jobs which requires Thai people to continuously develop their skills. Moreover, with the changing needs of employers and behaviors of learners, education must be adapted accordingly so that learners can access knowledge through different formats, from formal education to non-formal education, such as training, and informal education like work experience. For these reasons, the “National Credit Bank” was established to provide opportunities for both students and the general public to access various subjects and courses from different learning sources, as well as to acquire work experiences, and then transfer and accumulate credits to obtain a course or degree certificate, which represents the knowledge and expertise of the individual. The approach of transferring credits and obtaining a degree certificate depends on regulations of the higher educational institutions according to the ministry’s policy.

Prof. Dr. Supachai Patumnakul, Deputy Permanent Secretary of The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), said: “On September 27, 2022, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) announced a credit transfer system and the National Credit Bank System as the latest significant mechanisms under the Higher Education reform policy by Prof. Dr. Anek Laothamatas, the Minister of Education. The National Credit Bank System aims to promote the country’s manpower development through Lifelong Learning, giving an opportunity for Thai people of all ages to access new learning methods at any time under the Credit Bank System. Learners will be able to accumulate their credits through the Credit Bank that come from various courses in universities, as well as certified training units and work experiences. In the past, the MHESI has implemented the ‘Thailand Cyber University’ project that offers online courses through ‘Thai MOOC’ that help promote Learning Outside the Classroom for university students. With the new Credit Bank System, MHESI will continue to create learning opportunities for all learners. Collaborating with SkillLane, the Credit Bank System will pilot in four leading universities following the announced regulations and mechanics as well as technicalities that relies on information technology; before then expanding the pilot project to various universities to maximize the system’s benefits.”

Titipong Pisitwuttinan, Chief Executive officer of SkillLane Education Co., Ltd., said: “SkillLane always believes that technology can help reduce limitations and increase opportunities in Thai education. We intend to utilize technology to help learners access modern knowledge without place and time constraints, as well as to connect various knowledge sources together. For the collaboration of this ‘National Credit Bank’ pilot project, we have contributed our expertise and experience to help develop the National Credit Bank System by using technology to link each institution’s credit bank into one.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pipop Udorn, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Thammasat University, said: “Universities in Thailand need to adapt to keep up with the world and ever-changing student needs. The commencement of the National Credit Bank will help promote Lifelong Learning – the idea that students no longer need to complete the course in one go, but each person can continue to study according to their conditions and opportunities in life. In addition to the National Credit Bank being perfectly connected to TUXSA in the future, an online course from Thammasat University, it also helps Thammasat University return to becoming the digital era’s course market that effectively promotes Upskill and Reskill for people of all generations, wherever they are in the world.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yootthana Chuppunnarat, President of Chulalongkorn University Graduate School, said: “The National Credit Bank System (NCBS) is a crucial ecosystem of MHESI that expands opportunities for learners in formal, informal and non-formal education, allowing learners to acquire knowledge through several learning sources and real work experiences. This will support Chulalongkorn University’s vision to adapt to the future by creating and implementing innovations that drive society and the country, including systems which provide greater accessibility to principal knowledge, producing high-performing graduates that meet the growth and demands of the modern world. Most importantly, though the learners’ knowledge comes from different sources, it is well-qualified and standardized because it has been certified by the university which measures the criteria and discretion according to the ambition of the Ministerial Regulation and the Ministry’s announcement decentralized to each university council.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pradthana Jaipong, Director of School of Lifelong Education, Chiang Mai University, said: “The National Credit Bank will be a key mechanism in driving the university’s educational reform policy, especially the opportunity for everyone in the society to access knowledge, according to Chiang Mai University’s aspiration to create a sustainable Lifelong Learning culture in Thai society. It will also make education part of every stage of life, either for a degree or personal development with certified courses by educational institutions that will lead to the true value of education.”

Associate Prof. Dr. Krischonme Bhumkittipich, Vice President for Academic and Research of Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, said: “The emergence of the National Credit Bank will enable Lifelong Learning for Thai people in a wide range beyond the higher educational institutions .Therefore, this Credit Bank is an essential tool that will help the institutions achieve people development through the Lifelong Learning system.”

The National Credit Bank is a significant step in Thai education, uplifting the country’s educational system and breaking traditional barriers in higher educational institutions. This pilot project will start with four leading universities in the middle of 2023.

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