𝟮𝟵 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰, a significant milestone in STEM education was achieved with the launch of the Thai-US Joint-Degree Sandbox for STEM Teacher Education Programme. This initiative, a collaboration among the 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 (𝗡𝗫𝗣𝗢), the 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 (𝗧𝗖𝗧), numerous educational partners, and the 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗢 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠-𝗘𝗗), aims to revolutionise teacher development in Thailand and across Southeast Asia. Supported by the 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗠𝗢𝗘) and the 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗠𝗛𝗘𝗦𝗜), this programme aims to advance the professional development of Thai educators by aligning their training with global standards and preparing them for the challenges of the 21st century.

The event, held at the Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok Ploenchit, also featured discussions among educators from the 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 (𝗦𝗘𝗔-𝗧𝗘𝗣) 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗮, 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗮, 𝗞𝗮𝘇𝗮𝗸𝗵𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻, 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗮, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱. These discussions focused on developing a pilot curriculum model for STEM teacher preparation, integrating both Thai and U.S. educational frameworks. Participants shared insights and strategies on how to equip student teachers and in-service educators with critical thinking skills, scientific processes, and the ability to solve real-world problems through STEM education.

The event featured several key figures, each underscoring the importance of the programme and the collaborative effort behind it.

𝗗𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗬𝗮𝗺𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗸𝗼𝗿𝗻, 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 (𝗧𝗖𝗧), spoke passionately about the need for practical, hands-on experience in teacher training. He stressed that the success of the programme would rely heavily on the collaboration between universities within Thailand and across the globe, working together to enhance the quality of teacher preparation. Dr Montree also noted the critical importance of English proficiency in helping Thai educators access global knowledge and educational tools, ensuring they are well-equipped to tackle the challenges of an increasingly digital world.

𝗨.𝗦. 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗠𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗙. 𝗚𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗰, reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting education in Thailand. He emphasised the vital role that investing in teachers plays in preparing students for the future, reflecting the deepening partnership between the two nations. His remarks highlighted how such collaborations are crucial in driving educational innovation that benefits both countries.

𝗔𝘀𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀𝗮𝗸 𝗞𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗲𝘆𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗻, 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 (𝗡𝗫𝗣𝗢), outlined the policy direction behind the programme. He explained that the sandbox initiative was designed to modernise STEM education curricula, addressing future workforce needs while integrating sustainability concepts in line with Thailand’s Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy model. Dr Poolsak's vision aligns with the country’s broader goals of preparing a workforce that can meet the challenges of the digital era and address pressing environmental concerns.

Lastly, 𝗠𝘀 𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗮 𝗞𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗽𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮, 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝘃𝗿𝗼𝗻, spoke about her company's crucial role in advancing STEM education in Thailand. She highlighted how Chevron’s decade-long investment in the field has laid the groundwork for this joint initiative, which is now being carried forward by the Thai government. Ms Kanapyanova stressed that this continued collaboration will ensure future generations of educators are equipped to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers.

The launch event marked not only a celebration of this groundbreaking collaboration but also the beginning of a new chapter in teacher development. The Thai-US Joint-Degree Sandbox for STEM Teacher Education Programme is set to become a model for high-quality STEM teacher preparation, with the potential to scale across the region. By focusing on the development of STEM educators, this programme will help meet the growing demand for skilled teachers, foster regional educational excellence, and prepare students across Southeast Asia for the challenges of the future.