On 21 May 2025, NXPO President Dr. Surachai Sathitkunarat delivered a lecture on “The Next-Gen University: University of the Future” as part of the Thammasat University-Executive Development Program (TU-EDP). Organized by the Institute for Continuing Education and Human Resources in collaboration with the Human Resources Division, Thammasat University, the program aims to prepare emerging leaders from faculties, offices, institutes, and the university administration by broadening their global outlook and equipping them with advanced management knowledge and skills tailored for higher education institutions. This 7th cohort welcomed 35 participants.
In his presentation, Dr. Surachai highlighted NXPO’s role in policy formulation and strategic support under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI). He outlined initiatives designed to integrate higher education, science, research, and innovation in support of national development priorities. These include high-skilled workforce development for target industries, implemented through integrated platforms and mechanisms, and higher education system reform.
He also addressed the evolving role of higher education institutions in response to global trends. The APEC Center for Technology Foresight (APEC CTF), hosted by NXPO, applies foresight tools to identify emerging trends over short-, medium-, and long-term horizons to inform policy direction. Notable trends include the expanding application of artificial intelligence (AI) in research and innovation, increased population migration from the West to Asia in pursuit of employment and economic opportunity, and intensified competition for control over critical technologies such as AI, 5G, and quantum computing. These shifts demand a transformation of Thailand’s higher education model — moving toward non-age-based, non-degree learning, fostering agile learners, offering personalized education, and developing new learning platforms and models aligned with anticipated future careers and skill demands.
A significant challenge for Thailand is the declining student population. By 2035, the number of school-aged children is projected to fall to 6.4 million, with fewer than 6 million expected to remain in education — a trend that will affect university enrollments. Meanwhile, the Thailand Talent Landscape 2025–2029 study, conducted by NXPO, forecasts a demand for 1,087,548 skilled professionals in ten target industries over the next five years, with the highest needs in aviation and logistics, electronics and robotics, and the digital industry.
Dr. Surachai also addressed graduate unemployment, noting that university graduates represent the largest share of unemployed persons — approximately 220,000 individuals. Certain engineering fields are anticipated to face critical shortages, particularly in logistics engineering, civil engineering, electronics and telecommunications engineering, and computer engineering, necessitating accelerated talent development efforts.
To illustrate new models of educational innovation, Dr. Surachai presented international case studies, including:
- The Job First, College Included Model: a partnership between businesses and educational institutions providing workplace-relevant skills.
- The Double MSMEs Value Project: a program transforming non-degree individuals into online learners who earn qualifications while generating income through business ventures.
- Micro-credentials: a digital certification system verifying individuals’ competencies in specific skills, promoting targeted and efficient skill development.
Lessons drawn from these cases highlight six key success factors for education management: 1) a diverse range of programs, 2) strong partnerships, 3) high-quality personnel, 4) internationalization, 5) collaboration with top universities, and 6) a supportive ecosystem.
Dr. Surachai outlined MHESI’s workforce development initiatives, which include Reskilling/Upskilling programs, GenNX, STEMPlus, Cooperative and Work Integrated Education (CWIE), Work-integrated Learning (WiL), Hi-FI and RDI programs, and the Higher Education Sandbox. To date, 19 sandbox programs have been approved, targeting the training of 25,905 personnel. Additionally, the Semiconductor Engineering Program, co-developed by 8 companies and 15 universities, is set to launch in the 2025 academic year. NXPO is also advancing the University Holding Company (UHC) mechanism, which allows universities and public research institutes to co-invest with the private sector. The next phase will focus on building a collaborative network to exchange knowledge, promoting the establishment of UHCs, developing supportive measures, and addressing legal and regulatory barriers to joint investment.
In conclusion, Dr. Surachai emphasized the importance of strategic adaptation for higher education institutions through policies and programs aimed at narrowing the gap between labor market demands and the supply of skilled workers. Key approaches include: 1) rapid competency enhancement programs for graduates, 2) innovative higher education programs for high-skilled talent production, 3) intensive upskilling short courses to improve employability, and 4) workforce development platforms promoting high-skilled human capital. He also noted MHESI’s plan to launch Skill Future Thailand, a framework to map learners’ skills against industry expectations, supporting tailored education and competency development for the future labor market.
