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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIn his welcome remarks, Asst. Prof. Dr. Suppakorn Poonyarith, Vice President of NXPO,<\/strong> highlighted profound challenges confronting Thailand. These include the transition to a super-aged society, a shrinking working-age population, persistently low fertility rates, and the rapid advancement of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, which are fundamentally reshaping the nature of work and the skills required for the future. He emphasized that countries will increasingly compete not only through natural resources or technological capabilities, but also through the quality of their people\u2014their knowledge, skills, health, creativity, and adaptability. The central policy challenge, therefore, is to ensure that people of all ages can realize their full potential, enjoy a good quality of life, remain productive, and contribute meaningfully to the country’s development.<\/p>\n\n\n Prof. Dr. Pungpond Rukumnuaykit<\/strong> of the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University,<\/strong> observed that although Thailand has prioritized human capital development for more than two decades, it has yet to achieve a systematic improvement in the quality of its people. A key reason is that government agencies continue to operate in silos, with responsibilities fragmented across ministries by sector and age group. Consequently, human development lacks continuity across the life course. Thailand must move beyond treating human capital development as the responsibility of individual agencies and instead establish it as a shared national agenda. This requires integrating education, healthcare, family support, social welfare, skills development, and employment into a coherent and coordinated system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prof. Dr. Pungpond emphasized that the country’s most urgent priority is to strengthen the “human hardware” before focusing on the “software”, such as AI or digital skills. Human hardware refers to the fundamental capabilities that enable individuals to learn, grow, and adapt throughout their lives. These include critical thinking, multi-skill, flexibility, a growth mindset, and self-reflection. Without these foundational capabilities, efforts to promote new skills, upskilling, and reskilling are unlikely to enable most people to keep pace with rapid technological and societal change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She further stressed that these foundational competencies should not be developed only during childhood or early adulthood, but should form the cornerstone of a lifelong learning system that supports people of all ages. At the same time, the education system must move beyond excessive emphasis on examinations and performance indicators, as such approaches often encourage agencies to address isolated issues rather than the broader objective of holistic human development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prof. Dr. Pungpond also called for a fundamental shift in how society views population ageing. Rather than treating an ageing society as a “problem”, she argued that increasing longevity is a testament to advances in healthcare and improvements in quality of life. Likewise, the narrative that “the working-age population must shoulder the burden of an ageing society” should be abandoned, as it places unnecessary pressure on younger generations, reinforces the perception of older persons as a burden, and may ultimately discourage younger people from having children. Instead, public policy should aim to create a society in which people of all ages can thrive. Human development policies should not be designed around preparing younger generations to support an ageing population. Rather, they should empower today’s youth and future generations to build secure and fulfilling lives while enabling older persons to continue contributing their knowledge, experience, and capabilities to society. Human capital development, therefore, is not about preparing one generation to support another; it is about creating a system that enables everyone to learn, adapt, and enjoy a good quality of life throughout their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chalermpol Chamchan, Director of the Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University,<\/strong> observed that Thailand is undergoing a profound demographic transition characterized by a declining population and rapid population ageing. In particular, the number of births in 2026 is projected to fall below 400,000. However, he emphasized that an ageing society should not be viewed as a problem or as a burden on younger generations. Rather, it represents a structural transformation that Thailand can prepare for and turn into an opportunity. In this context, human capital development should focus not on increasing the size of the population, but on enhancing the quality, capabilities, and productivity of people at every stage of life. Although Thailand has adopted the Long-term Population Development Plan for National Development (2022\u20132037) as its strategic framework, he noted that the plan has yet to gain broad public recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chalermpol identified three major structural risks facing the country. First, the government’s capacity to support people throughout the life course is becoming increasingly constrained. Expenditure on healthcare, social welfare, and long-term care continues to rise, while tax revenues may decline as the working-age population shrinks. He cautioned that this could lead to generational inequity if public spending becomes disproportionately concentrated on elderly care at the expense of investment in children and young people. Second, Thailand continues to face a persistent skills mismatch, reflecting weak alignment between the country’s development priorities, labor market needs, and the education and workforce development systems responsible for producing skilled talent. Third, public administration remains highly centralized and continues to rely heavily on one-size-fits-all policies. Although decentralization has enabled local administrative organizations to provide services that better reflect local contexts, many continue to face constraints in regulations, budgets, and decision-making authority. He therefore argued that greater authority, resources, and institutional capacity should be delegated to local governments, enabling them to design education, healthcare, social welfare, and human development policies that respond more effectively to the needs of their communities, while maintaining national standards to ensure quality and equity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In conclusion, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chalermpol stressed that human capital development must place people at the center of policymaking. Education, labor, public health, social welfare, and local government agencies should work in an integrated manner to support individuals throughout every stage of life, from early childhood and school age to working life and older adulthood. He also called for a more inclusive understanding of human capital that recognizes the potential of all population groups, including migrant workers and children who are born or raised in Thailand. Rather than being regarded as a burden, these groups should be recognized as valuable human resources with the potential to contribute significantly to the country’s long-term development.<\/p>\n\n\n Asst. Prof. Dr. Adisorn Juntrasook, Dean of the Faculty of Learning Sciences and Education, Thammasat University,<\/strong> argued that preparing people for the future should not begin with digital or AI skills. Instead, Thailand must first ask whether it has successfully equipped its people with the foundational competencies of reading, writing, and learning. If a large proportion of the population still lacks access to quality education and basic competencies, efforts to promote digital and AI skills will primarily benefit those who are already advantaged, thereby widening existing inequalities. Human capital policies should therefore not assume that everyone begins life with equal opportunities or has the same access to public services and resources. Nor should they be designed around the notion of an “average” citizen, as such an approach inevitably overlooks the diverse circumstances and needs of different population groups. Instead, policies should recognize these differences and provide targeted support to ensure that those facing disadvantages or limited access to essential resources are able to realize their full potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asst. Prof. Dr. Adisorn further emphasized that the education system must evolve to reflect the realities of younger generations. Unlike previous generations, many young people no longer view life as a linear progression from education to employment and then family formation. Instead, they place greater value on quality of life, flexibility, and the freedom to shape their own life paths. Human capital development must therefore extend beyond academic achievement to encompass life skills, mental well-being, and the capacity for lifelong learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also highlighted the “accountability gap.” Although Thailand has identified many of the skills required for the future, it has yet to establish how these skills will be developed, which institutions should be responsible for delivering them, and how progress should be measured. He therefore called for a clear accountability framework that assesses learning outcomes based on the competencies learners actually acquire, rather than on the number of training programs delivered, certificates issued, or graduates produced. Equally important is ensuring that qualifications and credentials genuinely reflect individuals’ ability to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asst. Prof. Dr. Adisorn further proposed integrating environmental sustainability and climate change into human capital development strategies. As climate change increasingly affects people’s health, learning, and livelihoods, environmental literacy should be recognized as a core competency for the future. Human development should therefore foster an understanding of the interdependence between people, nature, ecosystems, and all forms of life, enabling individuals to respond effectively to environmental challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In conclusion, he stressed that every policy design process should begin with a question: “Who are we leaving behind?” The needs of people with limited access to opportunities should be integrated into mainstream policy from the outset, rather than addressed later through separate welfare programs. Every individual should be recognized not as a burden, but as a person with dignity, potential, and intrinsic value who deserves equitable access to resources, opportunities, and lifelong development.<\/p>\n\n\n Dr. Boonwara Sumano Chenphuengpawn, moderator of the dialogue from the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), <\/strong>concluded that the government should establish a shared national vision for human capital development and integrate the efforts of all agencies with related responsibilities. Such an integrated approach should encompass the full continuum of building, restoring, and strengthening human capital, enabling all people in Thailand to realize their full potential amid increasingly complex challenges. She further emphasized that human capital policies must address the structural drivers of inequality. As long-term investments in the country’s future, these policies require continuity beyond changes in government and political leadership. At the same time, the public sector should foster a culture of governance that places the public interest at the center of policymaking and implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Key Messages<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Full recording of the policy dialogue:<\/strong> https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLM3khkE3VDxc<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/\u0e28.-\u0e14\u0e23.\u0e1b\u0e31\u0e07\u0e1b\u0e2d\u0e19\u0e14\u0e4c_01-1536x1024-2-1024x683.jpg\")
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Human capital development should no longer be regarded as the responsibility of individual agencies or pursued through fragmented initiatives. Instead, policies should integrate education, healthcare, skills development, labor market policies, and lifelong learning into a coherent human capital ecosystem that supports people throughout the life course.<\/em><\/strong>
\u2022 Investing in the quality of people is increasingly important as Thailand’s population declines. As the country transitions to an ageing society and birth rates continue to fall, human capital policies should prioritize enhancing the quality of people rather than increasing population size, while recognizing that individuals of all ages can make valuable contributions to society.
\u2022 Young people should be equipped with the capabilities needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. These include critical thinking, multi-skills, flexibility, a growth mindset, and the capacity for self-reflection and lifelong learning.
\u2022 Human capital investment must promote equity across generations and population groups. Because people begin life with different circumstances, needs, and opportunities, policies should be designed to provide equitable opportunities for learning and development.
\u2022 Strengthening human capital requires more than increased public investment. It also requires stronger state capacity through a capable public workforce, effective institutions, sound governance, and greater decentralization, enabling local authorities to tailor policies and public services to the needs of their communities.
\u2022 Human capital development is a shared responsibility. Government, educational institutions, businesses, communities, and families all have essential roles to play. A clear accountability framework is therefore needed to ensure that investments in human capital translate into measurable, meaningful, and sustainable outcomes over the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n