Bangkok: Warawut, representing the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, in collaboration with a University Network, is spearheading a pilot project aimed at training individuals with disabilities to enhance their potential. This initiative, known as Generation 1, seeks to achieve its target by focusing on employment based on abilities rather than disabilities.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, the Minister of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), disclosed that the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for this pilot project. The collaboration involves King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) as the host university alongside five network universities: King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Chiang Mai University, Prince of Songkla University, Khon Kaen University, and Suan Dusit University, Suphan Buri Campus, with the project commencing in 2023.
The HigherEd for PWD network expansion project, developed to enhance the potential of disabled individuals, is structured around a training and internship model spearheaded by KMUTT. Phase 1, funded by the Fund for the Promotion and Development of the Quality of Life of Disabled Persons, aims to sustainably improve the quality of life for disabled persons through educational support, training, and internships. This program targets 300 individuals in its first batch, scheduled from March 2024 to 2025, over a one-year period.
The project is divided into two primary operations: preparing training for disabled individuals through university networks and organizing specific training sessions within each university. These sessions will include Career Connect activities to link disabled individuals with potential employers. KMUTT and its partner universities collaborate with local businesses to design curricula that align with current employment needs, ensuring that businesses hire trained individuals under Section 33 after they complete the program.
The initiative has yielded positive results, with 253 individuals reportedly securing employment or starting self-employment ventures by December 25, 2014. This outcome underscores the project's success in empowering disabled individuals with the skills necessary for equal employment opportunities in society.
On March 5, I will oversee the conclusion of Phase 1 of the Higher Education Network Expansion Project at KMUTT (Bangmod), Bangkok, and deliver a special lecture on 'Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and Employment of Persons with Disabilities According to Competency.' This project represents a pioneering effort to promote and support the employment of disabled persons within government agencies and workplaces, emphasizing their abilities rather than their disabilities.