Development of regional in-company trainers in the Mekong region could improve the perennial shortage of skilled labour in the region.
"Southeast Asia will require qualified staff to remain competitive, and a way of solving this is to support the private sector to do in-house training. The lack of skilled workers is slowing down economic growth and the development of industry," said Christian Stuer, project director of the regional in-house trainer standard for the Mekong region.
"The standard was developed through a series of workshops that reflected the specific situation of the region."
The in-house trainer standard is aimed at ensuring that education, training systems and the labour market fit the demands of each Asean member.
The Mekong standard was developed with representatives from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam supported by German International Cooperation (GIZ).
Athippatai Potang, senior human resources officer in Thailand's Office of the Vocational Education Commission (Ovec), welcomed the assistance of GIZ in developing a training programme to German standards.
"This will enable us to cooperate with other Mekong countries and the Philippines to incorporate Germany's dual education system," he said.
Ovec proposes unifying standards for trainers in Thailand but admits it will require a change in the perception of vocational education.
"Trainers play a crucial role in developing vocational students, with the private sector taking the lead with the support of the public sector," Mr Athippatai said. "The private sector develops capacity."