Thailand Hosts ASEAN Qualifications Framework Meeting
Thailand hosted the 17th ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework meeting in Bangkok to standardize education credentials across Southeast Asia, enabling easier workforce movement and employment recognition throughout the region.
On August 3 at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, the Office of the Education Council hosted the 17th ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) Committee Meeting and related meetings (August 3-5). Deputy Education Minister Akkarun Kanngkittinant chaired the opening ceremony, joined by Education Council Secretary-General Prof. Dr. Prawit Aerawhorn, council vice-secretaries Dr. Niti Nacit and Dr. Supchai Janpum, and numerous senior education officials.
The 17th AQRF Committee Meeting covered three main discussion points: developing curriculum registration standards, competency-based curricula, and micro-credentials; establishing a national credit bank system to support flexible learning pathways and lifelong learning for Thais; and benchmarking the ASEAN Qualifications Framework with regional frameworks, including implementing Criterion 11 to align Thailand's National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and AQRF designations on national credential documents.
The implementation of Criterion 11 aims to standardize AQRF level designations across ASEAN member credentials, enabling reliable qualification comparisons and labor mobility across the region. This approach accommodates diverse national qualification systems while promoting efficient regional workforce movement.
Deputy Minister Akkarun stated that the AQRF meetings have continuously advanced standardized qualifications across ASEAN member states, enabling graduates to work throughout the region. He noted that the government has integrated efforts across the Education, Labor, and Commerce ministries to ensure students graduate with clear employment prospects both domestically and internationally. He emphasized that establishing common ASEAN standards will allow Thailand to send quality workers abroad while receiving skilled workers, positioning Thai graduates for ASEAN and global opportunities.
