Closing the Gap Workshop 2024 commences to address Employability Gaps in ASEAN’s Agri-food Sector

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Closing the Gap Workshop 2024 commences to address Employability Gaps in ASEAN's Agri-food Sector

28.10.2024 Press and Information team of the Delegation to ASEAN

© EU

Closing the Gap Workshop 2024 commences to address Employability Gaps in ASEAN's Agri-food Sector

The 'Closing the Gap Workshop 2024' has commenced today at the Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok Ploenchit, gathering key stakeholders across ASEAN to address pressing skills gaps in the agri-food sector.

Organised by Thailand's Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC), in collaboration with SEAMEO VOCTECH and the EU-ASEAN SCOPE-HE Programme, the workshop aims to align Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with the evolving needs of the agri-food industry.

Dr Rangsan Thepmondhri, Director of the Public Sector Development Division at Thailand's Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC), highlighted Thailand's leadership in this initiative, stating: "Thailand is proud to take a leading role in advancing TVET collaboration across ASEAN. Through initiatives like the 'Closing the Gap Workshop', we are committed to supporting the development of a skilled and future-ready workforce for the agri-food sector."

Following Dr Rangsan, Dr Michael Bucki, advisor of the EU Ambassador to Thailand stated: "This event is a testament to the shared commitment between ASEAN and the EU to address two of the most pressing challenges of our time: equipping our youth and workforce with the skills needed to thrive in a fast-evolving world, and adapting our food systems to extreme weather events that are becoming increasingly frequent: heatwaves, droughts and floods."

The two-day event features presentations, group discussions and a site visit to a leading agri-food business in Bangkok. Participants are exploring key issues, skill gaps, and best practices to ensure vocational graduates are equipped with essential skills.

A Multi-year Initiative

This workshop is part of a multi-year series under the SCOPE-HE Programme, with annual events planned across ASEAN culminating in a final workshop in 2027.

Dr Frank Feulner, Team Leader of the SCOPE-HE Programme, emphasised the initiative's long-term goal, he said "This workshop is not a standalone event but part of an ongoing series under the SCOPE-HE initiative, designed to address critical employability gaps in ASEAN's agri-food sector. Over the next several years, we will continue to bring together key stakeholders from across the region to explore solutions, monitor progress, and strengthen partnerships. Our aim is to ensure that ASEAN's vocational graduates are equipped with the skills needed to meet the evolving demands of the labour market, particularly in the face of rapid technological advancements and sustainability challenges."

By the end of the workshop, participants will have identified key employability gaps, strengthened cross-sector partnerships, and developed actionable strategies to align education with industry needs.

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About the SCOPE-HE

The EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package - Higher Education Programme (SCOPE-HE), funded by the EU, is part of the EU's broader efforts to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN through sustainable connectivity. Launched in July 2024, SCOPE-HE focuses on increasing exchanges in higher education, vocational training, and research, while prioritising gender equality, women's empowerment, digital transformation and green skills.

For media inquiries about the Closing the Gap Workshop and the SCOPE-HE Programme, visit:

www.euinasean.eu/scope-he