- The two countries held the first consultation meeting of their Joint Working Group on Education in Bangkok to operationalise the MOU signed in February 2025.
- Discussions centred on eight joint projects covering teacher training, STEM education, early childhood learning, vocational education, and lifelong learning, drawing on Finland’s globally recognised education practices.
- Both sides aligned on implementation plans, including timelines, responsibilities, and monitoring mechanisms, to ensure sustainable and long-term impact of the bilateral collaboration.
Thailand and Finland are advancing their bilateral cooperation in education following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding earlier this year between the education ministries of both countries. A key step in operationalising the agreement was taken on Tuesday, 15 July 2025, with the convening of the first Consultation Meeting of the Thailand-Finland Joint Working Group on Education at the Thai Ministry of Education in Bangkok.
The meeting was chaired by Thailand’s Deputy Permanent Secretary for Education, Pichet Phophakdee, and brought together senior officials from multiple Thai education agencies. Finland was represented by Dr. Annika Vatanen, Education Advisor at the Embassy of Finland in Thailand, along with other members of the Finnish delegation. The consultation marked the formal launch of joint efforts to translate the bilateral MOU into concrete, actionable initiatives.
The primary objective of the meeting was to review and plan the implementation of eight collaborative projects agreed upon under the MOU, which was signed in February 2025 at the Royal Princess Larn Luang Hotel in Bangkok. These initiatives are designed to strengthen education systems in both countries through knowledge exchange, capacity building, and the adoption of innovative teaching and learning practices.
During the discussions, both sides explored a wide range of proposed activities spanning early childhood education, teacher training, vocational education, and lifelong learning. Particular emphasis was placed on Finland’s globally recognised strengths in education, including phenomenon-based learning, teacher professional development, and the integration of emerging technologies such as robotics, programming, and artificial intelligence into classroom practice. The collaboration also aims to enhance adult education and lifelong learning frameworks, reflecting shared priorities in workforce readiness and continuous skills development.
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A significant focus of the consultation was on aligning Finnish best practices with Thailand’s teacher development framework, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. Officials discussed how these approaches could be adapted to the Thai context to improve teaching quality, foster critical thinking, and support future-oriented learning outcomes.
The meeting also addressed practical aspects of implementation, including budgeting, timelines, the allocation of responsibilities among participating agencies, and mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation. Both delegations stressed the importance of a systematic and sustainable approach to ensure that the collaboration delivers long-term impact rather than short-term outcomes.
Speaking at the meeting, Pichet Phophakdee expressed Thailand’s appreciation for Finland’s continued support in the education sector. He reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and promoting initiatives that generate mutual benefits for both nations. The Finnish delegation welcomed Thailand’s proposals and voiced strong support for deepening the partnership through consistent dialogue and joint planning.
By the end of the consultation, both sides agreed to move forward with coordinated efforts to implement the agreed projects, underscoring a shared vision of education as a cornerstone for national development and international collaboration.
