Institutes join up to boost nation's railway technology

Once the government’s Bt2.2-trillion infrastructure overhaul is implemented, there will be a demand for 17,220 engineers and technicians, THAIST chief, Prof Wanlop Surakampontorn, said, citing a study conducted by the Science Technology and Innovation Association of Thailand (STIA). 

On Tuesday, Science and Technology Minister Peeraphan Palusuk presided over the signing of a memorandum of understanding for collaboration between the THAIST, STIA and others.

Wanlop said the infrastructure overhaul included the development of rail transport, such as extending the airport rail-link from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Chon Buri, starting three high-speed lines between Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima and Hua Hin as well as 10 electric train routes in Greater Bangkok. About Bt1.66 trillion has been earmarked for these projects, which should be completed within four years. 

Pointing out that one of the key factors that dampened the country’s success in railway technology was the shortage of manpower, Wanlop cited an STIA study showing that only about 2,000 engineers and technicians would be needed in 2015 should the infrastructure overhaul not be implemented. However, if it is implemented the demand for engineers and technicians will rise to 17,220.

 

Measures put in place

In order to meet this need, manpower development projects have been put in place as follows: 

Firstly, the STIA joined the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) to train engineers on rail-transport engineering and has so far produced 30 graduates in the first batch, 34 in the second batch and 34 more are being trained in the third batch. 

Secondly, STIA and five universities – Chulalongkorn, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi and Mahidol – have been formulating a curriculum on rail-transport engineering. 

Thirdly, STIA and KMUTT have created a curriculum for a high vocational certificate on rail systems, and are also mentoring the Nakhon Pathom Technical College, Samut Songkhram Technical College and Siam Technology College to provide such courses.

THAIST has also joined with KMITL to develop a curriculum of technology in high-speed train and electrical vehicles, with the first bachelor’s degree course being launched this year with 49 students. KMITL lecturer Nattawut Lewpiriyawong said the 49 rail-transport engineering students would learn how to use a vibration checker, how to check for railway cracks by using Phased Array Ultrasonic devices, as well as learn about the direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) motors. The students would be required to complete an internship at rail-transport companies every year, he said. 

This programme would focus on analysis and problem solving, while the high vocational certificate programme would focus on techniques and hardware.

As for rail-transport management subjects to be introduced at Mahidol University in November, Waressara Weerawat, director of the university’s Logistics Innovation Centre, said they would focus on basics of railway system, project management and apply the knowledge in case studies.