Institute teams up with L'Oreal
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Cosmetics giant to help curriculum-development agency IPST introduce 'science and beauty' course
The Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST) has made its first tangible step to engage the private sector with a teaching-media production.
It has counted L’Oreal (Thailand) as a partner in a creative “Science and Beauty” course.
IPST is a government agency whose responsibilities include the development of national science and mathematics curricula, and sponsorship of science education, as well as the promotion of science in general. It is also Thailand’s coordinator for the International Science Olympiads.
“Such a partnership between education and a business that is expert in its field will greatly benefit our student learning and skill development effort,” Dr Montri Chulavatnatol said at a press conference in his capacity as chairman of the IPST governing board.
He said the collaboration of every sector – the public, the government, and the private sectors – was needed for the country’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education to move ahead.
He pointed out that IPST and the Ministry of Energy had already worked successfully for the production of an energy textbook, which was also funded by the ministry.
“We are looking forward to expanding our co-operation with the private sector too,” Montri said. “Private firms have expertise in the fields in which they conduct their business.”
L’Oreal (Thailand) becomes the first firm to forge such co-operation with the IPST. To date, it has already produced a series of five instructional videos for the science and beauty course. The content covers anatomical knowledge as well as how to select beauty-care products.
“Our instructional media represent new learning media. We have a beauty-expert character called ‘Dr Angel’ to provide easy-to-understand explanation to students,” L’Oreal (Thailand) corporate communications manager Sitanun Sittikit said.
Sduppin Kamnuanthip, director of corporate communications and public affairs of L’Oreal Thailand, said her firm went for the video format for many reasons.
“First, VDO is a basic media which every school around the country can use. Second, it can help explain the biological story of the structure of our hair and skin in visuals thus making it much easier to understand, both for teachers and student. And third, with our team of young actresses and actors, it can create emotional connection with the students,” she said.
Sduppin said when students felt associated with the characters that appeared in the video, their attention to the content was assured.
“They will pay attention in class,” she said.
She said L’Oreal had a number of education managers, most of them pharmacists by educational background.
“They have contributed to the production of instruction materials,” she explained. “Our firm has a commitment to share its know-how and expertise in science and beauty.”
Sduppin added that her firm would also help with teacher training to ensure the teachers can teach the beauty and science subject efficiently.
“We want the teachers to understand the biological structure of skin and hair, the cause of common concerns such as dandruff, acne, skin darkening. We want to help build confidence for them so that when they stand in front of the students, they can deliver effectively and handle questions,” she said.
Sduppin said the training, which would start in November, would be conducted in collaboration with IPST.
Launched late last year, the science and beauty course is a part of the IPST efforts to make STEM class relevant to students’ daily life. It is an elective subject for students in junior-secondary education class.
Students in five schools took this course in the second semester of the 2012 Academic Year.
The response, according to L’Oreal Thailand, has been good.
The firm now has a bright hope that more than 80 per cent of secondary-school students will study this subject before the end of 2014.
The IPST, meanwhile, has prepared a textbook for the subject – addressing the concept of beauty, knowledge about skin, hair, nail, mouth and teeth, Thai herbs for beauty care, and cosmetics.
IPST director Dr Pornpun Waitayangkoon said the course was also designed to ensure that Thai children care about their natural beauty.
As the name of the subject suggests, this course will also have a science aspect.
“During the course, we will develop students’ skills in using a scientific approach in seeking knowledge and understanding,” Pornpun said.
She expressed a hope that the collaboration between her institute and L’Oreal would mark a good start for IPST efforts to engage the private sector.
“IPST hopes to encourage the private sector to help drive Thailand’s science education ahead,” she said.
L’Oreal is committed in its role in the science and beauty subject and is interested in supporting the IPST in other projects.
“After the course roll-out, we would like to have feedback from the schools in order to plan our next step for this course. We are also interested in supporting IPST with their future projects of STEM ambassadors,” Sduppin said.
