THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Scholarships open a new world for eager young Myanmar students

Scholarships open a new world for eager young Myanmar students

CARRYING HEAVY equipment and wilting under the burning sun in Kamphaeng Phet, eight young vocational students from Myanmar still maintained their high spirits.

To them, winning scholarships from the PTT Group that entails weeks of on-the-job training in Thailand is a great opportunity that could change their lives.
“It’s difficult at times. In a workplace, you are alone from others,” said Aung Pyae Phyoe, one of the eight students assigned for training at S1 oilfield, one of the onshore oilfields of PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) projects.
He is one of the first 40 students selected for the Myanmar High Vocational Diploma Scholarship, a programme initiated by PTTEP and other companies in PTT Group. It is part of the corporate social responsibility efforts of PTTEP, which has been operating in Myanmar for 25 years and is committed to improving the country in the areas of health, education and community development.
According to Waranon Laprabang, PTTEP senior vice president for Myanmar Asset, International Asset Group, the company has worked closely with Myanmar’s Energy Planning Department (EPD) in selecting the students. The department coordinates with relevant authorities and Myanmar, as well as making public announcements, to identify the candidates. The candidates are then required to take an exam and interview by teachers at IRPC Technological College (IRPCT), located in Rayong. The students needed to pass a medical check-up as well as speak basic English, as the courses are conducted in English.
Launched in 2013, the scholarship project enrolled 40 Grade 10 students for the 2-year Accelerated Vocational Diploma, focusing on machine tools and maintenance. After training at PTT business units for eight weeks, they will attend the college for a year and a half more, to earn the High Vocational Diploma in production technology. For completion, they will attend 6-month training at PTT business units.
In a teleconference from Kamphaeng Phet last week, excitement and enthusiasm resonated in the voice of Aung Pyae Phyoe, better known to the senior workers in the field as Phyoe. Together with his friend, Hlyan Phone Aung from Mawlamyine, Phyoe - whose home is in Yangon - admitted there were some cultural challenges, aside from the language barrier. 
“Our instructors explained the job in Thai and that was translated. We tried to understand. I study Thai language. Now, I know about 200-300 words,” said Phyoe. 
Yet, there is no problem when it comes to food and weather. They acknowledged that Thai food tended to be more spicy and tasted differently to food from their home. 
“My favourite food is phad Thai,” Phyoe said.
About to return home briefly before they start the High Vocational Diploma programme, he is happy with the eight-week training. Asked what he expects at the next training, he said “offshore training”. 
“I want to be on the sea,” he said, adding that the PTTEP oil-rig in Myanmar is a dream destination.
Working hard to get the scholarship, he is now excelling at his studies as he expects to be recruited by PTTEP. 
“I can work either here or in Myanmar. I will try to get a job,” he said. 
“This scholarship changed my life. I will try for the best,” he added.
According to Waranon, this scholarship is unconditional, meaning the students do not need to work for PTT Group.
“But, it is a good opportunity for PTTEP to find potential manpower,” he said.
To the executives, the scholarship well serves the company’s mission to operate globally to provide reliable energy supplies and sustainable value to all stakeholders. 
“Myanmar is the first international venture of PTTEP. During the 25 years as a long-term partner, PTTEP conducts business with conscience and has a responsibility in order to create sustainable economic, social and environmental development for Myanmar. This education opportunity is expected to help create skilled manpower for the country’s development,” he said.
In 2014, 30 Myanmar students won scholarships and joined three more from Cambodia. According to the company, pleased with the response of the programme, PTT Group aims to extend the scholarship to cover other Asean countries, under the project called “AEC Myanmar Scholarship”.
 
nationthailand