Students can now apply online
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New service also set to improve quality of education
Students applying to vocational colleges no longer need to carry around their educational records to present in person. Instead, they can now input their personal information online, and then use photo identification when they are called to the college for an interview or entrance exam.
Jaturun Wattanaprateep, director of the Information Technology and Vocational Manpower Centre, Education Ministry, said that the centre had developed a student database that will enable applicants for vocational colleges nationwide to apply through its website by using a personal 13-digit identification number.
Each student’s application and profile will then be stored and sent to the vocational college of their choice.
The computer system also enables applicants to print out their personal information and process their photo as part of the application form. Moreover, the website offers students the chance to conduct pre-tests to help them prepare for entrance exams.
Jaturun said that the online entry service also sent texts and e-mails to alert students about the time and location of the exams.
The service, he said, was a big improvement and meant students applying to vocational college no longer had to bring along physical identification, such as an ID card or house registration, then fill in the college registration form before delivering it to the registration office.
The centre currently allows online registration for some 200 vocational colleges, but will expand the service to all colleges across the country next year.
421 colleges just a click away
“In the near future, we want to enable students anywhere in the country to apply online to any of the 421 vocational colleges nationwide. The students will then only need to visit the college for the entrance exam, which reduces the need to travel to the colleges and creates greater convenience for applicants.
“For example, a student living in Chiang Mai who wants to study at a vocational college in Phuket will be able to input their personal information at our website. The system will then send that information to the registration office of the vocational college in Phuket,” said the director.
He said that as well as increasing the quality of service for both students and colleges, the system also enabled the education sector to gauge demand for college places for the next semester, and prepare resources such as manpower accordingly.
“The new service should enhance education quality at vocational colleges and also give students access to education online, anywhere anytime,” said Jaturun.
