The Cabinet approved extending the “New Breed Graduate Project” until 2031 to rapidly develop 81,600 highly skilled personnel to supply future industries.
On 15 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Major Phatdarasmi Thongsaluaykorn, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the Cabinet approved extending the duration and revising the operational plan of the “New Breed Graduate and Highly Skilled Workforce Production Project to meet production sector needs under Thailand's higher education reform policy,” originally ending in 2026, now extended to 2026–2031 as proposed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI).
The Deputy Spokesperson stated that the extension will use the project's existing remaining budget of 3.1 billion baht from 2018–2026 (within the previously approved total budget of 13.08638 billion baht by the Cabinet in 2018). The goal is to produce and develop a total of 81,600 personnel during 2027–2031 to meet the needs of 10 future industry groups and national strategies, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicles (EV), high-value medical and health sectors, and SMEs entrepreneurs.
The new phase of the plan will focus on transforming education under the concept “Skills-First Degree Later,” emphasizing short non-degree courses to rapidly reskill, upskill, and develop new skills for the workforce (course length 3-4 months or 9 credits). It allows credit accumulation for later transfer toward a degree. Additionally, learners must complete practical work in enterprises for at least 50% of the course, targeting 80,000 certificate course participants and 1,600 degree-level students.
The Deputy Spokesperson added that from 2018 to 2025, the project has produced over 90,035 skilled personnel, with graduates achieving an employment rate within one year exceeding 80% and starting salaries higher than regular courses. Therefore, extending the project until 2031 will enhance the country's competitiveness, support lifelong learning, and meet future labor market demands.