Expanding Student Work Placements in Tourism
Samui Island, a renowned tourist destination in southern Thailand, continues to captivate visitors from around the globe with its pristine beaches, luxury resorts, and vibrant cultural scene. Recognized as one of the best islands in Asia by the DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards 2024, this accolade underscores the island’s thriving tourism industry and its critical role in bolstering the local economy.
In 2024, WU reinforced its commitment to workforce development and industry-academia collaboration by signing the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperative and Work Integrated Education (CWIE), a mandatory of work placement program at WU, with 33 leading hotels, enterprises, and agencies on Samui Island. This landmark agreement aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice by equipping students with essential practical skills, fostering career readiness, and aligning their education with the evolving demands of the tourism and hospitality sectors. By integrating real-world experiences into academic curricula, WU seeks to prepare its students to become highly competent professionals who can contribute effectively to Thailand’s tourism industry and beyond.
The CWIE initiative extends its benefits to students across multiple disciplines, including Hospitality Industry, Professional Culinary Arts, Accountancy, English, Chinese, Digital Marketing and Branding, Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Health, and Architecture and Design. Through hands-on training in industry settings, students gain invaluable experience, allowing them to refine their skills, adapt to workplace dynamics, and build professional networks. The program also enhances their ability to tackle real-world challenges, ensuring they are well-prepared for employment upon graduation. Future plans include broadening the program’s scope to incorporate additional academic disciplines and increase the number of student participants, further strengthening the university’s role in workforce development.
A key feature of WU’s cooperative education program is its 8-month duration, a period designed to immerse students in experiential learning while promoting mutual growth among students, enterprises, and faculty. During their placements, students engage in diverse job functions, work on industry projects, and receive mentorship from experienced professionals. This structured approach not only refines their technical competencies but also cultivates essential soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
The growing success of WU’s cooperative education initiatives is reflected in the rising number of student participants. In 2024, a total of 1,297 students took part in work placements across various industries, demonstrating the program’s increasing impact and popularity. Looking ahead, WU’s Center for Cooperative Education and Career Development aims to further expand its network of partner organizations, offering even more students the opportunity to gain hands-on work experience for extended periods.
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth