7 ELEVEN, with Phuket Technology School, is planning to open a special school for promising students on Phuket later this year.
The scheme, designed to equip young people with skills in the retail industry, encourages vocational students to work and learn at the same time.
It follows the success of the first workplace learning school in Thailand, which 7 Eleven set up in Bangkok three years ago. The school has since expanded across the metropolis.
The educational project is perhaps a role model that will be followed by more organisations, especially in the tourism and hospitality industries, as the need for trained staff becomes more acute in 2008.
Poontana Musikaboonlert, the company's Assistant Vice President, Education and Human Resource Development, told Phuketwan on a visit to Phuket that the scheme was already helping young people to create careers where no opportunities once existed.
''Needy students don't have to pay for tuition,'' he said. ''It is a workplace learning school, the first in Thailand.
''In three years they graduate, just as at any other school. At the age of 15, they start with us.
''They study and work at the same time, the theory and the application of theory. And while they work, they also get paid. At 18, they graduate.''
Next year the plan is to have 11 schools, in addition to the present 20 learning centres, and there will be distant learning, with lessons delivered via two-way video conferencing.
''The teacher can talk to our students anywhere,'' Khun Poontana said.
Students study the retail business and learn the practical side by working in 7 Eleven stores.
''No rich students come to our schools,'' Khun Poontana said. ''We will only have those who do not have money to go to school.
''We also have further education available at university for these students so they can continue to bachelor and masters degrees.''
The workplace learning program will enable 7 Eleven to encourage local students to take up scholarships and to work in local stores.
''We like to keep the students near their homes,'' Khun Poontana said. ''Our stores are different.
''We would like to keep our staff near their homes because we have quite a big turnover number otherwise.''
With 4500 branches throughout Thailand, 7 Eleven is well up in ''apples to apples'' comparisons with competitors. But there's a constant awareness of the ''apples to coconut'' competition with larger supermarket brands.
So 7 Eleven aims to survive and thrive on its local edge philosophy of convenience selling.
''Eveyone is guarantee to get a job when they graduate,'' Khun Poontana said. ''They carry on their career path with us because they start with a salary and three years' experience with us, so they are more advanced.''
Scholarship winners undertake to work for 7 Eleven for just one year after graduation. The likelihood is, though, that the relationship continues.
''One day they can become a franchiser,'' Khun Poontana said. ''They borrow to open, and then pay the money back over six months or seven months.''
Learning how to run a small business is a good skill for a vocational student. As Khun Poontana said, many leave school at the conclusion of ninth grade without a career path.
The social responsibity aspect is certainly useful in terms of the futures of the individuals, along with the corporate profile.
''We would like those who need a lot of support to go through with an education and get a job,'' Khun Poontana said.
''This way, people can give money back to their parents. We provide education and a job for local people.''
For more information, contact Ajarn Boonpa Kumviset (????????????????????? ?????????????? ???????????????????????????) Mobile: 081-891-7982
Phuket Technology School 224/9 Thepkasattree Road Muang Phuket Taladyai Sub-District Phuket 83000 >
The scheme, designed to equip young people with skills in the retail industry, encourages vocational students to work and learn at the same time.
It follows the success of the first workplace learning school in Thailand, which 7 Eleven set up in Bangkok three years ago. The school has since expanded across the metropolis.
The educational project is perhaps a role model that will be followed by more organisations, especially in the tourism and hospitality industries, as the need for trained staff becomes more acute in 2008.
Poontana Musikaboonlert, the company's Assistant Vice President, Education and Human Resource Development, told Phuketwan on a visit to Phuket that the scheme was already helping young people to create careers where no opportunities once existed.
''Needy students don't have to pay for tuition,'' he said. ''It is a workplace learning school, the first in Thailand.
''In three years they graduate, just as at any other school. At the age of 15, they start with us.
''They study and work at the same time, the theory and the application of theory. And while they work, they also get paid. At 18, they graduate.''
Next year the plan is to have 11 schools, in addition to the present 20 learning centres, and there will be distant learning, with lessons delivered via two-way video conferencing.
''The teacher can talk to our students anywhere,'' Khun Poontana said.
Students study the retail business and learn the practical side by working in 7 Eleven stores.
''No rich students come to our schools,'' Khun Poontana said. ''We will only have those who do not have money to go to school.
''We also have further education available at university for these students so they can continue to bachelor and masters degrees.''
The workplace learning program will enable 7 Eleven to encourage local students to take up scholarships and to work in local stores.
''We like to keep the students near their homes,'' Khun Poontana said. ''Our stores are different.
''We would like to keep our staff near their homes because we have quite a big turnover number otherwise.''
With 4500 branches throughout Thailand, 7 Eleven is well up in ''apples to apples'' comparisons with competitors. But there's a constant awareness of the ''apples to coconut'' competition with larger supermarket brands.
So 7 Eleven aims to survive and thrive on its local edge philosophy of convenience selling.
''Eveyone is guarantee to get a job when they graduate,'' Khun Poontana said. ''They carry on their career path with us because they start with a salary and three years' experience with us, so they are more advanced.''
Scholarship winners undertake to work for 7 Eleven for just one year after graduation. The likelihood is, though, that the relationship continues.
''One day they can become a franchiser,'' Khun Poontana said. ''They borrow to open, and then pay the money back over six months or seven months.''
Learning how to run a small business is a good skill for a vocational student. As Khun Poontana said, many leave school at the conclusion of ninth grade without a career path.
The social responsibity aspect is certainly useful in terms of the futures of the individuals, along with the corporate profile.
''We would like those who need a lot of support to go through with an education and get a job,'' Khun Poontana said.
''This way, people can give money back to their parents. We provide education and a job for local people.''
For more information, contact Ajarn Boonpa Kumviset (????????????????????? ?????????????? ???????????????????????????) Mobile: 081-891-7982
Phuket Technology School 224/9 Thepkasattree Road Muang Phuket Taladyai Sub-District Phuket 83000 >