Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to develop the assessors occupational standards or
competency standard and manual for assessors relating to Thai Vocational
Qualification because the assessment procedure of assessors occupational standards
was a crucial factor for leading individuals to obtain Thai Vocational Qualification. It
required an effective procedure of occupational assessment for assessors and
guidelines for the work of assessment in order to completely establish and manage the
Thai Vocational Qualification system. This was able to solve the problems of
manpower to meet the international standards. There were five phases of this study as
follows. The first phase was to define the concepts and design research methodology
by analyzing the data used for formulating research problems, objectives, and
processes. The second phase was to draft the assessors occupational or competences
standards and manual. The third phase was to conduct a focus group type of seminar
for verification and validation of the assessors occupational standards and manual.
The focus group consisted of 20 experts of administrators, business owners, and
academics. They verified and validated the assessors occupational standards and
manual and also made recommendations for improvement. The fourth phase was to
organize a meeting for practical guidelines with a panel of 20 experts from three
occupational clusters, jewelry craftsmen, manufacturing textile, and retailers. They
were provided with knowledge and understanding of the practical guidelines of
assessment, planning, and evaluation in order to conduct experiment for the practical
work of assessors. The fifth phase was for a group to work as assessors by following
the guidelines and procedures of assessment given in the assessors occupational
standards and manual. Fifty-seven people from the three occupational clusters were
assessed by the assessors. Data were analyzed and the finding indicated that the
assessors occupational standards consisted of four major units of competence and 11
elements of competence relating to the four major units of competence. The four major
units of competence were 1) planning, 2) preparing, 3) conducting, and 4) reporting the
assessment. Each element of competence consisted of performance criteria, range, and
related knowledge evidence. In each major unit of competence, some evidences were made to demonstrate the qualitative and competence of the assessors. There were 17
steps for assessing competence related to the four major units of competence for
professional assessors. There were 8 assessment forms used as guidelines and applied
to appropriate assessment. Results of experiment in the use of the assessment
procedure to assess the vocational qualification given by the experts indicated that the
assessment procedure was transparent and accountable at a very high level. The
assessment procedure was relevant to the real practice of occupation and encouraged
those who were assessed to improve themselves at a high level. Those who were
assessed pointed out that the Thai Vocational Qualification made them proud of their
competences, encouraged them to continue improving their competences, and the
results of assessment relevance to their occupational competences. The occupational
standards showed the occupational practitioners to see their clear goals and the right,
continuous approaches to improve their competences.