Abstract:
The intern-development program will be a set of development guidelines for Thai architects to improve their skills in order to become more competitive when compared to foreign architects. Owing to the opening of new free trade agreements, an influx of Foreign Architects are starting their professions here in Thailand. Since, Thailand has never had an Intern-Development Program before, the Council of Architects of Thailand (COA) sees the need for such a program to complete. A study and analysis of intern-development programs in other countries was done and summarized in the Bangkok Declaration 2005 as for the development of guidelines for an intern development program architecture majors in Thailand. The objective of this research is to study the problems and obstacles that are anticipated after the implementation of an intern-development program in Thailand according to the Bangkok Declaration 2005. The research is based on the study of the available publication papers, other research related to the development of an intern-development program in Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America, Singapore and Australia as well as information from interviews conducted of with selected representative sample groups which can be divided into 2 main areas 1) People who have direct involvement in and affect of the drafting and constructing of the intern-development program and 2) architecture firms. From the research, it was found that creating an intern development program for architecture majors according to the Bangkok Declaration 2005 does not fit well with current Thai professional practice. The reasons for this can be divided into 4 main factors. These are 1) Inadequate number of intern development vacancies 2) Inadequate number of advisors. 3) Intern development program curriculum does not match Thai Architectural professional practices 4) Inadequate support from the Thai architect professional community due to a lack of motivation to be advisors by Architecture Firms. All in all, these are several important factors for consideration which require rectification. The selects representative sample groups, were found to be in agreement that an intern development program is essential for the development of experienced and competent graduate Architect as to have a better understand of own profession as well as to become professional Architects so that they have a better understanding of own profession as well as to become capable architects in the future. It is also a way of developing a standard for the profession and its practices as well as prepare itself for the future opening of new Free Trade Agreements The development for of an intern development program for architecture majors in Thailand needs to done within the following 4 guidelines. These are 1) Preparation and development of organizations and personnel for the profession 2) Development of regulations and a code of conduct for the intern development program 3) Development of an intern-development program in line with architectural professional practices in Thailand 4) Realignment of the mindset of people who have direct involvement and affect of the drafting and constructing of the intern-development program.