Mr. Suwichak Jakwachot and Mr. Watchara Malasri, two students from the Bachelor of Engineering Program in Automation, Robotics, and Artificial Intelligence at Khon Kaen University’s Faculty of Engineering, have been selected to represent Thailand at the 14th ASEAN Skills Competition—WorldSkills ASEAN Manila 2025. They will compete in the Mobile Robotics category at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in the Philippines from August 21 to 31, 2025.

Over the past month, the students have been undergoing intensive training with a clear mission: to showcase the potential of Thai youth on an international stage. Suwichak shared his excitement, saying, “I’m truly thrilled—this is my first time serving the nation through my own skills. Of course, I’m nervous and putting pressure on myself, but I’m determined to give it my all. I really enjoy applying classroom knowledge to real-world competitions.”

Watchara, on the other hand, highlighted the biggest challenge: “The most difficult part is not knowing the competition task in advance. So we have to practice broadly and clearly define our team’s strengths to be prepared for any scenario.”

Although their responsibilities are divided—one focusing on programming and the other on robot assembly—both must understand the entire system so they can support each other effectively during the competition.

This year, the Department of Skill Development is sending 34 Thai youth to compete across 17 skill areas at WorldSkills ASEAN 2025. The event provides a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange, exposure to cutting-edge technology, and the enhancement of youth capabilities at the international level. All 10 ASEAN member countries, along with Timor-Leste, will participate—making a total of 11 nations.

Khon Kaen University invites everyone to join in cheering on these two talented students as they step onto the global stage to represent Thailand and bring pride to the nation.

Source/Photos: Thai PBS “People’s Station”