UFM Partners with OVEC to Elevate Food and Nutrition Knowledge Developing Industry-Ready Workforce to Meet Sector Demands

Mrs. Wantana Thongthai, Chair of the Executive Board of United Flour Mill Public Company Limited (UFM), Thailand’s largest wheat flour producer and distributor, stated that throughout more than 60 years of operation, the Company has remained committed to its mission: “We are a Thai company, for Thai people.” Beyond advancing product development and human capital, UFM actively promotes job creation and sustainable livelihoods across society. As the bakery and food industry continues to evolve — in both consumer preferences and production technologies — entrepreneurs must continuously enhance their knowledge, develop distinctive capabilities, and pursue sustainable growth.

To lay a solid foundation for professionals in the food and bakery industry — equipping them with comprehensive skills that can be built upon in the future — UFM has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) to support and promote vocational education management, with a focus on driving the production and development of a skilled vocational workforce in the Department of Food and Nutrition and related disciplines. This initiative aims to produce high-quality personnel who meet the demands of the labour market and industrial sector.

This MOU spans a three-year period and covers vocational institutions under OVEC nationwide offering programmes in the Department of Food and Nutrition and related fields. Under this collaboration, UFM will implement a “Train the Trainer” programme to transfer food and bakery production technology through structured, hands-on training. Instructors and educational personnel from OVEC institutions will undergo practical training with UFM specialists, enabling them to subsequently pass on industry-relevant knowledge and skills to students.

In addition, participating colleges will send students to receive direct instruction from UFM’s expert trainers at the UFM Baking & Cooking School — Thailand’s first private school specialising in baking, operating under the approval of the Ministry of Education for more than 50 years. Among its most recognised programmes is the Baking Science & Technology curriculum, developed in collaboration with U.S. Wheat Associates, which has been offered continuously for over 44 years. The prestigious programme has attracted participants from across Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

The programme places equal emphasis on theoretical knowledge — covering the science behind baking — and practical application, enabling students to apply their learning in real production contexts and to effectively resolve issues that may arise during the production process.

In this collaboration, UFM is pleased to provide support in both raw materials and knowledge through the “Train the Trainer” programme, with the aim of enhancing instructors’ capabilities and ensuring that knowledge is meaningfully transferred to students in a tangible and effective manner.

UFM firmly believes that sustainable national development begins with “people development” — particularly through the creation of opportunities and vocational skills for Thai youth, which lies at the heart of the Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mission.

Mr. Sa-nga Taechuasai, Deputy Secretary-General of the Vocational Education Commission, Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC), stated that OVEC oversees more than 800 vocational colleges and offers a diverse range of programmes designed to meet labour market demands. Among these is the food business sector — an industry that the government seeks to promote under the initiative to position Thai cuisine on the global stage. OVEC therefore places significant importance on supporting education in Food and Nutrition programmes, with a strong emphasis on both theoretical and practical components to ensure that graduates are fully equipped to pursue their professional careers.

Given the rapidly evolving knowledge landscape in Thailand’s food and bakery industry, OVEC recognises the need to continuously enhance instructors’ capabilities to keep pace with emerging developments. Through this collaboration with UFM, the Food and Nutrition curriculum will be modernised and aligned with the skills and requirements of the industrial sector. Instructors and educational personnel will develop their competencies through training, study visits, and the practical application of knowledge, expertise, and techniques gained from UFM. Students, in turn, will benefit from opportunities to develop professional skills through hands-on practice, internships, skills competitions, and workplace-based learning — all of which will enhance their readiness to enter the future labour market.