Development of a Short-Term Vocational Training Curriculum for Informal Workers: A Case Study of Herbal Products in Nakhon Pathom

Abstract

This study aims to develop an effective short-term vocational training curriculum for herbal products and to propose approaches for curriculum improvement. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative analyses with community participation. The target group comprises ten informal workers from Don Ruak and Huay Phra sub-districts in Nakhon Pathom province. The research methodology began with assessing community needs and potential, revealing an abundance of local herbal resources suitable for value-added processing and outputs from the University to Tambon (U2T) project. These findings informed the development of a 30-hour short-term vocational training curriculum, emphasising production skills, marketing strategies, and entrepreneurship through an interdisciplinary approach. The results demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in participants' knowledge and skills. Recommendations include augmenting the curriculum with online marketing content to enhance sustainable income generation. This research underscores the efficacy of community-based short-term vocational training in developing skills and creating income opportunities, thereby supporting grassroots economic development and sustainable growth