Bangkok: The Department of Engineering (DOE) recently organized an academic conference aimed at upgrading standards in water quality control and treatment through personnel accreditation according to international standards.
According to Thai News Agency, the conference, titled "Upgrading the Standards of Human Resources in Water Quality Control and Treatment in Thailand," was designed to certify personnel competence in line with ISO/IEC 17024 standards.
The Department of Science Service (DSS) also held a concurrent conference on the same theme. Dr. Pojaman Thachin, Acting Director-General of the DSS, presided over the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote address emphasizing the role of the ISO/IEC 17024 Personnel Accreditation System as a tool for enhancing personnel confidence. The event served as a venue for knowledge exchange and gathering stakeholder feedback to further develop the country's personnel accreditation system.
Dr. Pojaman Thachin highlighted the critical need for managing water resources to meet quality standards, citing it as a national issue. She stressed the importance of developing human resource capabilities to improve the quality and reliability of the nation's scientific and testing systems. Accreditation according to ISO/IEC 17024 was presented as a fundamental mechanism for elevating professional standards and boosting confidence in Thailand's inspection, analysis, and testing systems.
Ms. Patthama Nopparat, Director of the Institute for the Development of Scientists at DSS, outlined the meeting's purpose of gathering insights from various stakeholders, including government agencies, experts, academics, and practitioners. The aim is to collaboratively establish reliable, transparent, and internationally recognized guidelines for certifying personnel competence in water quality control and treatment, reflecting the potential of Thailand's scientific and technological workforce.
The conference featured lectures and discussions by experts from various fields. Notable sessions included a presentation by a representative from the Pollution Control Department on enhancing personnel competency, and discussions on criteria for personnel accreditation in line with ISO/IEC 17024. The event also provided a forum for exchanging ideas to develop a national accreditation system tailored to the Thai context.
The certification of personnel competence in accordance with ISO/IEC 17024 is seen as crucial for raising professional standards in science and technology. It aims to create a transparent, fair, and internationally recognized system for assessing personnel capabilities, thereby contributing to sustainable water resource management and bolstering international confidence in Thailand's scientific testing and analysis systems.