ENTREPRENEURIAL LEARNING PERFOR-MANCE OF VULNERABLE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: A PRELIMINARY STUDY FROM DEEP SOUTH THAILAND

Abstract

Due to the weak economic development and poverty in the Deep South of Thailand resulting from continuing insurgency, the entrepreneurship human resource development is apparently needed for achieving the country ambition on social sustainability and economic growth. This research has thus attempted to preliminarily investigate the entrepreneurial learning performance of vulnerable senior high school students who are expected to be self-reliant after graduation. A total of 146 target students participated in a pilot project. Firstly, entrepreneurial knowledge, skills, and mindset were introduced to the students by adopting STEAM4INNOVATOR as a training model. Secondly, the students were encouraged to form team and create the prototype that met the needs within school. Pitching assessment form and interview were tools for assessment. The study revealed that student’s entrepreneurial knowledge was at fairly good level. The entrepreneurial skill, as in team, was arguably at satisfied level. The students could identify pain points, formulate challenge statement, propose a solution and potential impact, and initially test the proposed solution or prototype with their relevant target users. Accordingly, the research displays that entrepreneurship human resource development among vulnerable young population is possible and highly recommended as a key to socio-economic development in Deep South Thailand.