Across Southeast Asia, the future workforce will need more than technical knowledge. Young people must be equipped with digital fluency, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a strong understanding of sustainable systems. To help close this skills gap, Kenan Foundation Asia partnered with Schneider Electric and the Schneider Electric Foundation to implement the Conserve My Planet project in Thailand and Vietnam.
In its first year, the project reached 12,501 students, including 6,300 students in Thailand and 6,201 students in Vietnam. It also strengthened the capacity of 130 teachers across both countries, supporting them to bring project-based learning, environmental education, and green energy concepts into the classroom.
Through training of trainers, professional learning communities, and hands-on Green Energy Camps, teachers and students explored practical solutions to real-world environmental challenges. Students learned about renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and environmental protection while building essential 21st-century skills such as collaboration, creativity, communication, and critical thinking.
The results show strong progress. In Thailand, 89% of students demonstrated proficient critical thinking skills, while 85% of teachers showed the ability to use the new curriculum and learning materials effectively. In Vietnam, teachers gained confidence in structuring project-based learning lesson plans and integrating energy and environmental protection topics into vocational education.
Beyond the numbers, the project created meaningful change in classrooms and communities. Students designed environmental protection STEM products, developed communication campaigns, and took part in activities that encouraged them to turn knowledge into action. Community-based projects, from reducing leaf waste to restoring marine habitats, showed how schools can become centers for shared environmental learning.
Looking ahead, Kenan aims to expand the project’s impact by training additional teachers, reaching more students, and strengthening partnerships with government and industry. The next phase will continue supporting vocational schools to integrate green energy skills and active STEM learning, helping Thailand and Vietnam prepare young people for the green workforce of the future.
Download the full report to learn more about the impact of Conserve My Planet and how green skills education is helping young people build a more sustainable future.
