THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPETENCY AND VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATION OF SCRIPTWRITER

Abstract

The development of occupational standards and professional qualifications for scriptwriters aimed to 1) Examine the current practices of occupational standards and professional qualification development for scriptwriters in benchmark countries, and 2) Develop occupational standards for Thailand. This study employed a qualitative research approach and was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 involved documentary research and case studies from the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and India to analyze qualification frameworks, competency structures, certification processes, and professional competency assessment mechanisms. Phase 2 focused on the development of occupational standards through a participatory process involving 12 experts, practitioners, media producers, and professional association representatives. Workshops and public hearings were conducted to establish occupational standards and qualification levels aligned with Thailand’s National Professional Qualification Framework. Data were analyzed using content analysis. The findings revealed that the benchmark countries have well-defined occupational standards encompassing competency units, performance criteria, and assessment systems closely linked with industry requirements. For Thailand, the developed occupational standards for scriptwriters identified core competencies, including concept creation, story analysis and development, and professional ethics, alongside specialized competencies based on media types. Distinctions between qualification levels were also evident: Level 4 emphasizes task performance within prescribed structures, while Level 5 focuses on story design and innovative creative development. In addition, the developed standards can be linked to the education sector by proposing instructional approaches emphasizing experiential learning, practice-based learning, and workplace-oriented training to prepare learners for effective entry into the industry. The findings also indicate that occupational standards can support professional recognition, career progression pathways, and competency-based workforce development within the creative economy and nationwide implementation. In conclusion, the development of occupational standards for scriptwriters in Thailand can be systematically implemented, aligns with international trends, and has the potential to enhance workforce quality, strengthen professional competencies, and support sustainable development in the entertainment industry.