Siriwattananon N.Kohpeisansukwattana N.Poungthong P.Nittayathammakul V.Deewanichsakul S.Mahidol University2025-05-302025-05-302025-01-01International Journal of Engineering Education Vol.41 No.3 (2025) , 616-6260949149Xhttps://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/110432The growing demand for automation skills necessitates the development of accessible training tools, particularly in developing countries with limited resources. This study presents the design, development, and evaluation of PLC-CertX, a low-cost training kit aimed at enhancing industry-relevant skills and certification among vocational and undergraduate students in Thailand. The research methodology applied developmental research, utilizing Richey and Klein’s Type I research procedure to guide the systematic process of analyzing, developing, and evaluating the kit. The study’s results identified three key findings: (1) The developed PLC-CertX training kit enables hands-on learning and provides practical experience in controlling and monitoring automation systems; (2) Expert evaluations from specialists in the industrial and educational sectors rated the kit with an overall mean score of 4.67 (SD = 0.45) in the ‘‘Very Good’’ category; and (3) A posttest-only cohort comparison revealed a 14.09% improvement in students’ average scores (Cohen’s d = 0.70). Additionally, the certification rate at the Skill Standard Testing Center, authorized by the Department of Skill Development, increased by 21.37% after using the kit. Thus, PLC-CertX is an effective and scalable solution for technical education in resource-constrained environments.Social SciencesEngineeringArticleSCOPUS2-s2.0-105005961576