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Enhancing digital transformation within the agricultural workforce is essential, especially in countries like Thailand, where agriculture plays a dominant role. By equipping the workforce preparedness with the necessary skills, the efficiency of agricultural practices can be improved, and it also opens doors for innovation and sustainable growth in the sector.
Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) met with the management and capital management unit to discuss human resource development and scholarships for Research and Innovation (PPC) in higher education institutions. This meeting also involved the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), the Future Personnel Development Institute, and the Central Agricultural Vocational Education Institute.
The purpose was to explore collaboration and integration to establish a digital workforce skills development platform in agriculture. During the meeting, Mr Noppadon Panyachongthavorn, Deputy Director of the Future Personnel Development Institute, NSTDA, presented a collaborative work plan involving DEPA and its partners. Cluster coordinators and experts through online channels attended the meeting.
Dr Ratthasart Karasuta, Deputy Director-General, Dr Preesarn Rakwatin, Assistant Director-General, and the current agricultural development promotion and support team from DEPA presented a comprehensive plan to enhance digital skills in Coding, STEM, IoT, and AI. The technique involves the Coding Thailand project, which focuses on digital infrastructure development and the establishment of coding classrooms in 132 secondary schools across 52 provinces.
Additionally, vocational institutes will be developed by creating a vocational digital technology and innovative learning centre to foster digital skills for future industries. DEPA supports this initiative by establishing a network of excellence with 22 vocational institutes.
Furthermore, the presentation also highlighted DEPA’s digital development mission for agriculture, focusing on skill and knowledge development in collaboration with educational institutions. The plan aims to nurture digital business entrepreneurs, promote digital adoption among farmers, communities, and SMEs in the agriculture and industry sectors, and develop the necessary digital infrastructure to support agriculture.
In addition to the initiatives, DEPA presented a comprehensive plan to foster collaboration with the NSTDA’s agricultural digital skill development project. Recognising the significance of this collaboration, DEPA aims to work alongside the Digital Agriculture and Commerce Centre (DACC) to facilitate the development of essential digital skills for personnel in vocational institutions.
During the meeting, the cooperative efforts emphasised, focusing on joint funding initiatives and establishing a dedicated platform to enhance digital skills within the workforce. The goal is to create a robust and comprehensive ecosystem that supports the development of digital competencies in various dimensions.
There are plans for in-depth discussions to refine the details of the collaborative work in the future. These discussions will encompass crucial aspects such as resource allocation, project milestones, and the implementation framework. By engaging in thorough deliberations, DEPA and its partners are committed to ensuring the effective execution of the plan, ultimately leading to the successful enhancement of digital skills for the workforce in vocational institutions.
By leveraging digital technologies and preparing a skilled workforce with a keen sense of digital literacy for the future, Thailand can unlock new opportunities, overcome various challenges, and pave the way for a more resilient and efficient agriculture sector.
