- Signing MOU with Language Institute at Thammasat University to bring Microsoft AI – Reading Progress in Microsoft Teams, advancing English learning for students and citizen
- Raising Thailand’s Cybersecurity skill with official partners e.g. National Cyber Security Agency to enable digital literacy for young people, in particular women and people with disabilities to be equipped in digital economy
Bangkok – 28 October 2022: Microsoft Thailand is continuing its global campaign ‘Global Skills Initiative (GSI)’ recently signing an MOU with the Language Institute of Thammasat University targeting 50,000 students and Thai under institute program. And later on October, Microsoft kicked off ‘ASEAN Cybersecurity Skilling’ (ACSP) in Thailand, enhancing essential skills for 4,000 educator and trainer, who can receive certificate of attending and step into higher cybersecurity program for employment opportunities. With this contribution, these participants will become a valuable future workforce for the Thai labor market, representing Thailand’s future. Following the previous Global Skills Initiatives (GSI) project which Microsoft Thailand partnered with Ministry of Labour aiming to improve digital-based skills for Thai workers through Microsoft special training.
Lead by (Right) Associate Professor Dr. Supong Tangkiengsirisin, Director of the Language Institute, Thammasat University and (Left) Ms. Chanikarn Pronanun, Deputy Managing Director, Public Sector, Microsoft (Thailand) Ltd., together with an honorary witness (Middle) Associate Professor Kesinee Witoonchart, President of Thammasat University
Enhancing digital skills in language learning for 50,000 Thais with AI technology
Recently, Microsoft Thailand signed an MOU with the Language Institute of Thammasat University as the first language institute to partner with Microsoft Thailand to bring technology, innovation, and tools for education in Microsoft Teams for Education like ‘Reading Progress’ in action, which improves English reading skills for students and people who are interested. The program was designed for instructors and learners to use together, generating effective education. Artificial intelligence (AI) measures the effectiveness of the study, and this brings education to the next level. The target for the first year is to build learning skills in English and digital literacy for students of Thammasat University and other learners. This partnership will use Microsoft’s technology to encourage language learners to exceed their limits.
‘Reading Progress’ creates an opportunity to be fluent in other languages whenever needed and students can still study effectively, as with an instructor, to guide pronunciation. The program also has essential courses that can be customized for individual needs for better learning structure. AI technology in ‘Reading Progress’ scans the shape of the mouth to check pronunciation effectively. The program shows the results of learning, benefiting instructors and companies and giving insights into each learner, and the ability to see both strengths and points that need to be fixed from real data.
Associate Professor Dr. Supong Tangkiengsirisin, Director of the Language Institute, Thammasat University said: “The vision of the Language Institute at Thammasat University is to be a leader of English language education. We have long-term strategic goals to reach our targets in 2026. An innovative learning experience is what we focus on for learners. We aim to develop learners’ knowledge in new ways, empowered by technology. Partnering with Microsoft Thailand is part of the roadmap to our success. Bringing innovation to develop English learning skills by using artificial intelligence (AI) is a way to surpass language teaching abilities – in addition to lifelong learning. This step will create a center of knowledge and academic services that can be accessed and advised by technology for 40,000 students of Thammasat University and 10,000 language learners, which means our goal ‘English for All’ will be well achieved.”
Ms. Chanikarn Pronanun, Deputy Managing Director – Public Sector, Microsoft (Thailand) Ltd., said: “Microsoft has found that the education sector is highly adaptable, and that technology can be applied to all dimensions of teaching and learning today. Collaborating with language institutes to bring ‘Reading Progress’ in Microsoft Teams for Education, using AI to improve teaching and learning, will result in better language learning outcomes. It will not only enhance skills and develop learning experiences for students but also be an important force in the development of holistic teaching and learning. Today’s cultural, economic, and social diversity is driving students to communicate in more than one language. Therefore, teaching English is important to support the growth of the Thai economy. Microsoft would like to be a part of driving the education sector, which is one of the key driving forces in Thailand’s moving forward, with the power of technology. This is in line with Microsoft’s goal of being a ‘Technology for All’ that helps create digital skills for Thai people – leading to a new S-curve in developing Thailand towards Thailand 4.0.”
Cybersecurity Skill
(Middle) AVM Amorn Chomchoey, NCSA, Deputy Secretary-General together with (2nd from right) Supanee Anuwongworavet, Deputy Managing Director – Marketing & Operations, Microsoft (Thailand) Ltd with the team in support of ‘ASEAN Cybersecurity Skilling’ (ACSP) program
Enhancing cybersecurity digital skills for 4,000 Thais, with training courses for learners in 7 countries across the world including Thailand
Cybersecurity is an important factor in bringing Thailand into the digital economy. Digital security training is extremely important – building a basic knowledge of how to deal with today’s more complex and diverse cyberattacks, and to prepare for growth in the digital economy in Thailand. That’s why Microsoft has created the ‘ASEAN Cybersecurity Skilling’ (ACSP) program to train 30,000 young people, in particular women, in seven countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines and Cambodia. For Thailand, we are aiming for 4,000 participants to receive training from lecturers, with basic Microsoft training content to encourage young people interested in developing their cybersecurity skills. This training will teach participants basic cybersecurity knowledge through 80 teachers. The project was launched and teacher training given in Thailand on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, at Microsoft (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and broadcast through Microsoft Teams to speakers across the country. Microsoft was honored by AVM Amorn Chomchoey, the NCSA deputy secretary-general, giving the opening speech.
“As a representative of the agency that drives the country under the Cyber Security Act, which supports and accelerates the development of cybersecurity personnel, we recognize that building a foundation for cybersecurity education is paramount. It is especially important to cultivate skills development among young people and students who are the most interested in learning about cyber threats in Thailand. This partnership with Microsoft in the ‘ASEAN Cybersecurity Skilling’ program will help to reassure young people, including women, the disadvantaged, transgendered people, and people with disabilities, and give confidence in preparing for cyber threats by expanding their learning horizons to cultivate the ability to open up opportunities to enter the labor market in the future as well. This cybersecurity education is a continuation of the goal of applying cybersecurity knowledge to drive the development of strong government infrastructure. The goal is to create as many people as possible who are trained in cyber security skills in the country – where personnel are considered as one of the key gears and the main force in the development of society and the nation,” AVM Amorn Chomchoey, the NCSA deputy secretary-general said.
Ms. Supanee Anuwongworavet, Deputy Managing Director – Marketing & Operations, Microsoft (Thailand) Ltd., added: “Microsoft is committed to bringing digital skills to everyone – giving everyone access to practical digital skills and adding value to everyone’s work and life. Together we can adapt to new situations in the digital age. The training can also be used as a basis for cultivating talent and creating jobs for future careers. As we have highlighted, cybersecurity skills are in high demand in the job market. I sincerely hope that there will be participants in the project who continue to use their knowledge to create jobs for themselves and others. I would like to thank all agencies and partners for this cooperation. I believe that the potential of technology will accelerate the development of digital skills for language learning and cybersecurity in a concrete way. We will also fulfill our intentions with a digital-skills building path for Thai people and be ready to drive the digital economy of Thailand together forcefully.”