To accelerate the transition to digital government, Thailand is providing training for government personnel as a component of the Digital Local project. The training centred on the crucial aspects of personal data management that are relevant to government agencies, including the preparation of guidelines for the actions of the personal data controller, the Personal Data Protection Policy (Privacy Policy), Privacy Notice Consent Form and other documents necessary for the ensuring personal data protection.
The DGA204 course on the Personal Data Protection Act for Government Officers is part of a larger Central Programme aimed at developing digital skills for civil servants and government personnel. The training is being carried out as a component of the Digital Government Personnel Development Institute (TDGA Institute), managed by the Digital Government Development Agency (DGA).
This initiative is a collaboration between various educational institutions across the country, working together to enhance the digital skills of government personnel. Irada Luangwilai, the Deputy Director of the DGA as well as the Acting Director of the TDGA Institute, welcomed 29 attendees from 15 different towns.
Assistant Professor Dr Nat Othanasup, Executive Director and Head of the Computer Engineering Faculty of Computer Engineering Southeast Asia University emphasised the importance of education and comprehension of the Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2019. He discussed some case studies of personal data breaches and how to fix them effectively.
Participants in the course practised preparing for compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) by creating a platform to present accurate data used within their organisation. The aim of the course was to cover various topics, including identifying and distinguishing personal data, so that participants could apply the knowledge and skills they gained to encourage government agencies to transition to digital government.
In another digital upskilling initiative, the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) organised a training programme to enhance senior management’s and Supervisory Board’s knowledge and skills. The Cullinan: The Making of the Digital Board, Class 2, is part of depa’s efforts to upgrade the digital skills of civil servants and government personnel across the country through its cooperation network of educational institutions. The programme aims to prepare these personnel for the digital era and enhance the competitiveness of businesses in Thailand.
Teeranun Srihong, Chairman of the Board of Directors of depa, stressed the importance of organisations adapting to technological changes and finding new ways to manage themselves. He pointed out that building agility within an organisation is crucial for creating change and innovation. To stimulate innovation, he noted that organisations need to raise awareness quickly, be open to ideas that allow the new generation to participate in decision-making, and need a well-managed, fast execution process.
Thailand is eager to establish itself as a regional hub with an effective digital government in place as well as a strong digital economy. As reported by OpenGov Asia, Thailand is striving to gather accurate and dependable data that will help enhance its digital economy. The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) is looking to develop a comprehensive survey that will provide insights into Thailand’s Software, Hardware, Smart Devices, Digital Services and Big Data industries for the next three years.
To gain advice and supporting information from different sources, depa recently held a brainstorming meeting with representatives from various agencies and associations. Dr Kasitithorn Phuparadai, the Deputy Director of depa, chaired the forum to discuss gathering opinions and demand for using survey data to improve and develop survey processes and methods.
