Bangkok: The government is expediting the training of civil servants to embrace the AI era, focusing on seven digital skills to enhance modern government services and meet public needs.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the government is advancing the civil service system to be prepared for the digital and AI era. This initiative aligns with the policy of Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilapraphan, assigned by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, to oversee the development of the civil service system and public sector personnel. The objective is to create a streamlined, modern public sector that leverages technology to improve work efficiency.
The government emphasizes adopting digital technology and AI to enhance government services, reduce redundant processes, minimize paperwork, and make services more accessible, faster, and transparent for citizens. The development of government personnel is pivotal, ensuring that civil servants are technologically proficient, understand data, digital laws, cybersecurity, and effectively apply technology in their work.
Ms. Ratchada highlighted that the Deputy Prime Minister has outlined a plan for the Thai civil service to adapt by incorporating AI and digital technology into routine tasks, document verification, data linkage, and some control functions. This adaptation will allow civil servants to focus more on policy work, problem analysis, and designing services that better meet public needs.
The spokesperson further explained that the Civil Service Commission (CSC) recently approved the initiative to develop digital skills for civil servants and public sector personnel, as per the Public Sector Personnel Development Guidelines 2023-2027. This framework includes seven key skill areas: Digital Literacy, Digital Governance, Digital Leadership, Digital Technology, Digital Services, Data Utilization and Sharing, and Cyber Security.
The CSC plans to develop skills aligning with the roles of various groups within the civil service, including operational staff, supervisors, and managers. The initiative will ensure development programs are relevant and practically applicable to the mission, differentiating between those directly involved in technology and those using technology in general work.
This initiative will be implemented in collaboration with three main agencies: the Professional Qualification Institute, overseeing the digital skills and competency assessment system; the Digital Government Development Agency (DGA), responsible for onsite and online skills development courses; and the Office of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission, certifying the courses to ensure they align with the CSC's skills framework.
The government's goal is to enable civil servants to apply digital skills in their work and provide services to the public efficiently by 2027, including offering services through e-Services, e-Forms, e-Payment, e-Documents, and designing new services to improve convenience and service quality in the digital age.