Dr. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President/ CEO of depa stated that "Coding Thailand is a project of great importance for MDES and depa to promote digital manpower by computer and digital technology enhancement, where systematic learning is considered a core competency in 21st century. depa launched the first phrase of www.CodingThailand.org platform on June 6, 2018 with mutual supports from curriculum developer like Code.org, a American non-governmental organization, and private sectors i.e. Microsoft, Google, Cisco and Aksorn Education to promote computer-enhanced skills. The project's target groups are the youth, who are considered the country's valuable resources and their major supporting agents including schools, teachers, professors and last but not the least, their parents. 4 months after the launch, depa focusing on raising public awareness and promoting computer learning through www.CodingThailand.org could provide the learning platform to over 600,000 youth. The organization also allowed the young generations in Central Thailand and upcountry to enjoy a free coding session in Digital Thailand Big Bang 2018. Over 2,600 Thai youth had an experience to become a coder and maker through several workshops and competitions with over 60,400 online viewers during the event. The number shows that our society are aware and become interested in computer learning. In the light of this, depa will go forward to promoting Coding Thailand to become a new platform for digital learning targeting to reach 6 million youth in 2019 and over 10 million within 3 years from now."
"Today's forum is the integration of strength and experiences shared by every participant to have Coding Thailand become a model for learning platform in Thailand to develop learning curve and digital skill enhancement in the future. One of depa's key mission is to promote digital learning skill for Thailand's digital manpower via CodingThailand.org through several educational activities targeting to reach 2,000 schools or 200,000 students, not to mention many more creative learning opportunities to come. The upcoming event is Coding Thailand Online Quiz & Challenge, a fun game of block code competition via online platform www.CodingThailand.org to win a scholarship and huge rewards of over THB 600,000. The event aims to have over 2,500 registered competitors nationwide."
Dr. Nuttapon confirmed that "Code.org, one of our major alliance, will take a leading role in curriculum development and universal learning platform to transfer their experience in providing students and scholars a free access to all curriculum. Over 25 million students and 800,000 teachers from over 180 countries around the world enjoyed the free session on Code.org platform while Microbit.org will be our strength in leveraging fundamental computer skills to creative, innovation and workshops among the young generations and schools to develop basic thinking, skills and systematic reasoning. Other organization to join force with depa's Coding Thailand.org platform include King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, who offers an integration of digital technology from platform to smart devices to develop new tools or innovations. In the meantime, Microsoft (Thailand) will join "Hour of Coding 2018" in December to encourage Thai youngster interested in computer to experience basic coding session. Last but not the least, Aksorn Education PLC, appointed by Code.org as the project's International Professional Development Partner, will support us in terms of core curriculum appropriate to Thai social context. The forum today will be set as a guideline in digital learning development and digital technology, which would absolutely become a skills of great importance for those in 21st century."