Kenan Foundation Asia (Kenan), in collaboration with various public and private sector partners, organized a conference “Building AI and Green Skills for a Sustainable Workforce”. Bringing together private and public stakeholders, the conference highlighted the policy gaps and practical challenges to integrate AI and Green skills within education, training and workforce development programs to drive the sustainable growth of Thailand’s modern businesses and industries.
As per Thailand’s Vision 2030 “Ignite Thailand”, the country aims to become a leader in the region across several industries, including digital economy, future mobility, and agriculture. To achieve Vision 2030 Thailand plans to leverage its natural resources, tourist attractions, climate, year-round warm climate, and, most importantly, the potential of the Thai people. Thai businesses and industries are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations, while green business practices - those that maximize resource efficiency and minimize environmental impact - are gaining traction globally. Having a workforce equipped with the right skills is crucial to attract investment and foster sustainable growth.
As a result, graduates possessing green skills and AI proficiency are uniquely positioned to drive innovation, contribute to a more sustainable future, and secure meaningful employment. These skills are vital not only for employment but also for fostering entrepreneurial endeavors and meaningful community engagement, enabling youth to transition into the labor market effectively.
Kenan, therefore, joined forces with government agencies, private sector organizations, educational institutions, and scholars from both local and international backgrounds to host the conference titled “Building AI and Green Skills for a Sustainable Workforce” The event was graced by H.E. Mr. Robert F. Godec, Ambassador of the United States of America to Thailand, who delivered the opening remarks on “Opportunities to Accelerate Workforce Development through Public-Private Collaboration.” Prof. Sirirurg Songsivilai, PhD, MD. Chairman of Thailand Science Research and Innovation, who gave a keynote address on “Empowering Tomorrow: Equipping the STEM Workforce with Essential AI and Green Competencies” Other key topics included showcasing local and global best practices in integrating AI and green skills into the education system, promoting collaboration between governments, businesses, and civil society to leverage resources and expertise, fostering innovative solutions and sustainable initiatives that enhance youth employability and economic growth.
Khunying Jada Wattanasiritham, Chairperson of Kenan Foundation Asia, said, “This conference is an important platform for fostering collaboration and integration among stakeholders from various sectors to innovate and build a sustainable future. It offers perspectives from both international and local experts and aims to drive positive change and success for Thai youth by promoting the development of green, digital, and STEM skills. Our goal is to address skills gaps and meet the needs of youth in preparation for the rapidly changing demands of the future workforce. Kenan has expanded its training programs to cover AI and Green Skills to prepare the workforce for modern industry and society.”
Ms. Allison Morris, Director of Partnerships, Kenan Foundation Asia introduced Kenan’s new initiative “The Mekong Green Skills Accelerator” aiming to equip youth across the region with relevant skills to excel in green sectors, such as solar, electric vehicles, sustainable agriculture and others. As Mekong countries accelerate their transition towards clean energy and green economies, the rapid growth of green industry has resulted in increasing demand for a workforce with green skills. The Mekong Green Skills Accelerator addresses this gap by empowering 150,000 students by 2030 to become leaders in green industries – providing them with technical skills and soft skills to contribute to the green economic transition through industry and circular entrepreneurship. Together with technical and funding partners, including Rochester Institute of Technology, Schneider Foundation, and others, the initiative calls for companies, international partners, and philanthropists to contribute both technical and financial support to reach the ambitious goal of skilling 150,000 youth to be leaders in the green economy.
Mr. Richard Bernhard, Executive Director, Kenan Foundation Asia, stated, “For over 28 years, Kenan has been empowering individuals through capacity-building, training more than 19,000 educators, and 3 million students. The success of Kenan’s training programs is rooted in leveraging local expertise combined with strong connections to international curricula and experts. This unique blend of local insights and international quality standards allows us to create tailored programs that meet with local and national needs without compromising rigor. This conference was made possible by the collaboration of government, businesses, academia, and civil society. We are grateful to all the speakers, industry leaders, and experts who shared their knowledge and innovative ideas to help prepare Thai youth. We also extend our thanks to our sponsors: Caterpillar Foundation, JPMorganChase, Boeing, Krungthai Bank, Bangkok Bank, The Government Savings Bank, and B.Grimm Power. Kenan hopes that this conference will help create a framework for developing skills that can address the diverse challenges related to youth employment and economic development, ultimately leading to inclusive economic growth that benefits all segments of society.”
