AI for Social Impact: Microsoft, ESCAP, CCDKM, STOU & depa Advance AI Skills Training to Empower Civil Society and Support Sustainable Digital Growth

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Microsoft Thailand, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Collaborative Center for Digital Development Knowledge Management (CCDKM) at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), and the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), organized the “AI for Social Impact” training program. This initiative aims to enhance digital skills and knowledge in Generative AI for personnel and leaders of civil society organizations, enabling them to leverage technology for positive change and improve work efficiency in the AI-Driven era. This aligns with the vision of the Microsoft Elevate project, which seeks to disseminate knowledge and promote effective AI access across all sectors to uplift quality of life, reduce inequality, and bridge the digital skills gap in Thai society.

Supahrat Juramongkol, AI National Skills Director for Microsoft Thailand, stated, “Microsoft is pleased to be a pivotal force in teaching appropriate and responsible AI skills to personnel and civil society leaders. This empowers them to build new capacities and capabilities to better serve their communities, leading to enhanced management efficiency, reduced redundancy, and elevated quality in communication, content creation, and data analysis. We believe that those who complete this training will be able to practically apply this knowledge in various operations, gaining more time to serve their communities by focusing on delivering positive impact and fulfilling their organizational missions more effectively.”

The ‘AI for Social Impact’ training program is being conducted continuously, both on-site and online, from November 2025 to March 2026. This initiative is a collaborative effort with multiple esteemed partners: Microsoft Thailand, which developed the ‘AI for Social Impact’ curriculum and provides AI tools like Microsoft Copilot to accelerate efficiency in the social sector; ESCAP, contributing regional perspectives and elevating digital capacity-building standards across Asia-Pacific; CCDKM, acting as a crucial bridge for knowledge transfer to the social sector; Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), serving as our academic foundation and learning hub; and depa, which supports national digital skill enhancement while driving public digital policies. The training curriculum encompasses both the foundational principles of Generative AI and hands-on practice, enabling participants to master systematic prompt engineering techniques and understand how to leverage Microsoft Copilot to improve data handling, content creation, and presentations. Additionally, workshops will cover social media content production, including writing posts, video scripting, campaign design, and utilizing AI for organizing and analyzing field data. Interested individuals can also pursue self-paced learning via Courses | smartmooc and receive a certificate upon completion.

Ruhimat Soerakoesoemah, Head of Office Subregional Office for South-East Asia, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), stated, “The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is committed to fostering inclusive digital transformation and elevating digital capacity standards across our region. We are proud to support the ‘AI for Social Impact’ initiative, which perfectly embodies our vision for harnessing artificial intelligence as a powerful enabler for people and planet. By empowering social sector professionals with practical AI skills, we are directly accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals – particularly in areas of quality education, innovation, and reduced inequalities – ensuring technology responsibly serves all communities and drives sustainable, inclusive growth across Southeast Asia and beyond.”

The event was also honored by the presence of Associate Professor Dr. Taweewat Wattanakuljaroen, President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, who emphasized the importance of using AI to develop the potential of individuals, organizations, Thai communities, and civil society, to enable Thailand to be as strong as advanced nations. Meanwhile, Dr. Sithon Kulradathon, Acting Vice President, Digital Intelligence Policy and Strategy Department of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) reiterated the necessity of the mission to drive the economy and society through developing human resources to be technologically literate, which is no less important than developing infrastructure and other economic promotion mechanisms.

Interested individuals are able to access over 200+ Thai-language AI courses online via the main Microsoft AI Skills Navigator website. News and activities of the AI for Social Impact project can be followed on the AI for Social Impact Facebook page.