NXPO took part in the session “Enabling an AI-Ready Workforce: Exchanging Policy Perspectives and Solutions”, a side event of the 3rd UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI, held on 24 June 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Co-hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), in collaboration with partner organizations, the event aimed to 1) Exchange updates and best practices in the application of artificial intelligence (AI), 2) Promote responsible practices in AI, and 3) Strengthen international cooperation on AI.
At the event, Assoc. Prof. Wongkot Wongsapai, Vice President of NXPO, delivered a presentation titled “AI Capacity-Building and Workforce Development Policy in Thailand”. He underscored the vital role of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) in building AI talent to meet national demands over the next five years (2025–2029), during which over 80,000 positions in the digital and AI sectors are projected to be required. The “MHESI for AI” policy is being implemented through three core strategies:
- AI Workforce Development — advancing AI human resource development and enhancing AI literacy within Thailand’s education system and labor market;
- AI for Lifelong Learning — promoting continuous learning through key initiatives such as the National Credit Bank, AI Sandbox programs, and the STEMPlus platform; and
- AI-Driven Innovation — supporting AI innovation development, standardization, testing, and adoption.
Assoc. Prof. Wongkot also reaffirmed NXPO’s role as a national policy agency in promoting and supporting responsible AI in collaboration with domestic stakeholders and international partners.
In the small group discussions, Dr. Pranpreya Sriwannawit Lundberg, Director of International Policy Partnership Division at NXPO, served as a table lead for the topic “Developing Enabling Policy Frameworks for AI Workforce Readiness”. The session brought together AI stakeholders from government agencies, higher education institutions, and the private sector to identify challenges, opportunities, and policy approaches for enhancing workforce readiness and productivity in alignment with national context. The discussions also addressed policy frameworks responsive to the rapid evolution of AI technology, emphasizing inclusive skills development and strategies to mitigate potential risks and inequalities associated with AI adoption.
The 3rd UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI was held from 24 to 27 June 2025 at Centara Grand at CentralWorld, Bangkok. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, the Ministry of Education, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the forum provided a global platform for leaders, policymakers, experts, and academics from 194 member states to exchange policy insights, visions, and critical data. Together, they worked to shape policy frameworks and guidelines for AI development based on transparency, fairness, and human rights, in accordance with the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, with a focus on sustainable and actionable outcomes.
Further details about the 3rd UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI are available at: https://www.unesco.org/en/forum-ethics-ai
