SIAM KUBOTA Corporation Company Limited, in association with the Department of Skill Development, Chia Tai Company Limited, and Course Square Company Limited, held a launch event for KUBOTA Agri e-Learning, an online course aimed at assisting workers affected by COVID-19 under the campaign KUBOTA on Your Side. Organized for the second year, the program brings together SIAM KUBOTA’s expertise in farming machinery and innovations, the support of the Department of Skill Development, and Chia Tai’s know how on fruit and vegetable cultivation, all delivered through an e-learning course on a platform developed by Course Square. SIAM KUBOTA is also offering farm vehicle driver training programs. All courses are scheduled to begin at March 20, to create opportunities and enhance the capability of farmers in a sustainable way.
In her remark on the project, Ms. Waraporn Osathapan, Senior Executive Vice President, SIAM KUBOTA Corporation Company Limited, said that the new wave of COVID-19 has caused an economy experiencing a slowdown and triggered lay-offs in the labor industry. In the previous year, SIAM KUBOTA held its first agricultural skill development program in collaboration with its authorized dealers and the Department of Skill Development to assist those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which enjoyed great reception. Of 365 attendees across 20 batches, about 80% reported that they were able to apply the training to real life and earn a livelihood professionally as employees or farmers. The company believes it is a good opportunity to bring back this project to help those who affected by the pandemic and stimulate the economy, especially in the agricultural sector as farming is an interesting professional option, has an important role, and presents a solution to workers who have returned to their hometowns. This is not to mention that the market for Agricultural production, food, and processed products has continued to see a steady growth. As such, the sharing of accurate and practical knowledge to these people will enable them to generate income for their families and expand the practice to their communities in a sustainable way.
This year, SIAM KUBOTA Corporation Company Limited has joined forces with the Department of Skill Development and Chia Tai Company Limited, with which SIAM KUBOTA entered into a memorandum of understanding for agricultural cooperation in 2020, to offer opportunities and enhance agricultural capabilities for interested individuals. Course Square Company Limited, the developer of Thailand’s largest online learning platform, has also stepped into the project as a partner in the delivery of this new online learning experience.
Adapted for online instruction in compliance with the government’s directive to avoid gathering during the COVID-19 pandemic, KUBOTA Agri e-Learning enables participants to learn anywhere and anytime via smartphones and computers. It consists of two farm vehicle driver training programs. The introductory driver training program (an online theory course), teaching participants how to drive tractors, combine harvesters, and excavators. Once they complete the introductory program, learners can move on to the professional driver training program (practice sessions) to develop their skills at a professional level and obtain licenses from organization certified by the Department of Skill Development, which will enable them to work professionally in the agricultural labor market. Those interested can register to apply to the training programs at participating SIAM KUBOTA dealerships.
KUBOTA Agri e-Learning also offers a beginning farmer program (an online theory course) developed in collaboration with Chia Tai, an expert on how to grow fruits and vegetables that are of high quality and command good prices. The e-learning platform also offers a program focusing on KUBOTA (Agri) Solutions (KAS), SIAM KUBOTA’s signature integrated agricultural management system, covering trends in the agricultural sector, factors affecting farming, and how to create added value. SIAM KUBOTA expects to at least 3,000 registrants for this year’s project. The company not only strives to foster confidence in its products and services among customers but also genuinely seeks to help society at large by elevating the quality of life for farmers and enabling people to earn more income and improve their standard of living.
Mr. Tawat Benchatikul, Director-General of the Department of Skill Development, stated that under the leadership of General Prayut Chan-ocha, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and the Ministry of Labor, led by Minister of Labor Mr. Suchat Chomklin and Deputy Minister of Labor Narumon Pinyosinwat, the policy is to focus on fostering collaboration between the government, the private sector, and educational institutions to develop skilled labor to feed the labor market. This collaboration is another activity that not only helps produce skilled workers but also offers assistance to those affected by COVID-19, in line with the policy of the government and the Ministry of Labor. The initiative also drives and promotes training programs that integrate agricultural skills to support the labor market and help workers who have lost their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his remark on this collaboration, Mr. Suparut Taerungruang Vice President, Chia Tai Company Limited, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted impact across all sectors. Chia Tai recognizes the importance of collaborating with its business partners to help those affected in society. In the past year, Chia Tai joined hands with SIAM KUBOTA to enhance farming knowledge and innovation with stability in order to develop Thailand’s agricultural capabilities and bring advantages to farmers and the agricultural sector through integrated farming innovation and technology. This year, we are expanding our initiative by developing KUBOTA Agri e-Learning.”
“As Thailand’s leading agricultural innovation business with expertise on farming technology and cultivation efficiency, Chia Tai can share its knowledge to those affected, so that they can grow crops in their own area, regardless of whether it is a small or large plot of land, to reduce food expenses, generate additional income, and even earn a stable long-term livelihood through farming. This collaboration corresponds with Chia Tai’s vision to elevate the quality of life in a sustainable way through the delivery of innovative high-quality agricultural products and services. We hope that the farming know-how and techniques disseminated through this learning platform will enable those affected to overcome this crisis alongside us.”
Nuttapon Watcharasirisuk, Chief Executive Officer, Course Square Company Limited, stated that as an online learning solutions provider, Course Square has developed a platform that caters to learning needs amid the COVID-19 pandemic through which farmers can access different programs through various devices, such as smartphones and computers, anywhere and anytime, thus helping them save time and expenses. In addition, farmers can take online tests at the end of each program to gauge their understanding – a new learning experience for Thai farmers.
Those interested can register at www.coursesquare.co/kubota_csr. After registration, users can choose programs they wish to enroll in and complete an online test at the end of the lesson. Those scoring over 80% will receive a certificate, which they can conveniently print out via the online system by themselves.
Remarks:
1. Farm Vehicle Driver Programs
2. Beginning Farmer Program (online theory program): Registration begins April 1, 2021 and ends on April 30, 2021. The program ends on April 30, 2021.
