CDG launches campaign ‘Code Their Dreams’

With a plan to run this CSR campaign long-term, the company expects the initiative to help spawn competent coding professionals, in response to the global digital trend and to support Thailand in its transition to a digital economy.
CEO Nart Liuchareon of CDG Group, said coding could no longer be labeled irrelevant. “With observant eyes, we find ourselves enclosed by this coding or programming. Moreover, it will be influential to the world’s economic development,” he said.
“People who have these skills are well-equipped to start up a new business with an unprecedented level of competitiveness. Doing business in a digital economy environment will be borderless, with old restrictions of physical location removed. At present, the world’s superpowers are working actively to promote coding education for their young population. They foresee codes as ‘world language of the future’.
Those who are literate in coding will be those who gain wider opportunities in the future”, said Nart.
CDG aspires to promote coding education among Thai children and youths.
“Starting at elementary school level, we’ve created fun and easy-to-understand activities to attract their attention and familiarise them with coding. We wish to help build a larger base of competent coding specialists in the future. Based on an estimate, the European Union could face a shortage of up to 900,000 skilled ICT workers by year 2020. The figures in the US will likely be higher.
“At the same time, the shortage of computer scientists may be as high as one million. In Thailand, coding education is still limited to higher education classes, resulting in an inability to meet demand for coding specialists, just like the tendency that might occur in EU and The US,” he added.
‘CDG: Code Their Dreams’ encompasses both online and offline activities. On Facebook, “Code Their Dreams” page is an online community that inspires children and youths to learn coding. It serves as a source of knowledge, useful advice and a communication channel for those interested in coding. On-ground activation will promote coding education at schools in Bangkok through a workshop with
experts from CDG. Kicking off with the workshop for Grade 4 and Grade 5 children of Wat Klong
Mai School, it features three activities:
1)   ‘Scratch’ is a computer game designed to give an overview of how computers operate in
general, for example, using common commands such as clicking and dragging to the
left, to the right or forward. 2) ‘Tower of Glasses’ lets children arrange glasses into
towers of various shapes. This activity helps them make sense of coding as a means
of communication between human beings and computers. They are also challenged
by problems and learn teamwork as they try to solve the problems. 3) ‘Drawing by
Instructions’ tells them to draw an image, strictly following instructions without askฌ
ing any questions. This activity simulates a computerised task, in which a computer
will perform well and deliver an expected output only when the instructions are
clearly given with well-written coding. Students will gain a better understanding of
computer language and task processing. Overall, the workshop introduces them to
coding in an enjoyable way, giving them an impression that coding is not difficult.