Jigmi Wangdi

Starting January 2024, about 230 staff of the National Land Commission Secretariat (NLC) will be trained on relevant technological needs of the agency through tailored training in partnership with the Gyalpoizhing College of Information technology (GCIT). 

To this effect, the National Land Commission Secretariat (NLCS) and Gyalpozhing College of Information Technology (GCIT) signed a Memorandum of Partnership (MoP) for collaboration on the digital upskilling initiative for NLCS staff yesterday. 

According to NLC, it is a momentous milestone resonating with the vision of His Majesty The King, to leverage technology for advancing skill development while aligning with the broader global trend of recognising the importance of digital skills in the modern workforce.

The strategic collaboration is designed to elevate the technological proficiency of NLCS personnel and enrich the educational experiences of GCIT staff and students, mutually benefitting both organisations.

It also paves the way for facilitating knowledge exchange between industry and educational institutions. 

GCIT will deliver personalised training and technology consultancy services that are aligned with NLCS’s 10-year plan, known as the ‘SaZhi 2034’. 

The collaborations will feature three key activities – needs  assessment encompassing the utilisation of focus groups, interviews and surveys to identify skill gaps and assess technology requirements.

The second activity focuses on co-creation sessions which involve discussions and brainstorming sessions between GCIT and NLCS to explore training and technology solutions, and finally to identify gap and analysis focused on streamlining existing processes and providing customised upskilling programs to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of NLCS staff in their current and future roles.

The Secretary of NLCS, Tshering Gyaltshen Penjor said that the collaboration goes beyond a mere formal agreement between a public entity and an academic institution. 

“It is a profound testament to the firm belief that cooperation is fundamental for societal development and collective progress,” he said. 

“There is a lot that we need to work on, especially where knowledge is imparted and where knowledge is used. That integration is critical so that’s the broader strategic objective behind this partnership that we’ve launched with GCIT and it’s just a start,” Tshering Gyaltshen said.

He added that the NLCS has the capabilities and expertise to not only deliver services but to be forward-thinking and to be ahead of the learning curve.

“We need to be able to take initiatives and anticipate issues and challenges. In that respect, one of the key things is to leverage technology, particularly digital technology and it is here that we feel that partnership with GCIT will enable us to build the expertise so that we can fulfil our responsibilities.” 

President of GCIT, Audrey Low, said that with the institute’s expertise in technology, GCIT is thrilled with the partnership to educate and enable the transformation and upskilling of NLCS staff.

“As part of this collaboration, it serves our tripartite dedication to the school, staff and students to have invaluable opportunities to work on industry projects and contribute to the national digitalisation at large from generative design to software development,” Audrey said.