SIMANGGANG: A three-day IT empowerment workshop has equipped 25 community leaders in Sri Aman with essential digital skills, enhancing governance and administrative efficiency.
The IT Skills Enhancement Workshop for Community Leaders, held from Mar 24 to 26 at the Sarawak Skills Centre, was organised by Sarawak Skills Sri Aman in collaboration with the Sri Aman Service Centre.
Participants received hands-on training in Microsoft Word, Excel, artificial intelligence (AI) tools, and Google Workspace applications to improve administrative tasks.
Member of Parliament for Sri Aman Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodi, in her speech for the closing ceremony on Mar 26, highlighted the importance of IT literacy for community leaders, particularly in document preparation, official correspondence, and meeting management.
“Through this workshop, participants were introduced to essential software, helping them adapt to modern technological needs,” she said.
“No matter our age, learning is a continuous journey. We gain knowledge daily through experience, observation, and self-discovery,” she added, emphasising on lifelong learning.
Meanwhile, Dexter Jagit, acting centre manager for Sarawak Skills Sri Aman, underscored the role of digital skills in community leadership.
“This workshop is a proactive step towards enhancing competence and enabling village heads to apply information technology in community development,” she said.
A key component of the training was artificial intelligence (AI), where participants explored ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot to understand how these innovations can support decision-making.
However, Dexter advised caution, stressing that AI-generated insights should be applied thoughtfully within specific contexts.
Another major focus was Google Workspace, where participants learned to create Google Forms for surveys and use Google Calendar for scheduling and engagement.
“While many had used these tools before, few had created their own Google Forms or effectively utilised Google Calendar,” Dexter added.
