More than 2,700 rally behind UOB Heartbeat Run to advance digital learning for underserved youths

Community fundraising to support UOB My Digital Space, which has reached more than 5,500 students across 10 remote schools in Thailand

More than 2,700 customers, business partners, employees and their families came together for the 2026 UOB Heartbeat Run to help expand digital learning opportunities and educational access for children and youth in underserved communities across Thailand. 

Funds raised through this year’s campaign will support UOB My Digital Space, UOB’s  flagship digital education programme developed with Thailand Collaboration for Education (TCFE). The programme has reached more than 5,500 students across 10 remote schools in Thailand, improving access to technology and digital learning while helping teachers strengthen classroom learning.

Over the last three years, participating schools have recorded improvements in students’ learning outcomes across mathematics, science and English. Schools that started from lower learning baselines have shown particularly strong progress in areas including comprehension, confidence and classroom participation.

The flagship UOB Heartbeat Run event was held at Suphachalasai Stadium, complemented by community-based running activities organised by UOB employees across the Bank’s branch network nationwide. This enabled broader participation beyond Bangkok and reinforced the Bank’s commitment to community engagement across Thailand.

Mr Richard Maloney, President and CEO of UOB Thailand, said, “Education has the power to change the trajectory of a young person’s life, but access to opportunity remains uneven. The UOB Heartbeat Run gives our colleagues, customers and partners a practical way to contribute to the UOB My Digital Space programme and make a meaningful difference. By turning collective support into tangible action, we can help expand access to learning, technology and skills for young people to thrive regardless of where they live.”

Turning community participation into learning opportunities
While the run event has concluded, fundraising for the 2026 UOB Heartbeat campaign remains open. Contributions will support the next phase of UOB My Digital Space, enabling the programme to extend digital learning opportunities to more students and communities.

Ms Kanokwan Chowsri, Director of Thailand Collaboration for Education, Yuvabadhana Foundation, said: “Access to technology matters, but its real value comes when it improves how children learn. Through UOB My Digital Space, schools gain access not only to digital tools but also to learning opportunities that can strengthen students’ knowledge, confidence and participation. Support from the UOB Heartbeat Run will help us bring these opportunities to more young people.”

UOB Thailand has also partnered with Thai illustrator Painterbell on the exclusive Infinite Futures collection featuring the characters John and Lulu. The collection was created for this year’s fundraising campaign, with members of the public able to support the initiative and receive selected memorabilia through their donations at https://www.tcfe.or.th/uob-limitededucationxartist-2026-public 

The total amount raised through the 2026 UOB Heartbeat campaign and the number of additional students to be supported through UOB My Digital Space will be announced following the close of this year’s fundraising campaign.

The UOB Heartbeat Run is part of UOB’s regional Heartbeat programme, which brings together employees, customers and partners to contribute to communities across the markets where the Bank operates in.