Cambodia Investment Review
An Australian education and training delegation visited Phnom Penh this week as part of the Australian Future Skills Mission to Thailand and Cambodia, held from March 12-14. The mission aimed to strengthen transnational education and workforce development cooperation between Australia and Cambodia, highlighting opportunities for collaboration in higher education and vocational training.
Expanding Australia-Cambodia Education Partnerships
Led by Ms. Emma McDonald, Australian Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to Vietnam and Cambodia, the delegation featured leaders, professors, and industry experts from 19 Australian higher education and vocational institutions, alongside state representatives from Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia.
The visit aligned with Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, which identifies education and skills development as a key sector for economic growth. The mission explored partnerships across government, academia, and industry to support Cambodia’s education and workforce needs.
Participating institutions included:
- Alana Kaye College, Australian Pacific College and English Unlimited, Charles Sturt University, Chisholm Institute, Curtin University, Deakin University, HEX, Macquarie University, Polytechnic, RMIT University, Scape, University of Queensland, University of Tasmania, University of Adelaide, University of New South Wales, University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney, University of Wollongong College, Scape Australia, and West Australian Institute of Further Studies.
Strengthening Bilateral Education and Training Collaboration
Australian Ambassador to Cambodia, H.E. Derek Yip, emphasized the strong potential for Australia and Cambodia to collaborate on world-class education and skills training.
“Australia is home to world-leading education and skills development institutions ready to expand their engagement in Southeast Asia. With Cambodia’s young population and the government’s commitment to investing in human capital, there is tremendous scope to boost bilateral education collaboration.”
The delegation participated in the inaugural ‘Australia Cambodia Education Forum: Exploring Partnership Opportunities’, organized by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) and the Australian Embassy, in collaboration with Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training. Discussions focused on Cambodia’s latest transnational education policies and practices, as well as areas for enhanced cooperation.
Key Announcements and Partnerships
During the mission, several new initiatives were launched to strengthen Australia-Cambodia education ties:
- The introduction of an Australian senior secondary qualification in Cambodia, offered for the first time by the SACE Board through the Australian Cambodia Education Academy.
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Macquarie University and the Institute of Technology of Cambodia, establishing a Bachelor in IT and Business credit transfer and articulation agreement.
- National English Language Teaching Accreditation Scheme (NEAS) endorsement for CamEd Institute, recognizing its standards in English language education.
The Australian Future Skills Mission marks a significant step in deepening educational ties between Australia and Cambodia, reinforcing both nations’ commitment to equipping students and professionals with the skills necessary for future economic growth.
