Cambodia and Australia Expand Education Partnership to Build Skilled Workforce

PHNOM PENH, May 28, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia and Australia are expanding education cooperation through new scholarships, university partnerships and skills development programs aimed at building a high‑skilled workforce to support Cambodia’s long‑term economic ambitions, officials said Wednesday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron met Australian Ambassador Derek Yip to discuss ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in human capital development.

Talks focused on strengthening pathways for Cambodian students, boosting participation in the Australia Awards Scholarship program, and promoting joint academic initiatives to meet rising demand for skilled professionals.

Ambassador Yip highlighted the expansion of double degree programs, “2+2” sandwich courses and student exchanges between universities in both countries. Chuon Naron thanked Australia for its longstanding support for education reforms and proposed broadening cooperation in teacher training, school leadership and exchange programs.

Both sides stressed that education cooperation is vital to strengthening Cambodia’s workforce competitiveness and supporting its ambition to become an upper‑middle‑income economy by 2030.

Australia remains one of Cambodia’s key education partners, backing reforms in higher education, technical and vocational training, STEM, economics and agriculture. Officials said the expanded partnership would help equip Cambodian youth with globally relevant skills, while reinforcing bilateral ties through knowledge‑sharing and institutional collaboration.