Labour minister Ith Samheng shakes hands with KOICA country director Rho Hyun-ju at the signing ceremony of the project agreement on July 19. MLVT
In a bold stride towards boosting the information and communication technology (ICT) skills of the Kingdom’s young population, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have put pen to paper on a new agreement.
This ambitious project, “Building Capacity and Establishing Enabling Environment in ICT Majors of Technical and Vocational Education and Training [TVET] in Cambodia”, marks an exciting leap towards professional development in the field of ICT in the country.
The ceremony took place on July 19, where minister Ith Samheng and KOICA country director Rho Hyun-ju signed the agreement.
In an effort to boost the digital skills of Cambodia’s youth, KOICA and the ministry are strengthening their partnership to bring a piece of Korea’s thriving technology sector to the Cambodian people.
Samheng extended his gratitude to KOICA for their dedication to the TVET training initiative.
The venture focuses on the capacity building of civil servants, technical teachers and students, providing Korean volunteers, and the creation of infrastructure and training materials.
He spoke highly of KOICA’s participation in TVET development, reflecting on the technological advancements of South Korea.
“I hope that South Korea, through KOICA, will further expand cooperation in technical and vocational education sector in Cambodia to develop human resource in order to better meet the needs of the labour market,” Samheng said.
He further emphasised the project’s significant contribution to the development of the TVET sector in Cambodia. Notably, it is aimed at supporting vocational training for 1.5 million underprivileged youths nationwide, a programme the Cambodian government is set to launch by the end of this year.
Rho responded with equal appreciation, thanking the ministry for its supportive stance towards KOICA’s mission over the past two decades.
He commented on the particular focus on human resource development in Cambodia, affirming KOICA’s commitment to continue the partnership for the advancement of the country’s human resources.
“The [South Korean] government regards Cambodia as our second priority in the region for TVET skills development. We’re also committed to using our expertise in skills training to help educate Cambodians, enhancing individual livelihoods and stimulating national economic growth,” Rho stated.
The project will span five years, from 2023 to 2027, aiming to improve TVET education quality through an upgraded ICT curriculum, a better training environment, and the strengthening and capacity building for trainers in the ICT sector.
In a related development, the ministry’s Department of TVET Management has recently entered into a memorandum of understanding [MoU] with the Modern Five Training Centre. The focus of this agreement is to unite their efforts in enhancing the quality of TVET education via comprehensive human resource training.
