Students listening to Dith Tina (out of frame) speak at the opening of the 2022-2023 academic year at Royal University of Agriculture on March 13. AGRICULTURE MINISTRY
Agriculture minister Dith Tina has told the management of the newly opened Job Centre under the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) to select only students who will be capable of seizing employment opportunities with large companies, as this will build trust in the school’s reputation.
Tina presided over the inauguration of the job centre on March 13, which also marked the first day of the 2022-23 academic year.
“The job centre should recruit only the most qualified students,” he said.
The minister advised the faculty to develop their curricula and introduce programmes that link with large agricultural companies.
“This way, they will produce human resources which meet the needs of the labour market,” he said.
Tina also provided scholarships for 19 students.
He expressed his appreciation to the faculty, saying they have been contributing to the development of the agriculture sector, which has in turn benefited the national economy.
He urged the students to discover their individual passions and dreams and then to set clear goals for themselves.
“These goals should serve as a compass which guides you towards success. Make a plan and follow it. You must establish the habit of always being prepared to learn, both in and out of the classroom. This way, you will achieve your best results,” he said.
“In addition, you need to strengthen your understanding of languages and technology. This will give you your best chance at accessing the best job opportunities and even one day becoming investors in the agricultural sector,” he added.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said this is the second time that Tina has met with the leaders, lecturers and students of the university. This academic year, the university has 1,047 students, 421 of them women.
The ministry added that RUA has developed its curricula and introduced more subjects and new teaching methods. One example of this is the Fisheries and Agro-Industry College, which focuses on practical studies and direct student participation. This includes breeding, hatching and raising fish, as well as organising ponds and marketing.
The university’s new job centre will provide information about the appropriate industry and orient and act as a bridge between students who are about to graduate – or have just graduated – and the job market.
Yang Pak, the CEO of value chain management company AgriBee (Cambodia) Plc, said that every year, he witnesses further development of agri-business in the Kingdom.
“I would estimate that at least 10,000 people a year are required in the fields of agronomy, agricultural machinery, crop processing, livestock management and the like,” he said.
“It is important to understand that it is not only those who are studying in these fields that will benefit the industry. Agriculture also requires financial, information technology, technology, business and marketing skills.
Pak said he has observed that when his company announced recruitment drives, it appeared that recent graduates had a narrow view of the industry.
“Even though AgriBee is an agricultural service provider, it does not mean that we only need agricultural staff. We are always looking for graduates in many different fields who would like to work for us, including as interns,” he said.
