The US government is providing 93 scholarships to impoverished students at three universities in Cambodia in digital and information technology related majors this year.

The scholarship is a part of the Digital Workforce Development Project (DWD) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), according to USAID’s scholarship announcement on February 23.

The scholarships are being given to students at the National University of Battambang (NUBB), Svay Rieng University (SRU) and the National University of Management (NUM).

They are available to both future and current students at the three universities and cover tuition fees, living stipends, learning materials, health insurance, dormitory and laptop costs.

DWD is a five-year project implemented in partnership with the University of California, Berkeley to improve educational outcomes for Cambodia’s youth and professionals in an increasingly digital global economy, the statement said.

One of the project goals is to create scholarships for diverse and talented students to increase access to quality digital related certifications, Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree programmes in alignment with the workforce needs of private sector partners.

It said 18 out of the 93 scholarships have been reserved for underprivileged females from rural areas.

“The USAID scholarships will grant opportunities to those who cannot afford access to a university education, prioritizing female students and individuals with disabilities.

“USAID will support scholarship recipients throughout their studies using the DWD ecosystem of private sector companies and university networks, as well as activities such as soft-skill training, networking events, internships, and jobs,” it added