Chhorn Norn The Phnom Penh Post Thu, May 28, 2026

Australian ambassador Derek Yip met with education minister Hang Chuon Naron to discuss improved education cooperation, on May 27. Education ministry

Australia and Cambodia have announced a new focus on promoting educational pathways to make Cambodia’s education system more resilient and competitive in regional and international labour markets.

Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron met with Derek Yip, Australian ambassador, at the education ministry headquarters on May 27 to discuss recent progress in their respective education sectors.

The talks focused on reviewing partnership strategies and promoting closer cooperation, in line with phase one of the government Pentagonal Strategy.

Yip expressed interest in learning more about the education ministry’s priority missions for the coming years, in order to further strengthen and expand bilateral educational cooperation.

He also highlighted new directions for cooperation aimed at promoting educational pathways, strengthening links between universities in both countries and encouraging Cambodian students to participate in the Australia Awards Scholarships programme, noting that this would help meet demand for highly skilled human resources and support the Kingdom’s goal of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2030.

The ambassador expressed pride in the growing cooperation between Australian and Cambodian universities, explaining that it has led to the establishment of several joint academic programmes, including double degree programmes and “2+2” sandwich programmes that allow students to study two years in Cambodia and two years in Australia, along with a range of academic exchange initiatives.

The education minister extended his gratitude to the Australian government, which has made major contributions to the development of Cambodia’s education sector, particularly through scholarships, academic exchanges, dual degree programmes and sandwich programmes.

“These programmes provide extensive opportunities for Cambodian students to continue strengthening their capabilities and skills,” he said.

He also highlighted initiatives to expand cooperation in teacher training, school leadership and management, as well as exchange programmes.

The education minister noted that several follow-up action plans had been proposed to further improve educational collaboration.

“Our cooperation is not limited to financial assistance. It also promotes knowledge transfer and sustainable system-building to ensure that Cambodia’s education system is resilient and capable of competing in regional and international labour markets,” he said.

The Australian has a broad, long-standing partnership with the education ministry. It ranges from basic education to high-level human resource development, through technical and vocational education and training.

The cooperation focuses on skills that respond to Cambodia’s national development needs, including education policy, STEM education, economics and agriculture.

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