Education minister Hang Chuon Naron (in blue suit) and European commissioner Jutta Urpilainen at the launch of the Global Gateway Flagship project ‘Education for green and digital jobs’ in Phnom Penh on March 12. EU Cambodia
Team Europe and the education ministry have launched the EU’s Global Gateway Flagship project “Education for green and digital jobs”, aimed at attracting more educational investment in the youth of Cambodia.
Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, and Hang Chuon Naron, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport – along with representatives from the EU member states – kicked off the project on March 12, during Urpilainen’s visit to Cambodia.
Supported by the EU, the project will train young Cambodians, especially middle- and high-level technicians, in much-needed skills to fulfil the Kingdom’s industrial policy objectives.
Investments will be centred around resilient infrastructure, research and knowledge, people-to-people exchanges with Europe, rights-based policy reforms and private sector engagement, said a March 12 joint press release.
As part of the initiative, university students will be given scholarships to study STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – in Cambodia via government-led sustainable funding.
“Cambodia has come a long way in its development path, lifting millions of people out of poverty over the past two decades. With its upcoming graduation from least developed country [LDC] status, Cambodia has now come to a critical juncture,” said the release.
Urpilainen noted the EU’s commitment to its partnership with Cambodia as it transitions into an upper-middle-income country.
“Education is a key investment into a brighter future. The goal of this programme is to ensure that Cambodian youth remain curious, open-minded, resilient and passionate for new discoveries. I am convinced that this is the best path to ensure the sustainable development of the country,” said Urpilainen, who is a former teacher and youth activist.
Chuon Naron echoed the remarks.
“I am confident that these investments in education, skills and research will also attract European companies, who will offer high-quality jobs to Cambodian citizens for the green and digital development of the country,” he was quoted as saying in the release.
Urpilainen, Chuon Naron, and representatives of the Czech Republic, France and Hungary also visited Chumpou Voan General and Technical High School, located on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, where they interacted with students and teachers and discussed the importance of studying STEM subjects, and of mixing theoretical education with practical, work-based learning.
According to the release, Cambodia is Urpilainen’s first destination of her official tour of Southeast Asia.
Her interaction with the government as well as youth and civil society organisations, it said, offers chances to enhance cooperation and explore new initiatives to promote the Kingdom’s development in partnership with the EU.
