The Cambodian students who were awarded with scholarships to study in Indonesia. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Nineteen Cambodian students were honoured with prestigious scholarships from Indonesia in a ceremony held at the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh on July 26.
The recipients, awarded with Developing Countries Partnership (KNB), Darmasiswa, and Padang State University (UNP) scholarships, will pursue non-degree and bachelor to doctoral degrees in various disciplines a several renowned Indonesian universities.
“Education cooperation is one of the focuses of bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Cambodia,” said Lauti Nia Astri, chargé d’affaires ad interim of the embassy.
She highlighted its role in creating deeper, broader, and long-term cooperation in various fields, noting that educational collaboration plays a vital role in promoting Indonesian knowledge and culture in Cambodia, while enhancing teaching and learning capacities as part of public diplomacy, soft power diplomacy, and bolstering Indonesia’s image within the Kingdom.
“Equally important is the improvement of Cambodia’s human resources, which are provided through scholarships and, in turn, act as a return on investment for Indonesia,” Nia Astri said.
She wished all the students a safe journey and encouraged them to explore Indonesia while enjoying their learning experience.
The Indonesian Embassy used the occasion to present a succinct overview of Indonesia and its longstanding bilateral cooperation with Cambodia, which dates back to 1959.
The history of diplomatic relations included significant milestones, such as King Norodom Sihanouk leading the Cambodian delegation at the Asia-Africa Summit in 1955,
The embassy highlighted Indonesia’s crucial role in peace efforts through the Jakarta Informal Meeting (JIM) I and II in Cambodia, along with the positive post-Covid-19 trend in economic relations between the two countries.
The scholarship recipients enthusiastically learned about Indonesia’s famous tourist destinations like Borobudur and Bali, and the availability of well-known Indonesian products in Cambodia, which they will have access to during their study in Indonesia.
Among the recipients, Meng Sreymey, a fifth-year engineering student at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia, expressed her excitement about the unexpected scholarship opportunity.
Sreymey is ready to pursue her Master’s Degree at Institute Teknologi Surabaya through a scholarship in electrical engineering.
“As I study in English, I am going to spend two years to earn my master’s. Some students who study in the Indonesian language will need three years,” she told The Post.
She eagerly anticipated her experience, noting she would reside in the university dorm during her stay.
The scholarship recipients will attend several educational facilities, including the University of Indonesia (one person), Gadjah Mada University (one), the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (six), Padang State University (nine), University of Muhammadiyah Malang (one) and Trisakti Tourism High School (one).
