The Mahasarakham University of Thailand plans to grant more than 10 scholarships to Cambodian students in 2024, with the Cambodian and Thai sides accelerating discussion of cooperation on these scholarships, said the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, following a May 24 meeting with the university.

During the meeting, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron said the ministry and the university had approved the 2023 scholarship examinations and were close to agreeing on next year’s plans.

He noted that for this year, the university has offered Bachelor’s Degree scholarships in tourism and hotel management, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and international trade management.

“These scholarships will be awarded through a scholarship exam, which will be held at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC),” he stated.

Kin Phea, director of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said scholarships that resulted in students studying abroad were important drivers of economic growth, as upon their return, the students would use the skills they gained to help develop the Kingdom.

He added that rapid development requires ample human resources, so it was important for more and more students to earn scholarships like the ones on offer.

“Whether they serve in the public or private sector when they return, they will be valuable additions to the Cambodian workforce,” he concluded.

The education ministry reported that since 2008, 246 Cambodian students have won scholarships to study for bachelor’s, master's and doctoral degrees at the Mahasarakham University in Thailand. To date, 218 of them have graduated.

In 2024, the university plans to offer 14 scholarships in art and music, food engineering, environmental engineering, tourism, hotel management, information technology and urban planning.