Contributor ENFP for Cambodia: SOM Ratana
This national policy review provides a detailed analysis of Cambodia’s educational policies and their alignment with the Erasmus+ programme. It offers official, first-hand information into the country’s engagement with Erasmus+ from 2021 to 2024, highlighting opportunities for improvement and identifying strategies to enhance integration and outcomes. Prepared and submitted by the Erasmus+ National Focal Point, this review contributes to ongoing efforts to strengthen international cooperation and to maximise the benefits of the Erasmus+ programme in Cambodia.
Reviews of policies, initiatives, projects, and/or stakeholders
Erasmus+ for Higher Education in Cambodia
The initiatives under the Erasmus+ for higher education in Cambodia include international credit mobility, Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees, Capacity building for Higher Education, and Jean Monnet Activities (this latter scheme has yet to be active. Priority is given to JM for the upcoming years).
https://ec.europa.eu/assets/eac/erasmus-plus/factsheets/asia-central/ca…
Pentagonal Strategy-Phase I
Pentagonal Strategy I is the socio-economic policy agenda of the Cambodian royal government under the seventh legislature of the National Assembly. It focuses on five key areas:
- Growth
- Employment
- Equity
- Efficiency
- Sustainability
This strategy aims to achieve the goals set out in the Cambodian Vision 2050.
https://mfaic.gov.kh/files/uploads/1XK1LW4MCTK9/EN%20PENTAGONAL%20STRATEGY%20-%20PHASE%20I. pdf
Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework 2021-2035
The Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework 2021-2035 outlines a long-term vision for developing a dynamic digital economy and society. It aims to promote digital adoption, foster digital transformation, drive economic growth, and enhance social welfare.
The framework is designed to adapt to the “new normal” by laying the groundwork for significant digital advancements and integration.
https://mef.gov.kh/download-counter?post=7116
Enhancing green capability in universities to foster sustainable development in
Cambodia
GREEN CAP is a project aimed at enhancing environmental capacity in higher education institutions (HEIs) to promote sustainable development in Cambodia. The project focuses on fostering green practices and sustainability within higher education institutions in Cambodia. Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Capacity- Building Projects in Higher Education (CBHE) programme of the European Union, the project includes the following European Partners:
- University of Nantes (France) – International coordinator
- University of Southern Denmark (Denmark)
- University of Vigo (Spain)
- Cambodian Partners:
- Royal University of Law and Economics – Local coordinator
- Institute of Technology of Cambodia
- National University of Management
- University of Battambang
https://greencap-cambodia.eu/about-the-project/
Joint European Strategy for Development Cooperation with Cambodia, 2021-2027
The JES Strategy 2021-2027 aims to:
- Promote an Inclusive and Sustainable Recovery: Support Cambodia’s efforts for an inclusive, climate- neutral, and sustainable socio-economic recovery
- Accelerate Reforms: Assist in implementing reforms aligned with Cambodia’s national development agenda and European global strategic priorities and values
- Enhance Connectivity: Foster Cambodia’s integration into ASEAN and the Greater Mekong Sub-region
- Leverage European Expertise: Connect Cambodia with European standards and expertise to maximise developmental potential
https://www.eeas.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/Joint%20European%20Strategy%202021-2027.pdf
Education Strategic Plan 2019-2023
The Education Strategic Plan 2019–2023 aims to:
- Implement Reforms: Advance education, youth, and sports reforms to build a strong foundation for the future
- Support Socio-Economic Vision: Align with Cambodia’s broader socio-economic development goals and government reform programmes
- Structural Management: Link objectives, strategic frameworks, key activities, resource needs, and quality improvement mechanisms
- Continuous Improvement: Ensure ongoing enhancement of educational quality through effective monitoring and evaluation
https://www.globalpartnership.org/sites/default/files/2019-10-education_sector_plan-cambodia.pdf
Multi-annual indicative programme 2021-2027 for Cambodia
Several priority areas have been selected for the EU-Cambodia MIP 2021- 2027, backed up by EU and Cambodia’s mutual interests, and established in consultation with the Cambodian Government, European partners, other development partners, and civil society (including the private sector). These Priority Areas focus on working with Cambodia on green growth and jobs, for which education and skills development are key, as well as an effective governance system.
The priority “Green Growth and Decent Jobs” aims to partner with Cambodia for its post-COVID recovery, specifically focusing on sustainable food systems and selected value chains of the export industry, including agribusiness.
The second priority, Education and Skills Development, is crucial for supporting green growth and creating decent jobs. It addresses the issues of a weak education system and skill shortages, which are major barriers to attracting investments, expanding the private sector, and providing people with formal, decent employment opportunities.
The third Priority Area underpins the two other priorities: strong public financial management and strengthened rule of law.
Legislative reforms and/or policies that have been put in place in the past three years or that are still being discussed
Higher education in ASEAN to enhance student mobility in the region
https://asean.org/higher-education-in-asean-to-enhance-student-mobility-in-the-region/
Pentagonal Strategy Phase I
https://mfaic.gov.kh/files/uploads/1XK1LW4MCTK9/EN%20PENTAGONAL%20STRATEGY%20-%20PHASE%20I. pdf
Teacher Policy Action Plan 2024-2030
The TPAP 2024-2030 provides progressive and transformative thinking and innovative strategies to transform teacher education and development, thereby improving teaching and learning quality at all levels and is built on four strategic areas: Teacher Management, Transformative Leadership, Teacher Education, Teacher Identity and Development.
https://moeys.gov.kh/en/policies-and-strategic-plans/146
Education Strategic Plan 2024-2028
The Education Strategic Plan for 2024-2028 continues to concentrate on education reform at all levels and in all areas, particularly school reform to achieve model school standards and teacher training institution reform. The Education Strategic Plan for 2024-2028 emphasizes implementing structural management approaches through programs and sub-programs. It includes revising objectives, strategic frameworks, main activities, and resource requirements, as well as developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks and feedback mechanism to ensure performance-based management.
https://moeys.gov.kh/storage/uploads/documents//67316f9d3a57f.pdf
Cambodia Digital Government Policy 2022-2035
The Cambodia Digital Government Policy 2022-2035 aims to improve citizens’ quality of life and build trust through enhanced public services. It focuses on:
- Establishing a Digital Government Committee to oversee national coordination and implementation.
- Creating units within ministries, institutions, and local administrations dedicated to digital transformation.
- Allocating priority budgets for digital initiatives.
- Recruiting skilled technical officers to support these efforts.
https://mptc.gov.kh/en/2022/04/cambodia-digital-government-policy-2022-2035/
Human Resource Master Plan for Higher Education (2021-2030)
This development plan is designed to support HEIs and sub-sectors in implementing the Higher Education Capacity Development Framework 2021-2030 and to achieve a 10-year strategy for each HEI.
Cambodia Higher Education Sub-sector (2021-2030)
The strategy for Cambodia’s higher education sub-sector 2021-2030 focuses on:
- Quality of graduate, academic programme, and financial transparency
- Institutional capacity building and ownership
National Research and Development Management System Blueprint
This blueprint is the initiative that guides Cambodia’s effort to build a robust research ecosystem through the establishment of an effective system that reflects the demands of researchers and scientist communities in Cambodia.
https://cdn.misti.gov.kh/documents/20250412050236erOHB5Xm7BS0.pdf
National Research Agenda 2025
The NRA has identified eight research missions that will be at the centre of research investments and activities:
- Local food: 70 percent of Cambodia food consumption is produced locally
- Reliable Energy Supply: 90 percent of energy consumption is generated locally
- Quality Education: Education meets international quality standards
- Electronic and mechanical spare parts: Cambodia exports 70 percent of the electronic and mechanical spare parts produced in the country
- Cloud-based services: Cambodia’s cloud-based services development is on par with ASEAN
- Electricity and potable water: All Cambodians have access to reliable electricity and safe potable water
- Carbon neutrality: Cambodia becomes a carbon neutral country
- Digitally-enhanced health: All Cambodians have access to digitally-enhanced health services
https://cdn.misti.gov.kh/documents/202302191676819231.pdf
ASIAN International Mobility for Student Programme (AIMS)
The AIMS Programme is a collaborative and multilateral student exchange programme involving governments and HEIs to enhance student mobility in Southeast Asia and beyond. In 2023, Cambodia officially joined the AIMS Programme, making significant step towards enhancing regional cooperation in higher education. This initiative aims to promote student exchange and academic collaboration among participating Southeast Asian countries. Initially, five Cambodian universities became part of the AIMS network, sending their students to study exchanges in other member universities under the AIMS and welcoming students from those countries to their campuses. This participation not only broadens the academic and cultural experiences for Cambodian students but also contributes to the internationalization of Cambodia's higher education sub-sector.
Initiatives and/or programmes that have been launched in the past three years
- Joint European Strategy for Development Cooperation with Cambodia, 2021-2027
- Gender Action Plan III – 2021-2025: Country Level Implementation Plan – CLIP CAMBODIA
- Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership (2023-2027)
- Multi-annual indicative programme 2021-2027 for Cambodia
- Transforming Technical Education EU-Cambodia Partnership 2024-2027
Projects which are examples of good practice that have been launched in the past three years
Project 1-Master Degree in Industry 4.0 Project (Ind4.0)
The project aims to:
- Train graduate students in theoretical, natural, engineering, computer science, and information technology to tackle new challenges in global production, manufacturing, and service industries.
- Develop specialised curricula and an innovative master’s degree in Industry 4.0.
- Build capacity in partner higher education institutions (PC HEI) and enhance the skills and competencies available in the labour market.
- Promote cooperation and exchange of knowledge and best practices between the EU and Southeast Asia (SEA).
- Create synergies with regional and national industries to meet their demand for specialised personnel.
- Improve the employability of graduates with Industry 4.0 expertise. Project Ref. No: 610455-EPP-1-2019-1-MY-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP
https://www.ind4-0-eu.my/
Project 2- Developing curricula for Environmental safety and Conservation of Biodiversity in South- East Asia (CONSEA)
The CONSEA project is a Erasmus+ CBHE poject that promotes biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability in the Mekong basin. It aims to develop a robust education programme for master’s and PhD students by collaborating with Southeast Asian countries (Cambodia and Vietnam) and European partners. The goal is to modernise research and teaching methods in these Asian countries and enhance the skills of university staff in Cambodia and Vietnam through targeted training.
Project Ref. No: 573515-EPP-1-2016-1-FR-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP
https://nubb.edu.kh/en/2021/07/28/consea-2/
Project 3: Enhancing Green Capability in HEI to Foster Sustainable Development in Cambodia (GREENCAP)
GREENCAP aims to develop academic and non-academic human resources in higher education by improving the quality and relevance of curricula focused on the green economy. It seeks to engage stakeholders from various sectors, promoting dialogue on green economy policies. This effort aligns with the Capacity Building objectives, specifically in Category 3, which focuses on developing the HE sector’s societal role, emphasising
cooperation between universities and businesses. The proposal addresses Cambodia’s environmental challenges, particularly in the garment/textiles and tourism industries, by advocating for environmentally sustainable development strategies in partnership with the private sector.
Project Ref. No: 609553-EPP-1-2019-1-FR-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP.
Project 4: Development of Innovative multilevel formation programmes for the new water-leading professionals in Southeast Asia (INOW ASIA)
The goal is to enhance postgraduate education in integrated and innovative water resources management, promoting sustainable development.
Project Ref. No: 619225-EPP-1-2020-1-ES-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP
Project 5: CHAIn
The CHAIn project addresses the reform and modernisation of the HE system in line with the development strategies of Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS). The HEIs in Cambodia have an urgent need to work together and to produce a detailed policy paper to implement internationalisation strategies that will accompany the MoEYS policy reform. It also shall give clear instructions and reference to the departments involved to support them in their process towards the implementation of international activities such as student exchange, research collaboration and academic networking. The project aims to introduce and develop internationalisation strategies in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Cambodia. The CHAIn project addresses Cambodia’s efforts to develop a coherent and sustainable HE system to meet their socio-economic needs to create a knowledge-driven economy.
https://www.chain-cambodia.eu/partners
Project 6: ASIAN Clusters in Agriculture and Climate Change-ALIGNING
ALIGNING aims to promote agricultural innovation in Asian least-developed agrarian countries by increasing, first, the innovation capacity of Asian HEIS, and second, by providing farmers and agribusiness practitioners, solutions for a more sustainable and climate-resilient business growth. In the short term, the project will contribute to: (a) validating existing needs analysis in agriculture and climate change as well as analysing current sustainable adaptation practices; (b) improving the capacities of Asian HEIs in innovative actions (d) linking academia with the private sector. This will create a multiplier effect for the recognition of sustainable agriculture as an individual study area and career choice, which will result in a transformed academic environment and a more sustainable economic growth in the context of a least-developed country.
Project Ref.Ares(2023)1688330 - 08/03/2023
Project 7: GAIN
The GAIN project envisions a systemic shift in the higher education landscape of Cambodia to foster a disability-inclusive, equitable, and diverse academic environment for Persons with Physical Disabilities (PWD). PWDs (mobility, visual, hearing, speech impairments and chronic health conditions) are amongst the groups that are marginalized by the lack of policies, support services, infrastructure and educational capacity in higher education. The project aims to transform Cambodian Higher Education Roadmap 2030 and the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025 guidelines into practices, helping the Government and the Institutions to implement set policies. The objective is to ensure that Cambodian Higher Education Institutions are accessible, inclusive, and equipped to support the diverse needs of PWD.
Project Ref.Ares(2024)1008636-09/02/2024
Key players and networks (stakeholders) at the national level (or at the regional level with a national component)
- European Delegation to Cambodia
- Ministry of Education, youth and sport (MoEYS)
- Directorate General of Higher Education (DGHE)
- Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP)
- Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC)
- National University of Managemen (NUM)
- Royal University of Agriculture (RUA)
- Phnom Penh International University (PPIU)
- National university of Cheasim Kamchaymear (NUCK)
- University of Heng Samrin Thbongkhmum (UHST)
- Royal University of Law and Economics (RULE)
- Svay Rieng University (SRU)
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