Israel, Cambodia bolster digital education ties

Synopsis: Education officials and trade representatives are working together to bring Israeli innovation into the Cambodian school system. Their goal is to prepare students for a digital economy.

Cambodia and Israel are set to bolster their bilateral cooperation through new initiatives to transform the Kingdom’s education sector and equip its youth with advanced digital skills.

The Israel Chamber of Commerce (CICC) and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) held discussions to promote innovation-led growth.

During a meeting in the capital on Monday, CICC President Moran Hadad and Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron discussed structured partnership programmes between higher education institutions in both countries. The proposal focuses on specialised training, joint academic curricula, and direct collaboration with globally renowned Israeli universities.

Hadad said that Israel is ready to support Cambodia’s human capital development by facilitating the transfer of practical expertise and skills.

He said that the initiative aligns with the Royal Government’s vision of creating a knowledge-based, digitally competitive economy.

Naron welcomed the proposal, describing it as a vital part of Cambodia’s long-term national development strategy. He added that the government maintains a “highest priority” status for science, technology, and innovation (STI), which he identified as the main drivers of productivity in the modern era.

“Cooperation with Israel, a global leader in technology, will offer invaluable opportunities for our students and educators to acquire advanced knowledge,” Naron said. He added that the partnership would go beyond technical skills to help Cambodia adopt international research cultures and innovation ecosystems.

To ensure the programme’s effectiveness, the Ministry of Education will conduct a comprehensive review of the proposed framework. The focus will remain on developing a sustainable, results-oriented model to improve educational infrastructure and expand access to research facilities.

The relationship between the two nations has experienced steady growth in recent years.

Last year, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to formalise cooperation in education, youth, and culture. This agreement already offers scholarships for Cambodian students to attend Israel’s leading technological universities.

The partnership strengthens a long-standing agricultural exchange, with hundreds of Cambodian students travelling to Israel each year for agricultural internships. They return with advanced farming techniques that have significantly improved the local agriculture sector.

The recent expansion into the technology sector marks a crucial step in preparing the Cambodian workforce for future needs.