BizConnect strengthens links between technical training and industry in Cambodia
BizConnect strengthens links between technical training and industry in Cambodia
Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Students, educators and company representatives gathered at the National Technical Training Institute (NTTI) for BizConnect Cambodia, an event designed to strengthen links between technical and vocational education and training and industry, and to help students learn about career opportunities and the skills employers need.
Hosted by NTTI under the EU–ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package – Higher Education Programme (SCOPE-HE), BizConnect brought training providers and businesses together to discuss skills needs and explore opportunities for cooperation. SCOPE-HE is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education, in partnership with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
The opening programme featured welcome remarks by H.E. Chin Tara, Director of NTTI, followed by remarks by H.E. Igor Driesmans, EU Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia. H.E. Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, then delivered the opening address.
“Training institutions must understand industry needs, while employers must become active partners in developing the workforce they require. I encourage participating companies and training institutions to identify practical areas for cooperation, including internships and workplace learning, and translate agreed areas of cooperation into concrete action plans. These efforts will help ensure that BizConnect becomes a sustainable platform for cooperation,” said H.E. Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training.
The programme put this focus on cooperation into practice through company pitches and an information market, where students could speak with employers about their businesses, career opportunities and skills requirements. Partnership-building discussions brought company representatives together with TVET leaders, while a panel discussion, structured conversations with students and exchanges between teaching staff and companies explored career pathways, skills gaps and curriculum relevance.
“BizConnect gives our students a chance to hear directly from employers about the work they do and the skills they value. It also helps our teachers and industry partners discuss how training can remain relevant. We hope the conversations today will lead to practical opportunities for cooperation, including input from companies into training and workplace learning for students,” said H.E. Chin Tara, Director of NTTI.
These exchanges also reflected the EU’s wider cooperation with Cambodia on education and skills for green and digital jobs under Global Gateway.
“Education and skills are central to the EU’s partnership with Cambodia. Under Global Gateway, we support the development of skills for green and digital jobs and closer cooperation between training institutions and the private sector. BizConnect brings that ambition to life by connecting students and educators with the companies shaping Cambodia’s future workforce,” said H.E. Igor Driesmans, EU Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Cambodia is one of five priority countries in the regional BizConnect pilot, alongside Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam. The first BizConnect event took place in Timor-Leste in September 2026.
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About SCOPE-HE Programme
The EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package – Higher Education (SCOPE-HE) is a collaborative initiative funded by the European Union (EU) and approved by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), running from February 2024 to January 2028 with a budget of EUR 9.3 million. Implemented by Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education, in partnership with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
The SCOPE-HE programme focuses on enhancing exchanges and connectivity in higher education, research, and technical and vocational education and training within ASEAN and between ASEAN and the EU, with particular emphasis on the green transition, digital transformation, and the blue economy. Key activities include facilitating student and academic mobility, strengthening university networks to foster research collaboration, and improving graduate employability by connecting vocational education institutions with the private sector. Through these efforts, SCOPE-HE aims to create a more connected and dynamic higher education landscape, empowering future generations and strengthening the economic and social fabric of the region.
For more information about the SCOPE-HE programme, access: