Cambodia Expands Scholarship Partnership to Boost Higher Education Access

PHNOM PENH, Aug 3, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia has signed a new partnership to widen scholarship opportunities and strengthen human capital, officials said Sunday, as the country seeks to equip young people with skills for long‑term development. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and the Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Samdech Kittipritbandit Scholarship Students Association (AMT) inked a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate on scholarships, academic support, research and youth capacity building. Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron attended the ceremony, presided over by association president Dr. Pich Chanmony. Naron said the partnership aims to expand higher education access, particularly for disadvantaged students and youth from provinces. He noted that since clashes along the Cambodia–Thailand border in July 2025, the ministry has facilitated the return of Cambodian students from Thailand and enabled them to continue studies free of charge under the “Samdech Techo Scholarship” program. Nine rounds of admissions have benefited 1,260 students, with 671 enrolled in Cambodian institutions from associate to doctoral and medical specialist programs. Naron praised the association as a strategic partner in promoting equitable access to education through scholarship management, soft‑skills training and youth development. Dr. Chanmony said the MoU reflects a shared commitment to ensuring financial hardship does not block higher education. “A lack of financial resources should never determine the destiny of any young person,” she said, adding that the association also mentors and supports recipients until graduation. The agreement supports the government’s Pentagonal Strategy – Phase I, which prioritises investment in human capital. Under the MoU, the parties will collaborate on scholarships, career guidance, overseas study preparation, research and 21st‑century skills, with a joint committee to oversee implementation and quarterly reviews.