Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), National Institute of Education (NIE), Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC), Svay Rieng University (SRU) and University of Heng Samrin Thbongkhmum (UHST) – from Cambodian side – will work together with four European partners: University of Groningen, the Netherlands (project coordinator), Asociación de Educadores y Expertos Tuning, Spain; Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain; and Middle East Technical University, Turkey, in order to: foster structural reform of the Cambodian higher education sector necessary for ensuring inclusive transition, more equitable access, stronger retention and higher academic success rates for vulnerable groups.

During the next four years the ten partners will focus on
1- Equipping key actors who support future students – especially students from vulnerable groups – in preparing for successful transition to higher education during the upper secondary education stage with tailor-made information, didactic and continuous professional development resources;
2- Introducing curriculum innovations aimed at strengthening retention and academic success into first-year courses of STEAM undergraduate programmes;
3- Setting up institutional- and programme-level support schemes and structures required to make transition to higher education inclusive, in particular for students from vulnerable groups; as well as
4- Creating mechanisms for Cambodian HE authorities, institutional policy makers, students from vulnerable groups, and faculty members to engage in a national dialogue and joint actions focused on sustaining and extending the structural reform

As a structural project, START Cambodia supports the EU Global Gateway strategy of “investing in quality education, paying attention to the inclusion of vulnerable groups”, so as to enhance the competitiveness of Cambodia with a more diverse population getting access to decent jobs.

START Cambodia brings together Higher Education and Upper Secondary School Sectors actors, with students – including those from vulnerable groups – working side by side with academics, institutional & national higher education authorities.

The project aims to benefit (1) all future Cambodian students & learners, especially those from vulnerable groups, (2) Cambodian Higher Education Sector, (3) Cambodian Upper Secondary School sector, and (4) Cambodian society at large, while offering resources (Higher) Education systems beyond Cambodia can use to promote sustainable growth and more equitable access to Higher Education &, thus, decent work.

The first face-to-face project meeting will take place in Phnom Penh on 22-25 June 2026, with MoEYS as host.

The two-day intensive workshop resulted in several critical outputs:

• Strengthened OBE Implementation: Faculty members improved the constructive alignment between teaching strategies, learning outcomes, and assessment methods.
• Curriculum Revision-Market-Driven Revisions: Based on detailed stakeholder and market need analysis, the wastewater operation specialization was updated to include more practical laboratory components and industry-relevant software skills. The new revision of the curriculum of WEE has been proposed to the international consortium in March 2026.
• Quality Assurance Readiness: Participants finalized draft course specifications and established a systematic framework for documentation in preparation for the 2027 Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) assessment.
• Collaborative Finalization: The team reached a consensus on a structured timeline for implementing these modernized specifications starting in the next academic cycle.

This meeting reaffirmed our faculty’s commitment to producing competent graduates capable of addressing Cambodia’s water and environmental challenges. By integrating continuous improvement (PDCA) cycles and student-centered learning, the WEE program remains at the forefront of engineering education excellence.

Key Highlights & Achievements:
Curriculum Advancement: Participants focused on revising course schedules and credit distribution for both associate and engineering degree programs.
Outcome Alignment: A core focus was ensuring that Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) are perfectly aligned with Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs).
Student-Centered Learning: We emphasized improving teaching and learning (T&L) methods and instructional materials to prioritize student engagement.
Continuous Improvement: The team established a framework for Course Satisfaction Surveys to gather vital student feedback for ongoing quality enhancement.

This initiative is part of the Second Higher Education Improvement Project (HEIP-2), which aims to modernize Cambodia’s higher education sector. By adopting OBE, we ensure our graduates in water resource management and sustainable infrastructure are equipped with the exact skills demanded by the global market. We are committed to fostering an environment of continuous improvement and academic excellence for our students and the future of Cambodia.

– Scholarship Impact: We exceeded our original targets, awarding 114 scholarships to talented students.
– Inclusivity & Success: We are proud to report 48% female participation and an impressive 89% graduation rate (101 graduates), with 70% of alumni employed within 3 months!
– Research & Innovation: Completed 12 research projects and established state-of-the-art facilities, including a Water & Environment Lab., a Smart Classroom, Water Treatment Pilot Scale, Pilot Scale Wastewater Treatment Plant
– Global Mobility: Facilitated 26 exchanges, including student internships in France and staff capacity building.
– Showcase Highlight: Pilot Scale Wastewater Treatment Plant. A major highlight of the event was the visit to the newly operational Pilot Scale Wastewater Treatment Plant. This facility is a game-changer, bridging the gap between theory and practice to provide hands-on training for the next generation of water engineers.
– Building Professionals for the Future The scholarship and academic support from PWSSP have been vital in producing highly capable specialists to manage Cambodia’s water supply and sanitation systems. By investing in education today, we are ensuring a sustainable and healthy environment for tomorrow.
Thanks to the EU and AFD for empowering the next generation of water professionals!

Organized by ITC’s Coastal and Wetland Research Laboratory, this three-day training was conducted both on campus and in the field on the Bassac River. Participants explored the latest advancements in river discharge measurement, bathymetric surveys, and automated water quality monitoring.

The workshop welcomed 30 participants from ITC, key ministries (MOWRAM, MPWT, MOE, MAFF, MME), Cambodia National Mekong Committee, Tonle Sap Authority, Electricité du Cambodge, Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority, RUPP, Phnom Penh Autonomous Port, and various water consulting firms.

From deploying Uncrewed Surface Vehicles (USV) to mastering ADCP and environmental monitoring systems, this event marked a significant step forward for our technical capacity.