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Future Forum's young research fellow, Chheuy Laoteng was published in Cambodianess. Check out the original article here, or read it below.
The Cambodian government has emphasized technical and vocational education and training (TVET) as a vital career pathway for the country's workforce to upgrade their skills to higher-quality work to achieve upper-middle-income country status by 2030. However, attracting more students to TVET institutions, especially those from impoverished and vulnerable families, remains challenging. To do so, a monthly stipend of 280,000 riels (nearly $70) is required if they enroll in TVET programs. The Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training targets 1.5 million young people for this enrollment push.
While promoting TVET enrollment and providing financial incentives for this enrollment is valuable, Cambodia should go further in its reform of the TVET curriculum by future-proofing these learning institutions. The future of many of Cambodia's industries is green and clean. Therefore, we need a TVET structure that prepares our workforce with the skills required for the green economy.
The status quo
In early 2023, Cambodia officially joined the UN Partnership For Action on Green Economy (PAGE) to strengthen its commitment to transitioning its economy towards a greener future. The program aims to assist partner countries in accelerating their transitions towards low-carbon, resource-efficient, nature-friendly, and socially inclusive economies. The policy document for this partnership acknowledges the slow progress on greening Cambodia’s TVET institutions and workforce training sector more generally.
For instance, none of Cambodia's essential plans that target workforce development—the National Employment Policy 2015-2025, the Cambodian Industrial Development Plan (2015-2025), or the Cambodian Skills Development Roadmap (2023-2035)—refers to the development of green skills or skills that will be critical to harnessing the workforce potential in a green transition.
Some industry-specific progress has been made in green-skilling parts of the Cambodian workforce. For instance, the Cambodia Garment Training Institute has introduced a pilot training program focused on energy and sustainability in the garment industry. The Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) has launched the Cambodia Energy Manager and Auditor Training Programme (CEMAT) to support Cambodia's energy sector development. The Skills Development Fund (SDF), a government-led program, allows private sector firms and development providers to submit training proposals related to green jobs and skills and then receive funding for implementation.
However, the PAGE policy document acknowledges that the SDF “has yet to present a clear strategy or target for green jobs and skills development, and the available grant opportunities have not been fully utilized.”
The way forward
Currently, Cambodia lacks holistic, future-proofed TVET programs that focus on developing practical green skills needed in the long term to support the country's transition to a green economy.
To begin to move towards a green skills transition, Cambodia's government should prioritize collecting accurate, real-time data on green jobs, with a particular focus on industry-specific skills gaps, and promote the development of educational programs and training courses to meet the needs of both the current and future green jobs market. A Cambodia-specific labour market forecast that considers Cambodia-specific green transition scenarios and includes country-specific factors that affect our labour market, such as demographic change, digitalization, and structural change, will be crucial to understand our priorities.
Once TVET program leaders and practitioners are ready to develop and provide green skills training programs, it is helpful to consider a guide developed by the UN—Greening Technical and Vocational Education and Training. This is a practical guide for institutions. It is designed to identify several key elements to assist TVET leaders and their institutional teams in understanding the steps they can take towards greening their institutions and programs and how these programs can cater to sectors like energy, construction, agriculture, and more.
Take the energy sector as an example. Since the energy demand has been growing yearly, achieving clean energy efficiency is a top priority for Cambodia's green transition. Cambodia's Power Development Masterplan 2022-2040 outlines the country’s commitment to deliver affordable, reliable, and stable energy to all sectors within the country but also to enhance energy security, promote efficient energy use, prioritize the development of renewable energy resources, reduce environmental impacts from the power sector, and accelerate decarbonization efforts. Therefore, TVET training programs or curricula should include training on technical knowledge that can be applied to energy-efficiency measures, renewable energy technologies, and upgraded skills relevant to emerging energy markets. For instance, Cambodia might consider courses on solar
panel and wind turbine maintenance, courses that train industrial sector workers on energy efficiency, and more.
As Cambodia considers steps to take to upgrade its energy sector workforce, it is useful to consider regional case studies. Malaysia, for instance, is making a sizable investment in green workforce development. In 2023, the government of Malaysia announced a USD 1.5 billion investment in green TVET training. The new training will focus on electric vehicles and solar energy.
In one TVET course that has been reformed in Malaysia, for instance, authorities sought to update an existing diploma program in electrical engineering to add knowledge and skills related to renewable energy and energy efficiency into the curriculum. Beyond curriculum development, the school is now equipped with a wind turbine and solar panels, allowing students hands-on experience with this equipment. Another program Malaysia participates in includes cross-border collaboration and learning exchange with China's TVET sector, emphasizing the EV industry.
It is important to note that this priority for Malaysia goes hand in hand with the country's bigger-picture industrial policy priorities. For instance, Malaysia has made it clear that it intends to be the next regional hub for EV component manufacturing and is willing to make long-term investments to make this happen. Given Cambodia's own policy goals, Cambodia may make different choices for what skills to prioritize through TVET instruction.
As Cambodia seeks to elevate its status to a high-middle-income country by 2030, the strategic reform of its TVET programs with an emphasis on green jobs and a green economy is crucial. The government's initiatives, such as the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) and the Long-term Strategy for Carbon Neutrality, showcase its commitment to sustainable development. However, translating these policies into actionable and practical programs at the ground level, particularly within TVET institutions, is essential for progress.
Integrating green economy principles into TVET programs can address the current and future demands of Cambodia's evolving job market. By focusing on sectors like energy, construction, and agriculture and ensuring that training includes the necessary technical knowledge for renewable energy technologies and energy-efficiency measures, Cambodia can prepare its workforce for the challenges and opportunities of a green economy. Drawing inspiration from successful models, Cambodia can develop comprehensive curricula that provide practical skills and theoretical knowledge required for green jobs.
Investing in green TVET supports the country's environmental goals, enhances energy security, promotes efficient energy use, and contributes to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By prioritizing green skills development, Cambodia can ensure its workforce is equipped to thrive in a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient economy. This approach will uplift individuals and communities and pave the way for a greener, more prosperous Cambodia.
Technical and vocational education training(TVET)provides opportunities for disadvantaged groups, including women and the poor. Photo from ADB
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