AKP Phnom Penh, November 05, 2025 --

H.E. Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, and Mr. Cameron Baker, Chief Commissioner of the South Australian Skills Commission, jointly signed on Nov. 4 in Australia a Cooperation Agreement on Technical and Vocational Training and Internship Programmes. 

This agreement will potentially allow Cambodian students currently studying ‘Technical and Vocational Diplomas 1-3’ and registered with the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and recognised by the South Australian Skills Commission, to continue their studies at professional training institutions and undertake a 2-year practical internship at various workshops, construction sites, and farms in South Australia, Australia.

Both sides placed high hope that this cooperation will contribute to promoting human capital development in Cambodia and assisting the private sector in South Australia.

The collaboration also includes capacity building for trainers, curriculum development, and teaching methodologies that align with Australian standards.

Mr. Cameron Baker confirmed that he will establish an ad-hoc working group to implement this work with high effectiveness, which will be able to start receiving Cambodian students for internships and placements in 2026 in the fields of automotive engineering, electric vehicles and electronics, with the potential to add other skills from 2027.

The outcome of this cooperation stems from the high guidance and recommendations of Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, during the visit of Governor Frances Adamson of South Australia (SA) to Cambodia on May 19, 2025.

On that occasion, the Cambodian delegation also undertook a study tour and exchanged experiences at several training institutions in Adelaide, Australia, including the technical training school of Technical and Further Education South Australia (TAFE SA), Tonsley Technical College, the automotive technician training school of the Motor Trade Association, and the agricultural technical training school of the Regional Skills Training School.

By Chea Vannak