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Strategic Transformation: ITC and Partners Launch “START Cambodia” for Inclusive Education

Leave a Comment / Education, University / By SchoolsCambodia

PHNOM PENH, February 20, 2026 — Representatives from the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) recently concluded a series of kick-off sessions for a landmark project that aims to reshape the future of higher education in the Kingdom.

The project, titled START Cambodia (Strategic Transformations for Wider Access, Stronger Retention and Improved Conditions for More Diverse Students to Thrive), is an Erasmus+ initiative that will run for the next four years (2026–2030). It is designed to ensure that more diverse and vulnerable student groups can access, stay in, and succeed at the university level.

A Powerful Global Partnership

This structural reform project brings together a prestigious consortium of local and European institutions:

  • Cambodian Partners: MoEYS, NIE, RUPP, ITC, Svay Rieng University (SRU), and the University of Heng Samrin Thbongkhmum (UHST).
  • European Partners: University of Groningen (Netherlands), Asociación de Educadores y Expertos Tuning (Spain), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain), and Middle East Technical University (Turkey).

Four Pillars of Transformation

Over the next four years, the START Cambodia partners will focus on four key areas:

  1. Secondary-to-Higher Ed Transition: Providing high school students from vulnerable groups with specialized information and professional development resources to prepare them for university life.
  2. STEAM Curriculum Innovation: Introducing new teaching methods in first-year Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) courses to improve student retention and success.
  3. Institutional Support Schemes: Building support structures within universities specifically for students who face socioeconomic or geographic disadvantages.
  4. National Policy Dialogue: Creating a platform where students, faculty, and policymakers can work together to sustain these inclusive reforms nationwide.

Investing in Human Capital

Aligned with the EU Global Gateway strategy, START Cambodia is an investment in quality. By fostering a more diverse and skilled workforce, the project aims to enhance Cambodia’s global competitiveness and ensure more citizens can access decent, high-quality jobs.

The project will officially move from the digital space to the ground this summer, with the first face-to-face meeting scheduled in Phnom Penh from June 22–25, 2026, hosted by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.

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