Shaping future skills in Thailand and Cambodia

Thailand and Cambodia are prioritising workforce skill enhancements to support their growth industries. This creates opportunities for Australian transnational education (TNE) and skills training providers that are globally recognised and well positioned to partner with international markets.

The Future Skills mission to Thailand and Cambodia proved there was strong demand for high-quality education and training in these countries. The mission attracted over 145 business-matching opportunities with more than 100 institutions and leading businesses in Thailand and Cambodia. 

Additionally, the program provided numerous pitching and networking opportunities for the delegates, helping generate more than 200 partnership prospects.

Increasing TNE and skills training partnerships 

30 delegates from 19 Australian institutions and businesses with skills training capabilities travelled to Thailand and Cambodia from 12–14 March. The delegation was led by Daniel Boyer, Austrade’s Deputy CEO, Trade and Investment.

The mission aimed to:

• increase the delegates’ understanding of the opportunities and regulatory status in each market
• share potential TNE models with the Thai and Cambodian education sectors
• match the delegates with local partners.

The Department of Education was on hand to share the current policy landscape and areas of focus. Six state government representatives from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia also joined the mission to support their respective institutions.

Diving deep into untapped opportunities

The 3-day program offered significant opportunities for delegates to deepen their understanding of the 2 markets and foster connections with potential partners.

Some program highlights include:

• learning from in-market government and industry experts about the TNE and the skills training landscapes, as well as insights into industry’s needs for skills development
• pitching sessions and targeted business matching
• networking receptions at the residences of the Australian Ambassador to Thailand and the Australian Ambassador to Cambodia.

In Thailand, the delegates joined site visits to Chulalongkorn University, Thailand’s top university, and Panyapiwat Institute of Management (PIM), Thailand’s first corporate university to explore partnership opportunities. Delegates also had a chance to “intern” at a 7-Eleven store to understand the experience students receive at PIM.

In Cambodia, delegates met with the Minister for Labour and Vocational Training and the Minister for Education, Youth and Sport. They heard an overview of the country’s future workforce and education landscape, and explored collaboration opportunities.

Forging partnerships with Cambodian institutions

As part of the Cambodian leg of the program, Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and the Australian Ambassador to Cambodia witnessed the launch of partnerships between Australian and Cambodian institutions.

These partnerships were facilitated by Austrade and included:

• an MoU signing between Macquarie University and Institute of Technology of Cambodia
• South Australian curriculum delivery by SACE and AusCam Education Academy
• quality assurance endorsement from NEAS Australia for CamEd Business School
• partnership between Chisholm Institute, Edutrade and SBK Research & Development under the Skills for Future Economy Sector Development program.

Delegates on the Future Skills mission to Thailand and Cambodia took part in briefings with government and industry, business-matching sessions, and an experiential “internship” at a 7-Eleven store.

Uncovering emerging demands and shaping future steps

The experience and insights the delegates gained from the mission helped them identify unmet needs in both markets.

In Thailand, the opportunities for Australian institutions include branch campus models, existing TNE partnership expansion, teacher training, English language training delivery in Thailand, and collaborations with Thai industry for professional skills courses.

Opportunities for Australian institutions in Thailand also exist in short courses, industry internships and hackathon delivery in Australia with Thai education partners. 

‘By working together, Australia and Thailand can develop a future-ready workforce while deepening our shared economic and people-to-people ties,’ says Australian Ambassador to Thailand Dr Angela Macdonald PSM.

In Cambodia, the government is prioritising higher education reform with emphasis on STEM, digital transformation and industry-linked training. This presents opportunities for Australian institutions in branch campus and offshore program delivery models.

Australia can also explore opportunities in dual degree programs and credit transfers, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and teacher training, Australian curriculum school collaborations and workforce development programs.

‘Australia is home to world-leading education and skills development institutions ready to expand their engagement in Southeast Asia. With Cambodia’s young population and the government’s commitment to investing in the human capital and skills the nation needs to drive economic growth and diversification, there is tremendous scope for us to boost bilateral education collaboration,’ says Australian Ambassador to Cambodia, Derek Yip. 

How Austrade can help

The mission to Thailand and Cambodia reaffirmed the strong interest in Australian transnational education and the shared commitment to building high-quality education partnerships in Southeast Asia. Austrade will continue working closely with Australian institutions and local stakeholders to translate these opportunities into impactful outcomes that support skills development and mutual economic growth.

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