Driving Cambodia’s green skills transition through South-South cooperation

Phnom Penh (ILO News) - As Cambodia moves toward greener and more technology-driven transport systems, the demand for skilled workers in New Energy Vehicle (NEV) inspection, maintenance and repair is increasing.

NEVs are automobiles powered fully or partially by alternative energy sources to fossil fuels, featuring lower emissions and higher efficiency than traditional vehicles. For technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, this transition requires teachers who are equipped with updated technical knowledge, practical skills and confidence to train the next generation of technicians.

For Kov Kimlang, a teacher at the National Polytechnic Institute of Angkor (NPIA), the NEV training programme supported by the ILO/China Partnership Programme on Skills Development through South-South Cooperation, and the Skills Development Fund (SDF), became an important turning point in his professional development.

“Before joining the training, I faced several challenges in teaching and applying electric vehicle technologies. These are critical areas for safe and effective NEV maintenance that require specialized technical knowledge and hands-on practice,” said Kimlang.

“Through the South-South Cooperation training delivered with Chinese experts at Beijing Industrial Technician College, I gained skills that directly responded to these gaps. I learned how to safely de-energize and work around high-voltage NEV systems, monitor and maintain battery health, and use specialized diagnostic software to troubleshoot NEV components such as inverters and converters. The practical and expert-led training helped me move beyond theory and gain skills that I could apply in both teaching and technical problem-solving,” added Kimlang.

The most important change was confidence. After the training, Kimlang said his confidence in handling electric vehicles had “significantly improved.” He moved from having only a basic understanding of NEV technology to gaining practical skills in NEV diagnostics and feeling much safer when working with high-voltage systems.

“This change matters because confident and capable teachers are essential for delivering quality training and inspiring students to learn emerging technologies,” said Tian Feng, ILO/China Partnership Project Manager.

After the training, Kimlang has turned this learning into positive change at NPIA. He integrated the NEV knowledge and skills into his teaching curriculum for second-year Higher Technical Diploma students. He also organized knowledge-sharing sessions for around 50 participants, expanding the benefits of the training to colleagues and students.

The ILO/China partnership project played a vital role in enabling this transformation. Through South-South Cooperation, the project connected Cambodian TVET teachers with Chinese technical expertise, modern training approaches and practical exposure to emerging NEV technologies. In partnership with SDF, the programme showed how coordinated support from development partners, national institutions and technical experts can respond to real labour market needs and strengthen the quality of TVET delivery.

“Kimlang’s journey shows that investing in teachers is one of the most effective ways to create lasting impact in skills development. Through South-South Cooperation, he strengthened his technical capacity, improved his confidence, updated his teaching practice and shared knowledge with others. His story reflects the broader value of the partnership: helping Cambodia’s TVET system become more responsive, modern and ready for the green economy, while preparing skilled workers for the country’s growing EV market,” said Tian.