Cambodia’s National TVET Day 2026 strengthens partnerships for skills and workforce development

PHNOM PENH (ILO News) - More than 30,000 Cambodian students, job seekers, employers, training providers and development partners celebrated the 9th National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Day 2026 under the theme of “TVET Provides Skills, Jobs and Income” presided over by Prime Minister Hun Manet, reaffirming Cambodia’s commitment to building a skilled, competitive and future-ready workforce.

Organized by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT), the annual event took place on 15–16 June to showcase the transformative role of TVET in supporting employment, productivity and inclusive economic growth. This year’s celebration was supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) through the ILO-China Partnership Programme on Skills Development and other projects.

A highlight of the event was the donation of the English version of China’s National Occupational Standards by the Ministry of Human Resource and Social Security of China to Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training of Cambodia. The standards will help address Cambodia’s growing need for skills training and certification for migrant workers.

© ILO

© ILO

The event also featured the participation of four Chinese technical institutions from the South-South Cooperation Skills Development Network: Xiangyang College of Science and Technology (Xiangyang Technician College), Guangxi Business and Trade Technician College, Beijing Industrial Technician College, and Guangzhou Technician College. Their participation demonstrated the growing partnership fostered through the ILO/China Partnership Programme and highlighted the important role of South-South Cooperation in advancing skills development and innovation in TVET.

“National TVET Day has become an important platform for showcasing Cambodia’s achievements in skills development, promoting employment opportunities, and strengthening partnerships,” said Xiaoyan Qian, Director of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. “The ILO highly commends the Royal Government of Cambodia for its longstanding commitment to technical and vocational education and training,” she added.

Tian Feng, ILO/China Partnership Project Manager highlighted how South-South Cooperation had become an important catalyst for strengthening Cambodia’s TVET system. “Through partnerships between technical institutions in Cambodia and China, trainers and learners are gaining access to new knowledge, technologies and practical experiences that help prepare them for the jobs of today and tomorrow,” he said.

Since its establishment in 2021, the South-South Cooperation Skills Development Network has expanded to connect more than 40 technical and vocational institutions across Cambodia, China, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar and, more recently, Indonesia. The network facilitates knowledge sharing, technical exchanges, joint training programmes and institutional partnerships to support quality skills development across the region.

© ILO

© ILO