World Bank Approves $80M to Strengthen Higher Education in Cambodia, with Focus on STEM and Inclusivity

The project places a special focus on improving the learning experience for female students and students with disabilities, while also offering support to female faculty members.

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved an $80 million financing package to boost higher education and research quality in Cambodia, specifically in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This funding comes through the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's concessional lending arm for low-income countries.

Over the course of six years, the project will support nine public higher education institutions in developing highly skilled graduates and research initiatives that align with Cambodia’s economic development goals. The initiative is set to benefit 32,000 students, including 13,000 women, by updating curricula, training lecturers, and digitizing education delivery systems.

The project places a special focus on improving the learning experience for female students and students with disabilities, while also offering support to female faculty members. In addition, the project integrates climate-resilient infrastructure and encourages research projects related to climate change.

"Strengthening high-quality higher education and preparing a critical mass of highly skilled graduates will help Cambodia advance its human capital and promote inclusive growth and development," said Tania Meyer, World Bank Country Manager for Cambodia.

Although Cambodia has made strides in expanding access to higher education, there is still a need to improve the quality and relevance of education and research to meet the changing needs of the labor market. This project builds on the success of a previous World Bank initiative, which enhanced learning for 128,000 higher education students, including over 67 academic programs and 147 laboratory renovations.