As part of its efforts to address the use of technology in education, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport held Cambodia’s first national EdTech Summit.
As part of its efforts to address the use of technology in education, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport held Cambodia’s first national EdTech Summit.
Themed “Pathways to Cambodia’s Digital Education”, the event took place at the capital’s Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) on February 17 and 18, with the support of UNESCO.
The conference aimed to emphasise the role of digital technologies in strengthening the quality and relevance of teaching, learning, inclusion and education administration and governance, as part of the Kingdom’s progress towards achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).
Presided over education minister Hang Chuon Naron, the event brought together a diverse community of over 2,400 participants, including policymakers, educators, ICT experts, EdTech innovators and industry leaders, to foster knowledge sharing, innovation and collaboration in integrating technology into Cambodia’s education system.
Education minister Hang Chuon Naron (centre-right), with strategic partners of the summit. Education ministry
“The Summit addressed the challenges and opportunities in the EdTech ecosystem, focusing on equitable, sustainable and safe education, innovation and skills development in Cambodia,” explained a UNESCO press release.
“Through insightful discussions, presentations and exhibitions, the event sought to drive continuous innovation, promote collaboration and accelerate the adoption of technology-enhanced learning solutions,” it added.
Chuon Naron addressed the opening ceremony.
He emphasized the ministry's commitment to integrating digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) into the education system. He also highlighted the need for preparing Cambodian youth with new life skills in digital technology to meet the demands of the future job market.
“Since the adoption of the Beijing Consensus on AI and Education in 2019 – led by UNESCO and convened over 105 member states including Cambodia – the country has demonstrated a proactive approach to AI in education,” he said.
Anders Lee, programme manager of UNESCO’s Strengthening Teacher Education Programmes in Cambodia (STEPCam), delivered a keynote presentation on “Ethical Generative AI in Education”, introducing the promises and risks of leveraging AI in education and highlighting the importance of preserving human agency in a world of automation.
He explained that globally, UNESCO has been at the forefront of efforts to integrate AI into education, fostering dialogue at global and regional levels, setting ethical standards and ensuring equitable access to learning opportunities in the AI era.
UNESCO’s global frameworks offer technical guidance and recommendations on how best to harness AI technologies for achieving the Education 2030 Agenda. These include the AI competency framework for teachers and students, guidance for generative AI in education and research and guidance for policy-makers in AI and education, among others.
Lee noted that under UNESCO’s STEPCam Programme, a $27.02 million project funded by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), UNESCO is working closely with the education ministry to develop an ICT and AI competency framework for teachers.
The framework, expected to launch this year, aims to provide actionable guidelines for educators to be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the technology-and-AI-driven educational landscape.
To emphasise the central role of teachers in the age of increased use of AI and ICT in education, UNESCO joined the selection committee and contributed to the awards for the Most Innovative EdTech Teacher Competition, announced during the Summit.
The award recognised teachers’ exceptional contributions through creative and impactful teaching methodologies utilising digital technology tools.
Several other UNESCO-supported programmes were also showcased at the Summit, including the Basic Education Equivalency Programme (BEEP), a hybrid programme that leverages technology to provide a flexible learning pathway for basic education and skills development.
The press release noted that UNESCO continues to drive the digital transformation in Cambodia's education system to enhance learning outcomes and to promote equity.
“We remain committed to collaborating with the ministry to develop strategic policies and guiding frameworks, improve digital infrastructure and learning platforms, equip for teachers with ICT skills and competencies through pre-service training and continuous professional development, and promote technology-driven flexible learning pathways for basic education and skills development,” it added.
