Participants during the workshop. ©FAO/Chum Nith

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Fisheries Administration (FiA) with funding from the European Union are holding a series of fisheries science curriculum review workshops with universities to improve fisheries education in Cambodia. The four universities involved are the Royal University of Agriculture, Prek Leap National Institute of Agriculture, Kampong Cham National Institute of Agriculture and Kratie University.

Aside from enhancing the institutional capacity in fisheries education, this work will also ensure that university students are provided with up-to-date knowledge, skills, as well as competencies that best fit the current job market demands. The workshops are part of broader efforts aimed at enhancing fisheries management in the country by shaping a generation of young professionals who can address the challenges of a rapidly evolving sector.

These workshops are taking place in Siem Reap from 14 to 16 November 2023 and from 5 to 7 December 2023.

“We are responding to a demand from faculties teaching fisheries science to help review and update fisheries curriculum in order to catch up with the current knowledge and technologies as well as adapt to the evolving local, regional and international job market in the fisheries sector,” said Eric Baran, International Fisheries Research Specialist at FAO Cambodia.

H.E. Hem Virak, Director of Kampong Cham National Institute of Agriculture welcomed this unique support to curriculum revision and development. It was done through coordination with lecturers from other universities.

Likewise, the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment of Prek Leap National Institute of Agriculture also welcomed the support. “It is the first time ever that curriculum is prepared in coordination between the four universities,” said Phen Sovatdy.

During the workshops, deans, professors, stakeholders, and key actors conducted detailed assessments of lesson learning outcomes for fisheries subjects to make them more relevant to the needs of the sector and to the demands of the industry. Lecturers and university management staff also had the chance to provide feedback and share practical experience on the existing curriculum and syllabi.

The initial workshops in Siem Reap featured the participation of 30 representatives from both Government and the four participating universities. Overall, the workshops target contribution from 60 stakeholders. Following these sessions, relevant curriculum and syllabi will be revised, finalized and validated before they are submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport for approval and become the norm for the years to come.

More about support to universities

FAO is also supporting exchange between the FiA and the four universities. Thus, a program connecting year four Bachelor of Science students and 20 provincial FiA Cantonments was developed. Cantonments hosts students, where for six months they undertake a research thesis on a subject relevant to the Cantonment. Then they spend another six months in the Cantonment where they assist with management tasks and gain professional experience.

The improvement of curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Fisheries is being implemented with funding from the European Union under FAO Complementary Support to the Cambodia Programme for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in the Fisheries Sector, which is being implemented from 2019 to 2024. It falls within a specific component focusing on improved knowledge for fisheries management, which also includes support to priority research activities.