Young Cambodians eye bright future through Chinese-funded education at SSEZ

Hong Heng Leap, 19, a secong-year student majoring in Business Management from Pray Nop district in Preah Sihanouk province, speaks during an interview at SIBT.KT/Pann Rachana

As China-Cambodia relations deepen through economic and cultural cooperation, local students are seizing new educational opportunities offered by the Sihanoukville Institute of Business and Technology(SIBT), with hopes for a bright future.

Located within the Sihanoukville Special Economy Zone (SSEZ), SIBT is the first institute with Chinese characteristics in Cambodia, operated by higher education institutions from China.

Among them is 19-year-old Hong Heng Leap, a second-year student majopring in Business Management. Hailing from Prey Nop district in Preah Sihanouk province, Leap believes that SIBT offers a clear pathway to a promising career, thanks to its strong Chinese ties.

“I think Preah Sihanouk has a lot of Chinese people, so we can learn Chinese and easily find work,” he said. “I expect to have a good job and earn a high salary after I graduate.”

He encourages other Cambodian youth to consider studying at SIBT, citing not only the language advantage but also the accessibility to jobs within the thriving SSEZ. “They should come to SIBT because they can learn more Chinese, and it’s very easy to find work here,” Leap added.

Seng Ratt, 20, a second-year student from Sihanoukville, studying at SIBT. KT/Pann Rachana

Seng Ratt, 20, also a second-year student from Sihanoukville, shares a similar sentiment. He chose SIBT for its academic offerings and potential to study abroad in China. 

“This institute has Chinese teachers and gives students the opportunity to go to China to study, he said. After I graduate, I expect to get a good job and improve my Chinese language skills. 

Ratt is among the many students looking forward to the third year of the programme, where opportunities to study in China are offered as part of SIBT’s curriculum. “Yes, I’m optimistic. In the third year, we will go to China to continue our studies,” he said confidently.

He stressed the importance of Chinese language proficiency for young Cambodians, especially given the influx of Chinese investment and business in the region. There are so many Chinese investors and business coming to Cambodia, so learning Chinese is very important for us, Ratt explained.

Backed by China’s Wuxi Vocational Institute of Commerce (WXIC), SIBT is becoming a hub for cultivating a new generation of skilled, bilingual professionals who are ready to contribute to Cambodia’s rapidly developing economy.

According to Seng Sothan, the Head of Internal Quality Assurance, the institute has offered scholarships to around 80 Cambodian students per year, and 70% of the students are female, with high potential for employment at the SSEZ.

柬埔寨青年在西哈努克港经济特区接受中资教育，憧憬美好未来

Ben Sokhean / 高棉时报

来自西哈努克省波萝诺县的19岁工商管理专业二年级学生洪兴立在SIBT接受采访时发言。KT/Pann Rachana

随着中柬关系通过经济和文化合作不断深化，当地学生正抓住西港工商学院（SIBT）提供的全新教育机会，对美好未来充满希望。

SIBT位于西哈努克港经济特区（SSEZ），是柬埔寨第一所由中国高校开办的具有中国特色的学院。

19岁的洪兴立就是其中一员，他是一名商业管理专业的二年级学生。 Leap来自西哈努克省波罗诺县，他认为SIBT凭借其与中国的紧密联系，为学生提供了一条通往光明未来职业发展的清晰道路。

“我觉得西哈努克省有很多中国人，所以我们可以学习中文，而且很容易找到工作，”他说。“我希望毕业后能找到一份好工作，拿着高薪。”

他鼓励其他柬埔寨年轻人考虑就读SIBT，不仅因为语言优势，还因为在蓬勃发展的西哈努克经济特区，就业市场便利。“他们应该来SIBT，因为他们可以学到更多中文，而且在这里很容易找到工作，”Leap补充道。

来自西哈努克市的20岁二年级学生Seng Ratt正在SIBT就读。KT/Pann Rachana

同样来自西哈努克市的20岁二年级学生Seng Ratt也表达了类似的看法。他选择SIBT是因为它的学术课程丰富，而且有机会去中国留学。

“这所学院有中文教师，学生们有机会去中国学习，”他说道。“毕业后，我希望找到一份好工作，并提高我的中文水平。”

拉特是众多期待着该项目第三年的学生之一，届时，SIBT 的课程将提供前往中国学习的机会。“是的，我很乐观。第三年，我们将去中国继续深造，”他自信地说。

他强调了中文能力对柬埔寨年轻人的重要性，尤其是在中国投资和商业涌入该地区的背景下。“现在有很多中国投资者和企业来到柬埔寨，所以学习中文对我们来说非常重要，”拉特解释道。

在中国无锡商业职业学院（WXIC）的支持下，SIBT 正在成为培养新一代高技能双语专业人才的中心，这些人才将为柬埔寨快速发展的经济做出贡献。

内部质量保证主管Seng Sothan 表示，该学院每年向约 80 名柬埔寨学生提供奖学金，其中 70% 为女性，在西哈努克港经济特区就业潜力很大。

新闻来源：无锡商业职业技术学院

相关链接：【高棉时报】柬埔寨青年在西哈努克港经济特区接受中资教育，憧憬美好未来-媒体聚焦-无锡商业职业技术学院