On November 28, 2025, the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) organized a crucial workshop titled “Conducting Need Analysis Survey to Benchmark the Academic Program with Market Needs“. Supported by the HEIP-2 project, the event brought together over 60 participants, including representatives from Ministries, Development Partners, NGOs, and the Private Sector.

The goal was to review our Water and Environmental Engineering (WEE) curriculum and ask the industry one big question: What skills do our students need to succeed in the real world?.

After productive discussions in breakout groups covering Water Supply, Wastewater, and Sanitation, we gathered all comments and synthesized it as below :

1. Focus on Competency: It is not enough to just complete a course; students must be able to demonstrate practical skills and “do” the work.

2. Digital Readiness & AI: The industry demands proficiency in core software like AutoCAD, Revit, QGIS (Python), and EPANET. The modern engineers must continuous learning, leveraging AI and new digital tools to optimize efficiency and innovation.

3. Soft Skills and Mindset Matter: Students need to build confidence, leadership, and strong communication skills to explain technical ideas clearly. Stduents and graduate need to shift from being ‘order-takers’ to creative problem solvers.

4. Understanding Standards: Students must learn about legal regulations (Sub-decrees) and ISO standards before entering the workforce.

5. Wastewater Opportunity: There is a significant shortage of human resources in the wastewater sector, specifically for treatment plant design and operation.

6. Promoting Graduate Capabilities: We need to better communicate the program’s value to society. It is essential to clearly showcase the specific competencies our graduates possess and demonstrate exactly what professional problems they can solve immediately after graduation.

Moving Forward 🚀 We are committed to using this feedback to update our curriculum and ensure our graduates are not just “Fast Learners,” but “Work-Ready” professionals.

Thank you to and to all the stakeholders for your valuable contribution!.

#ITC #EngineeringEducation #HEIP2 #WaterEngineering #SkillsGap #GRU #WEE