Smart Axiata invests $1.5m in building tomorrow’s digital leaders

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) together with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPTC) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with Smart Axiata to develop future talents and digital corporate leaders over the next three years.

With the signing of the MoU, Smart Axiata commits to investing $1.5 million into two programmes, the existing SmartEdu Scholarship Program and the newly launched SmartEdu University Student Development Program (USDP).

With the USDP, which will run for three years, Smart Axiata is targeting top Cambodian students from any university nationwide.

Smart Axiata has extended its scholarship programme, partnering with both ministries, for 3 more years for students going to public universities, including those going to the National Institute of Posts, Telecoms and ICT under the purview of MPTC.

“The scholarship is our commitment to continue providing 20 scholarships each year for 3 years with up to $15,000 allocated per students for the whole study programme. This includes their tuition fees and monthly allowances,” said Smart Axiata.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Raffles Hotel Royal in Phnom Penh yesterday, Smart Axiata CEO Thomas Hundt said, “This is another significant milestone for Smart Axiata as we actively contribute towards long-term socio-economic growth in Cambodia.

“We are not only signing a tripartite MoU with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, but we also launched a new flagship development programme under the SmartEdu brand.

“This is a clear statement of our partnership with the Royal Government on realising our collective vision of creating a digital Cambodia alongside our objective of being a national champion.”

Mr Hundt said under the USDP, which emulates the successful Axiata Young Talent Programme conducted in Malaysia, 48 top Cambodian university students will take part in a 13-day stay-in Bootcamp that will provide participants with theoretical, experiential, personal and relational development opportunities through workshops, business simulations as well as coaching, centred on various industries.

The winning teams will receive cash prizes while the top five participants will receive a fully-sponsored 2-month work placement at the Axiata Group in Malaysia.

“The new flagship CSR initiative, the SmartEdu University Student Development Programme will shape the future of Cambodia. A portion of the investment will be from Smart’s contribution to the Capacity Building and R&D Fund.

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