IT Academy STEP Institute delegation held a successful meeting with H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, on 14 September 2026 in Phnom Penh. The discussion focused on STEP's contribution to IT higher education, the development of job-ready digital talent and opportunities to expand cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.
The STEP delegation was led by Mrs. Rodionova Natalja, Managing Partner of IT Academy STEP Institute and director of Sisters of Code, STEP's non-profit initiative for girls and young women.
H.E. the Deputy Prime Minister recognised IT Academy STEP's and Sisters of Code active contribution to digital education in Cambodia and expressed interest in strengthening and expanding cooperation. The discussion connected STEP's work with the Ministry's priorities for STEM education, digital transformation, teacher development, critical thinking, innovation and stronger cooperation between education and industry.
Presenting STEP's Contribution to IT Education in Cambodia
During the meeting, IT Academy STEP presented its development from a specialised training centre established in Phnom Penh in 2015 into a private higher education institute offering Associate Degree programmes, professional programmes and short courses. STEP's central objective remains clear: students should graduate with technical competence, practical experience and skills that employers can use.
In 2025, the Institute served more than 1000 active students in professional programmes and around 700 participants in short courses. Flexible morning, afternoon, evening and weekend schedules allow working students and learners from outside Phnom Penh to continue their education. Women represented 29% of STEP students, up from 25% in the previous year.
STEP also reported strong graduate outcomes. The Institute's tracking of its two most recent graduate cohorts found that 97% were working. Their employers included Cambodian banks, telecommunications companies, government institutions, international organisations and major private-sector companies. The median reported monthly salary was USD 450, while 25% earned USD 600 or more. Many students began working before graduation.
These results reflect STEP's project-based approach. Students build portfolios during their studies and learn teamwork, leadership, communication and problem-solving alongside technical subjects. International certification opportunities from technology partners are incorporated into the curriculum without additional certification fees for students.
Expanding Associate Degree Programmes and the Computer Science Pathway
A major part of the meeting addressed the next stage of STEP's higher education development. The Institute is expanding and updating its Associate Degree programmes in response to student demand and changes in Cambodia's labour market.
STEP is also completing the formal institutional upgrade process required to offer a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. The proposed pathway would allow Associate Degree graduates to continue towards a full degree in Cambodia, that would create new professional and educational opportunities for the students.
A local bachelor pathway is increasingly relevant because many senior technical and management positions require a bachelor's degree. At the same time, Cambodia needs more graduates who can move beyond basic digital use and contribute to software development, data, cybersecurity, digital business and technology management.
The meeting gave IT Academy STEP the opportunity to brief H.E. the Deputy Prime Minister on the progress of the application and request the Ministry's guidance on the remaining stages. The process remains subject to the Ministry's formal review and approval procedures.
Four Areas for Continued Cooperation
IT Academy STEP presented four areas where continued cooperation can contribute to Cambodia's education and digital-economy priorities:
IT higher education. Continue developing Associate Degree programmes and work through the required process for a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.
Employment-focused digital skills. Use graduate data, employer feedback and project-based learning to keep programmes relevant to the labour market.
Teacher and student capacity. Share practical experience in coding, STEM teaching and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in education.
Wider access to technology education. Support public schools and provincial learners through structured digital content, school partnerships and community programmes.
Sisters of Code Extends STEP's Social Impact
The meeting also reviewed the results of Sisters of Code, the non-profit programme founded in 2019 to increase the participation of Cambodian girls and young women in technology. The programme demonstrates how STEP's curriculum, trainers and industry knowledge can support learners beyond the Institute's enrolled student body.
Through free Coding Clubs and the Sisters of Code Ambassadors Programme, girls aged 10 to 18 learn Scratch, HTML and CSS, UX and UI design, game development and introductory artificial intelligence. The programme has worked with public schools, New Generation Schools and partners in Phnom Penh and 19 provinces. Its learning content has also been made available through Educational Broadcasting Cambodia.
Sisters of Code remains an important part of STEP's contribution, but the larger institutional goal is broader: to build connected pathways from early exposure to technology, through higher education, and into skilled employment.
Supporting Cambodia's Digital Education Priorities
H.E. the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the progress of digital education in public schools and New Generation Schools. The Ministry's current direction places greater emphasis on practical application, technology integration in the curriculum, school equipment, teacher capacity, critical thinking and innovation.
This direction is closely aligned with STEP's experience. Digital transformation requires more than access to devices or software. It requires qualified teachers, relevant curricula, regular practice and clear progression from school to higher education and employment.
The successful meeting created a positive basis for deeper cooperation between IT Academy STEP and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. STEP will continue developing practical IT higher education, strengthening its academic programmes and contributing evidence from students, graduates and employers to Cambodia's digital skills agenda.
