Pin Manithpisal enrolled in the Computer Graphics & Design part-time program at IT Academy STEP Cambodia while pursuing a clear ambition: to build a real career in design. Today, more than a year into her role as a UX/UI Designer at a growing tech startup, that ambition has become a reality. Her journey is a reminder that with the right training and genuine effort, talent can be shaped into a profession.
For Manithpisal, the turning point was the way STEP taught. "What I liked most was the project-based learning approach," she shares. "It helped me actually apply what I learned instead of just studying theory. Some of the teachers were very supportive and really helped me understand the material better." Rather than memorizing concepts for an exam, she was building work, solving real problems, and learning the way the industry actually operates.
That approach did more than teach her tools. It gave her a portfolio, the confidence to present her ideas, and skills that translated directly into the workplace. When she stepped into her first design role, she was not starting from zero. She was arriving with proof of what she could do.
Manithpisal also values the international standing of the program. "I recommend STEP IT Academy because they offer internationally recognized certification and focus on project-based learning," she says. "You gain real-world experience, build a strong portfolio, and learn skills that are actually relevant to the industry, not just theory." As part of the global STEP IT Academy network, the school connects local students to a standard of design education recognized well beyond Cambodia.
Today, Manithpisal stands as a strong example of what STEP students can achieve. Her story shows that a part-time program, taken seriously, can open the door to a full-time career. For anyone in Phnom Penh wondering whether design is a path worth pursuing, her answer is clear: build real things, build a portfolio, and the career will follow.
