PHNOM PENH: Indonesia has opened applications for two fully funded scholarship programmes for Cambodian students and government officials in 2026, reinforcing its commitment to strengthening human capital development and deepening bilateral cooperation through education.
“The Indonesia government announced that Cambodian citizens can now apply for the Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) Scholarship and the Indonesian AID Scholarship (TIAS), two flagship programmes aimed at expanding academic access and enhancing professional capacity,” explained the Indonesian embassy to Cambodia.
The KNB Scholarship offers outstanding Cambodian students the opportunity to pursue Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees at leading universities across Indonesia.
Applications are open until March 30.
Meanwhile, the TIAS Scholarship is specifically designed for Cambodian civil servants, government officials, lecturers at public institutions and individuals nominated by relevant ministries or state agencies.
The programme provides study opportunities at Diploma, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral levels, with applications running from Feb 16 to April 17.
Both programmes are fully funded, covering tuition fees, monthly living allowances, international airfares and other essential academic support.
Indonesian ambassador Santo Darmosumarto noted that the scholarships represent a long-term investment in Cambodia’s future leadership and institutional capacity.
“Indonesia believes that investing in education and human resources is key to building a resilient and prosperous nation. We warmly invite talented Cambodian students and civil servants to seize this opportunity to study in Indonesia and become future bridges of cooperation between our two countries,” he said.
Education cooperation has become an increasingly important pillar of Indonesia–Cambodia relations.
The KNB Scholarship, established in 1992, has enabled many Cambodian students to study in Indonesia over the past three decades.
Alumni have since taken up roles in government institutions, universities, private enterprises and civil society organisations across the Cambodia.
The TIAS framework, formalised through an agreement signed in December last year, further expands bilateral collaboration by targeting leadership development and professional skills enhancement within Cambodia’s public sector.
The programme is expected to strengthen governance capacity, policy expertise and technical knowledge transfer between the two countries.
Beyond academic qualifications, Indonesian officials emphasised the broader value of regional exposure. Studying in Indonesia allows Cambodian scholars and officials to experience one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic and culturally diverse nations while building professional networks within Asean.
Indonesia positions itself as offering quality and affordable higher education, supported by established universities and polytechnics across the archipelago.
For Cambodia, participation in these programmes aligns with ongoing national efforts to upgrade human resources and accelerate sustainable development.
The embassy encouraged motivated and qualified applicants to apply within the respective deadlines, noting that the scholarships are intended to nurture future leaders capable of contributing to Cambodia’s long-term socio-economic progress while strengthening friendship between the two Asean member states.
Further information on the KNB and TIAS scholarships is available through the official programme websites and the embassy. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
