From the Classroom to Agricultural Cooperatives: Building Skills in Cambodia

From the Classroom to Agricultural Cooperatives: Building Skills in Cambodia

For students of agriculture, a cooperative can be more than a subject in a textbook. It can be a place to apply their knowledge, conduct research and begin a career. A partnership between DGRV and Cambodia’s Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) is helping students make this connection.

The cooperation brings university education closer to the needs of the cooperative sector. It combines teaching with internships, student research and professional training. These activities are part of DGRV’s work in Cambodia and are made possible by financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The goal is to prepare young people for cooperative work while strengthening the skills of those already active in the sector.

Understanding Cooperatives and Their Role

The journey starts in the classroom. RUA’s Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (AERD) is integrating cooperative topics into its curriculum. Students learn how agricultural cooperatives work and why they matter for rural economic development.

This knowledge opens up a new perspective on their studies. Alongside learning about agriculture and economics, students discover organisations in which they could put these skills to use. Cooperatives become visible as potential employers and places where graduates can contribute to rural development.

The partnership also responds to Cambodia’s growing focus on Modern Agricultural Cooperatives (MACs). As the sector develops, it needs people who understand both agriculture and the cooperative business model. University education can help build that foundation.

Taking Knowledge into Practice

Understanding a cooperative in the classroom is one step. Experiencing its work is another. Internships give students the opportunity to connect academic knowledge with professional practice.

In 2026, ten students were offered the opportunity to undertake internships and write their graduation theses with DGRV support. Eight took up this opportunity and successfully completed their internships and theses. Such internships in agricultural cooperatives and cooperative institutions introduce them to the sector’s daily work. They can explore how their studies relate to the organisations they may one day join.

Their graduation research creates a further link between education and practice. Students can examine cooperative topics in greater depth and draw on their practical experience. The university, in turn, strengthens its connection with the sector.

Together, these opportunities help students move from learning about cooperatives to considering a future within them. They also help the sector connect with young, qualified people.

Building a Lasting Link Between Education and Practice

The cooperation extends beyond the students. It includes professional development for faculty staff and the development of training on cooperative topics. These training opportunities will be certified by RUA.

This connects two important needs: preparing the next generation and supporting people already working in cooperatives. Stronger teaching can benefit future graduates. Further training can help practitioners develop their skills throughout their careers.

By bringing together the university, agricultural cooperatives and state institutions, the partnership supports a more professional and sustainable cooperative system. It strengthens the link between what is taught, what is researched and what is needed in practice.