Cambodia Graduates First Urban Planning Students Through Seoul Tech Partnership

Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SNUST) celebrated a historic milestone on July 31, with the graduation of 31 students from the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) in Cambodia's first-ever urban planning bachelor's program. This marks a significant achievement for the "International Cooperation Leading University Cultivation and Support Project," initiated by SNUST's Graduate School of International Urban Science in 2021 with support from the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea.

The collaborative program, which received approval to establish the "Department of Sustainable Urban Planning and Development" (DSUPD) in May 2022, successfully integrated SNUST's advanced urban planning curriculum and Korea's urban development expertise into the Cambodian educational system. The graduation ceremony was attended by over 200 dignitaries, including SNUST President Won Yong-gul, RUPP President Chet Chealy, and representatives from both the South Korean and Cambodian governments.

President Won Yong-gul emphasized the project's foundation in the belief that knowledge grows through sharing, stating, "The 31 talents graduating today will be pioneers who will rewrite Cambodian urban history as world-class experts, combining Seoul's development experience with RUPP's academic foundation." Over the past six years, SNUST has actively supported DSUPD by co-developing 28 specialized curricula and textbooks, providing faculty training, establishing smart classrooms, and offering internship programs in Cambodian government bodies like the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, and the Phnom Penh City Hall.

Looking ahead, SNUST and RUPP plan to establish a "Smart City and Infrastructure Development Research Center" to ensure continued collaboration beyond the project's official term. This center will facilitate joint research and knowledge exchange in urban planning. SNUST, with its extensive experience in urban engineering, planning, and administration, aims to contribute to urban development both domestically and internationally through its specialized graduate school, which has been actively involved in degree programs, training, and ODA projects since 2013.

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The 31 talents graduating today will be pioneers who will rewrite Cambodian urban history as world-class experts, combining Seoul's development experience with RUPP's academic foundation.