Phnom Penh: On 4 December 2025, Her Excellency Van Sereyroth, Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Tourism, representing H.E. Huot Hak, Minister of Tourism, together with Mr. Tun Sophorn, National Coordinator of the International Labour Organization (ILO), presided over the opening ceremony of the dissemination workshop on the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) mechanism and the registration process for Tourism Professional Assessment Centers.
The workshop brought together 150 participants, including senior officials and staff of the Ministry of Tourism, representatives of tourism associations, vocational training centers, tourism operators, master trainers and national–ASEAN assessors, tourism and hospitality training institutions, and other relevant stakeholders.
On this occasion, Mr. Tun Sophorn, representing the ILO, affirmed the organization’s support for the Ministry of Tourism in promoting lifelong learning and competency assessment through the RPL mechanism, in alignment with national and ASEAN qualification frameworks. He emphasized that the ILO is also committed to strengthening the skills of job seekers and migrant workers to ensure their access to decent employment and appropriate qualifications.
Her Excellency the Under Secretary of State highlighted the strong cooperation between the Ministry and the ILO, particularly under the DEY III Project, which focuses on developing master trainers and assessors, and strengthening Assessment Centers. This includes the preparation of relevant documents, training for national master trainers and assessors, competency-based training in food and beverage service and front-office operations, public awareness on the RPL assessment system, and the enhancement of Assessment Centers to meet national and ASEAN standards.
The workshop also featured presentations by technical officers and Assessment Center representatives who shared experiences in human resource development, Assessment Center registration, RPL implementation, and the roles and benefits of Assessment Centers. Participants encouraged the Ministry to continue expanding the dissemination of these mechanisms so that workers better understand the value of competency upgrading through the RPL system.
It is important to note that Tourism Professional Assessment Centers operate under the supervision of the Ministry of Tourism, with technical support and guidance from the Secretariat of the National Tourism Professional Board, which evaluates competency levels in accordance with national and ASEAN standards. These centers serve as venues for collecting evidence through assessments of applicants’ knowledge, experience, competencies, and skills. Moreover, Assessment Centers offer workers the opportunity to identify their strengths and skill gaps, thereby enabling them to improve their competencies or pursue further technical and professional education, as well as higher education pathways. Candidates who successfully complete the assessments will receive certificates recognizing their competency levels consistent with national and ASEAN standards.
