The professional IT usage in Cambodia is growing steadily but IT human resources remain a challenge, finds CIST, the Centre for Information Systems Training.
In 2009, Cambodia is getting closer to the international IT market standards but still has a long way to go, especially in IT education.
Phnom Penh – October 21
st
, 2009
The CIST, the Center for Information System Training, releases a study on the Professional IT market in Cambodia. The study shows IT usage in the country is growing steadily. The growth of computer equipment and of IT employees is strong. In Cambodia, employees now have on average one computer for two persons, and office employees all have a computer each. And 99% of companies declare being connected to the Internet. In this context, three IT friendly sectors stand out. The Banking and Finance sector, the Education sector and the Business Services sector.
IT Tools usage is getting closer to international standards. Overall the use of open source is quite high, especially considering licenses are not usually paid for. The majority of companies are now equipped with their own computer network and have their own website; but only half of them have their own Intranet.
However, IT human resources remain a challenge for all companies. There is an unbalanced repartition between the number of IT graduates and the number of positions available. Indeed, the IT job market is growing, but not as fast as the number of IT graduates. But despite numerous candidates, companies declare it is not easy to find a good employee, partly because IT training programs lack of practice and do not meet IT job requirements, and so many engineers seem to be working as IT support. This is one of the reasons why companies now favor collaboration with universities and training centers, and are willing to offer internship opportunities for IT students.
ICT business is also expanding rapidly, and trends are the same than in other developing countries. The IT equipment and service providers benefit from the growing IT equipment in companies. ISP & Telecom companies are following the tendency is towards convergence, with telecom companies on their way to become multi-operators. The Software development and Web design agencies are still concentrated on the local market, mainly on front end customization rather than back end design.
About this Study
This CIST study – 2009 Cambodia IT Market Survey – draws an overall picture of the IT market in the country, focusing on the development of technology and human resources. The results are meant to be shared with all contributors to the survey other relevant actors. The first objective is to collect data on the current usage and needs of the market in term of IT Tools (Hardware & Software) and of IT Human Resources. The second objective being to evaluate the IT jobs opportunity, especially regarding Systems & Network Administration, Software & Web Programming and other potential jobs such as graphic design.
Targeted sectors are the ones where IT usage is expected to be greater than in other sectors and the main growing sectors of the economy in Cambodia. The analysis regards companies over 10 employees, the ones requiring IT staff and IT equipment. 142 General Manager, IT Manager or HR Manager from key players of 13 different sectors were interviewed face-to-face, 37% of them being from the ICT sector; and additional data was gathered for another 106 key players. Overall, 90% of total key players in Phnom Penh are considered.
Vincent Drouillard
CIST – Director
vincent@cistrain.org
Nimol SAHAK (Ms.)
CIST – Company Department Coordinator
nimol@cistrain.org
About CIST
The CIST is an IT training center that trains each year up to 240 students of underprivileged background with IT skills matching the local market needs, and who gives them the best chances to get a job through strong links with the local business tissue. CIST also develops and tests e-learning resources.
CIST has developed a social inclusion model that is flexible and replicable. The nationwide selection process of underprivileged, deserving and motivated students, the development of market-matching training curricula, and the pedagogical approach make it a success: 92% of students find a qualified job within 2 months following their graduation. CIST is one of the largest social training programs in the country, with a selection process that covers 1 high school graduate out of 25, and increases by 1% the number of young people who access higher education.
Initiated in 2005 by the NGO Enfants du Mékong with the support of Accenture and other major actors of the IT field, the CIST project is meeting a strong and growing success. In order to leverage the expertise developed and extend it to new projects, Enfants du Mékong and its partners have created a dedicated legal structure, Passerelles Numériques. This NGO has the legal purpose to reduce the digital divide, especially by offering access to education and to opportunities for employment through personal and professional development programs to the most underprivileged populations. A new project started in 2009 in Cebu (Philippines) fostering the integration of disadvantaged people and the development of an information society for all.
Contact Us
Address:
BP 511 St. 371, Phum Tropeang Chhuk (Borey Sorla)Sangkat Tek Thla, Khan Russey Keo, Phnom Penh
Tel:
+855 (0) 23 99 55 00
Wetsite:
http://www.cistrain.org
Email:
info @ cistrain.org