Experiences sharing from an interenship student through InGuider Model 

Sustainable agriculture
22.02.2023
PHA Sreynich a 22-year-old student at the Royal University of Agriculture’s Faculty of Agriculture Engineering, shares her experience with the InGuider Model.

Sreynich moved to Phnom Penh from Banteay Meanchey province to attend university as she wanted to pursue a career in the field of agriculture. Her journey with the Cambodian Conservation Agriculture Research for Development Center (CARDEC) started in August 2022 after learning about the internship opportunity through InGuider.

"I wanted to participate in the InGuider program to gain work experience, build practical knowledge in the field of agriculture, and build relationships with new people. I received a lot of guidance throughout my internship, and I am grateful for the university in providing this opportunity."
Pha Sreynich, student at the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA), Faculty of Agriculture Engineering
Sreynich at Cambodian Conservation Agriculture Research for Development Center (CARDEC) on 25 October 2022

She was happy when she learned that she had an opportunity to immerse herself to learn more about agroecology and conservation agriculture at CARDEC in Rattanak Mondul District, Battambang Province.

During her internship, Sreynich was involved in implementing field operations and supporting the use of agricultural machineries, use of plant genetic resources and assisting in design and assessment of innovative agriculture-based systems in the lowlands and uplands of Battambang. She also provided technical assistance to farmers while also conducting field research and surveys. She stressed that internship secured through InGuider has helped her gain an in-depth understanding on the various dynamics of conservation agriculture through the on-ground experience and motivated her further to pursue her career in agriculture and help develop the agroecology and conservation agriculture sector in Cambodia.

Sreynich was among the 18 students from Faculty of Agricultural Engineering of Royal University of Agriculture in Phnom Penh who participated in the InGuider Model. The InGuider Model serves as an education and apprenticeship platform connecting higher education and private sectors in the field of Agroecology. The InGuider model was developed by Faculty of Agriculture Engineering at Royal University of Agriculture and Swisscontact to work specifically with university students in the agriculture sector to equip and empower them with relevant skills, by providing them with quality hands-on training via internships.

Cambodia
Sustainable agriculture
Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture 
The project promotes appropriate technologies and extension services for a sustainable intensification of agricultural production leading to reduced negative impacts on the environment including an improved soil health that allows smallholder farmers to increase their productivity and income.