The Skill Development Fund (SDF) has marked a historic milestone for Cambodia, achieving its first two prestigious international awards. The SDF was honored with both the “HCM Excellence Award 2025” and the “2026 Brandon Hall Group HR Prediction Champion” in the “Best Employee Skill Development Program” category. These accolades were bestowed by the Brandon Hall Group, a renowned independent research and analysis institution based in the United States.
Dr. Phan Phalla, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Chairman of the SDF Board of Trustees, alongside Mr. Khe Soksokym, CEO of SDF, officially received these distinguished awards. The ceremony took place during the “HCM Excellence Conference 2026,” an international conference on Human Capital Management Excellence, held in Florida, USA.
This remarkable success underscores the rigorous evaluation conducted by international experts on the quality and effectiveness of SDF’s skill development programs. The programs are lauded for their demand-driven approach, directly responding to the needs of the job market, and for fostering close collaboration with key partners, particularly within the ASEAN region, including Malaysia and Singapore.
The international awards ceremony in the United States brought together approximately 500 participants representing 200 institutions from 20 countries worldwide. The event also saw leading global corporations, such as Bank of America, GE, Google, HP, Lexus, Pfizer, Qatar Airways, Harman, and McDonald, receiving awards, placing SDF among elite international organizations.
Beyond the awards ceremony, SDF leaders actively participated in sessions designed to explore crucial global trends for enhancing work efficiency in the digital age. These insights, presented by the Brandon Hall Group, included:
1. **Skills-Based Recruitment Modernization:** This approach aims to drive transformation and growth in employee roles within organizations while simultaneously reducing costs.
2. **AI Governance and Learning & Development (L&D):** Emphasizing the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI Coaching to assist in data analysis, streamline work processes, and automate evaluations.
3. **Building Digital Leadership Capacity:** Focusing on strengthening “Executive Presence”—encompassing a leader’s demeanor, confidence, and influential communication skills—and promoting adaptability in response to the rapid evolution of the work environment.
4. **Virtuous Talent Cycle:** This concept involves integrating and promoting skill development, mentorship, and practical application, thereby creating a continuous cycle of talent enhancement to ensure maximum work efficiency.
It is important to note the impressive effectiveness of SDF-supported programs, as assessed by an inter-ministerial working group and independent institutions. These programs have demonstrated high impact for stakeholders, with a remarkable 96% course completion rate, an 88% employment rate, an average salary increase of 20%, and approximately 85% employer satisfaction. Furthermore, the post-training impact data reveals significant improvements: 96% employee job stability, a 56% reduction in work performance errors, 89% career advancement, 80% job retention, and an estimated 71% increase in employee work capacity. These figures strongly affirm the private sector’s confidence in SDF’s initiatives.
