Break Down Barriers to Skilled Jobs, Women Urged
Long Sokheng is undertaking a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering in Thailand. Photo provided
- By Choeun Sreynoy
- and Teng Yalirozy
- March 9, 2022 11:51 AM
Engineering student challenges gender gap
PHNOM PENH--A fourth-year Cambodian student studying industrial engineering in Thailand is encouraging Cambodian females to do what they love, believing that women can do anything a man can.
Long Sokheng, 22, says the subject, that focuses on production chains and machinery, had not been easy for her as a female but became easier once she devoted herself to it and became flexible.
The subject also involves automation, production forecasting, object testing, design production, maintenance of machinery, quality control and capital reduction, energy management, and environmental protection in industrial plants.
“The study requires a lot of practice,” she said. “At first, I encountered a lot of problems in adapting to using the machines because as a woman I did not care about machines before.
“I had to change from a person who never dared to grasp nails, drills, cutting tools, lathes or welding to a person who used these tools every day.
“But in cases of needing to use a lot of force, there is help from the men.”
After graduating from the Baccalaureate exam in 2017, she wanted to study bio-engineering at the Royal University of Phnom Penh but there was no scholarship for that major.
She then investigated studying bio-engineering in Thailand but the course was not available there. There was a scholarship for industrial engineering at Silpakorn University and she chose that even though the subject was less attractive.
She has received full support from her family, which is a major motivator to help her get through difficulties during her time studying abroad.
"Every time I am very tired and bored with my study life, I always look at the photos of my family members, because every time I see them, it reminds me that I have to finish school as soon as possible because there are people waiting for me at home. This is my main motivation,” she said.
Wanting to contribute to the development of the agro-industry in Cambodia, Sokheng is determined to become a human resource for the nation.
She believes that in the future, industrial engineering will be more important and marketable because industry plays an important role in the development of the country as Cambodia moves towards the Industrial Revolution 4.0.
Sokheng encourages other women not to hesitate to choose a study topic or do something they love, even though there may be few women involved.
“As a woman, I think that women can do what men can do, but it only has to be done differently,” she said. “We need to value and take responsibility for ourselves and excel ourselves to the next level by continuing to study deeply and see the world more broadly."
