ACE Officially Opened Its 6th Campus in Cambodia

The 6th campus of the Australian Centre for Education (ACE) in Chak Angre was officially opened by the Cambodian Minister of Education, Youth and Sport His Excellency Dr Hangchuon Naron, the Australian Foreign Minister Senator the Honourable PennyWong and ACE and IDP Education Country Director Mr Mao Sreng on 4 August 2022.

This new campus currently has 2,000 students enrolled from seven years old to working professionals. The full capacity of this campus is 8,000 students. Equipped with world class facilities and flexible spaces, and it is also home to an IDP Study Abroad Resource Centre and the IELTS Cambodia Official Test Centre.

“This building was previously a garment factory, and the renovations to become a school were completed just before the arrival of COVID-19. To curb the widespread outbreak of COVID-19, schools were closed and our classes at this campus were digitized and delivered virtually. This campus was then used as a vaccination centre to speed up the government vaccination program. Around 10,000 people from the surrounding communities received their vaccinations here.”  said ACE and IDP Education Country Director Mr Mao Sreng.

ACE has around 80,000 enrolments a year and this new facility will allow the schools to accommodate even more students. ACE is not only recognised for its scale but also for its world class quality. Last year, ACE won the Language Educator of the Year award in London – the first school outside of Europe to have won this prestigious award - selected by a panel of 43 judges from leading universities, educational institutions, and professional bodies from 25 countries across the globe.

Established in Cambodia in 1992 by IDP Education, a global leader in international education and student placement services, to respond to the English language training needs of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), ACE has now grown into six campuses in the country. In addition to ACE, IDP also offers IELTS testing and international student placement services for those pursuing their studies in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, the UK and Ireland.

“Over the past 30 years, more than half a million students of over 20 nationalities have studied at our schools and around 10,000 Cambodians have been placed into quality schools and universities overseas by our study abroad office” said Mr Mao.

His Excellency Dr Hangchuon Naron was pleased to note that this year Cambodia and Australia reached a celebratory milestone of 70 years of diplomatic relations as the two countries enjoy strong bond of friendship and productive cooperation across all domains. “Since 1992, ACE has played a crucial role in the development of English language education for Cambodian students, government officials, and professionals at various levels.” he added.

Minister Wong commented on the importance of the new campus.

“30 years ago, Prime Minister Keating and, one of my predecessors, Foreign Minister Gareth Evans understood the importance of the region we share. So, standing beside the Bassac River, a major branch of the Mekong, this new campus will equip even more young women and men including those with us today with the English skills to realise opportunities as international citizens.  It stands as a reminder of a region we share a connected future,” said Minister Wong.

Minister Wong also commended ACE as a proud part of Australia’s education contribution to Cambodia and that ACE alumni have used their English language skills to undertake postgraduate studies in Australia to get the job they want, to open new businesses and to bridge their local communities to the wider world.

Mr Sreng Mao said the celebration was an opportunity to acknowledge the generations of students who achieved their global goals after studying at ACE.

“Witnessed through my 22 years with ACE and IDP, the work of our people plays a role in creating generations of leaders, strengthening and enriching Cambodian and Australian communities. Today we celebrate our 30 years of world class education services and contribution to the education in industry and 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries this year.” added Mr. Mao.

This event represented a historic milestone symbolising strong relations between Australia and Cambodia over the last seven decades, in addition to the celebration of ACE and DP Education’s 30 years operation in Cambodia​.