Expanding Horizons Through Code: The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Cambodian Outreach

The recent memorandum of understanding between the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and Cambodian education authorities is a significant step towards bridging the digital divide in Southeast Asia. This agreement builds on the trust’s existing success with its CoolThink@JC programme, which has already demonstrated the value of computational thinking in education.

Launched in 2016, the CoolThink@JC programme initially focused on providing quality computational thinking education to primary students across Hong Kong. Its emphasis on combining computer programming with logical thinking, problem-solving, and other areas has proven effective in fostering critical skills essential for the digital age. The programme’s success led to its adoption by mainland China through a “sister school” initiative launched in 2025.

Cambodia’s rapid economic growth and increasing demand for skilled workers make it an ideal location for expanding the CoolThink@JC programme. According to reports, Cambodia’s economy has been driven by a surge in garment manufacturing, tourism, and construction – all of which rely heavily on technology and data analysis. However, the country still faces significant challenges in terms of digital infrastructure and human capital.

The trust’s decision to extend its reach into Cambodia is also a strategic move to address the global talent gap. By investing in Cambodian children’s education, the trust is improving lives while cultivating a future workforce that can contribute to regional economic growth and innovation.

This partnership has far-reaching implications beyond Cambodia’s borders. As countries around the world grapple with their own digital divides and skills shortages, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s model offers valuable lessons for policymakers and educators. By emphasizing computational thinking and problem-solving from an early age, the trust is helping to build a foundation for lifelong learning that can be applied across various fields.

The collaboration between the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and Cambodian education authorities also highlights the critical role of public-private partnerships in driving social change. This partnership demonstrates that even seemingly disparate entities can come together to address pressing issues through shared goals and vision.

As the CoolThink@JC programme adapts to Cambodia’s unique educational landscape, it will be interesting to see how local educators and policymakers respond to its emphasis on computational thinking. The impact of this comprehensive approach to digital literacy will likely be significant, shaping the country’s economic landscape in response to increasing demand for skilled workers.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Cambodian outreach serves as a reminder that education is a powerful tool for social mobility and economic development. By investing in the skills of tomorrow’s leaders, we are also securing the future of our global community. The CoolThink@JC programme may be just one initiative among many, but its potential to inspire a new generation of technologists and innovators is undeniable.