Published on Jan 16, 2018
It was 10 years ago when I was in the 12th grade. Graduation was soon approaching, and with it came the uncertainty of what I would study after grade school. What major would best match my interests, what kind of career would I prepare for? I was excited to begin a new phase of my life, but I had many questions, and the future was unclear.
Recently, in one of the iLab’s ‘iCamps’, an app was incubated to help students answer questions related to their future careers and topics of study. The application is called ‘Trey Visay.’ The features in the app help prepare students to understand their strengths, and future careers that match their personalities and interests. When I think about this new Trey Visay app, I am inspired by its potential. I wished that such a resource was created a decade ago. I personally spent a year of my life after grade school studying a subject I wasn’t interested in. Trey Visay could have helped point me in the right direction to study what I love.
The design of the Trey Visay application itself is not just a one-time test, but rather it continues providing support and information. Once an account is created, the system alerts the user of when an in-person consultation is available and recommended. There are two main features in the application. One is to provide students with a ‘Personal Understanding’ test – by completing this test, students are able to learn more about themselves, including defining and planning for their future plans. The next test helps a student define potential careers based on their preferred subjects in school. The app uses their answers to narrow down career options to suggested career pathways, including which subjects to study. The application then guides the student with suggestions on where to find training or additional related resources.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Education, 298,492 students attended upper secondary education in Cambodia in 2016-2017.
The initial release of the application will be used in a number of schools in Kampong Cham province and Preah Sisovath High School in Phnom Penh.
Trey Visay is a joint journey between Kampuchean Action for Primary Education (KAPE) and InSTEDD iLab Southeast Asia. The application itself is one among the three incubations come from Innovation Camp aka iCamp by InSTEDD iLab Southeast Asia under support from SPIDER.
Trey Visay app will be ready and launched in February in a number of new generation school in Phnom Penh and Kampong Cham province.
Word by Sok Somphoas Phalyka