APSARA National Authority launches a training course on “Enhancing Knowledge on the Value of Angkor and Conservation Work.”

The APSARA National Authority launched a two-day training course on “Enhancing Knowledge on the Value of Angkor and Conservation Work” from October 7 to 8, 2026, aimed at strengthening heritage education capabilities for 40 officials and tourism agents.

The training course primarily aimed to provide in-depth knowledge and education regarding history, civilization, inscriptions, the value of Khmer literature, intangible heritage, as well as ancient beliefs and rituals of the local population in the Angkor region. This refresher course will equip tourism agents working directly at ancient temples with a solid knowledge base to share and interpret well-sourced information accurately for the public and tourists.

Mr. Im Sokrithy, Director of the Department of Research, Training, and Communication, stated that this training course serves as a bridge connecting Angkor’s glorious past to officials and staff who are local residents working at Angkor, enabling them to gain a deeper understanding and expand knowledge of their ancestral history. He added that this regular capacity-building effort will transform all tourism agents into “heritage educators” and highly responsible operators capable of managing, conserving, and developing the Angkor site effectively and sustainably.

Mr. Im Sokrithy also expressed hope that this educational and training process would not end with this session. The APSARA National Authority will continue to organize subsequent training sessions (Phase 2) to respond to the learning needs and curiosity of officials and staff.

During the two-day training course, four experts and guest speakers delivered in-depth educational presentations on key topics, including:

• Study of History and Ancient Urban Structure: Education on geography, healthcare systems and ancient hospitals, educational systems, and land-use planning in ancient times.
• History and Procedures of Conservation: Research processes, the inscription of Angkor on the World Heritage List, and its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).
• Study of Tangible and Intangible Heritage: The relationship between people and temples, alongside the conservation of living heritage.
• Inscriptions and the Value of Khmer Literature: Training to understand inscriptions as “living historical archives” recording political, religious, economic, and social events of ancient times. Concurrently, the course highlighted the immense value of Khmer literature and language as national identity, the foundation of philosophy, and a tool reflecting the cognitive evolution of Khmer ancestors from the past to the present, instilling pride in officials and staff to actively preserve the national literature.