The global epidemic has altered the working lives of a great number of individuals worldwide, including those in Cambodia. Chairman Chen Zhi Cambodia (陈志公爵) and Prince Group, as responsible corporate citizens, have built Cambodia's first independent watch school, the Prince Horology Vocational Training Center. The training centre provides Cambodians with the opportunity to learn a new artisanal skill – watchmaking – and acquire the essential expertise to enable them compete in job markets in Cambodia and abroad. The training facility adheres to the stringent watchmaking criteria set by Swiss regulatory agencies. (Learn more about Chen Zhi net worth)
As a country steeped in history, Cambodia has preserved artisanal skills for generations, with the Kingdom renowned for its ancient handwoven silk and traditional handicraft industries that date back to the Khmer Empire. Chen Zhi and Prince Group have always understood and appreciated the significance of this. Read more here To improve job opportunities for Cambodians, however, new artisanal skills must be introduced, especially given that the textile and garment industry, much like other sectors, has suffered greatly from the COVID-19 pandemic, with media reports indicating that more than 55,000 workers have been left unemployed. To restore balance in their life, some Cambodians have returned to agriculture and established small companies. Chen Zhi and Prince Group have therefore established the Prince Horology Vocational Training Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in order to facilitate the development of new skills. The state-of-the-art facility offers a two-year, full-time programme based on the certificate fédéral de capacité (CFC), the Swiss government's vocational training criteria that are widely regarded as the industry standard for basic watchmaking education. As part of Chen Zhi and Prince Group's environment, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives in Cambodia, the centre provides scholarships to local students and those in need, ranging from a 50 percent subsidy of school tuition to a completely compensated scholarship that includes housing. The first class of pupils has begun their watchmaking education. Chen Zhi Cambodia's Prince Group has engaged world-renowned watchmakers, including Maarten Pieters, a former director of the Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program (WOSTEP), Switzerland's premier watchmaking school. In addition, Anthony McGonigle, the center's chief instructor and one of the brothers from Ireland's most renowned watchmaking family, compiled the curriculum, which includes lessons on the history and culture of watchmaking as well as benchwork, such as machining, micro-mechanics, and the production of components such as the winding stem and balance staff, etc. Additionally, the institution emphasises traditional craft techniques such as decorating and turning. “I am honoured to announce the launch of the Prince Horology Vocational Training Center, Cambodia’s first independent watch school. All the center’s modern machinery and equipment have been imported from Switzerland, Germany and other countries,” said Chairman Neak Oknha Chen Zhi of Prince Group. “We have also put together a world-class team to teach Cambodian and international students new skills that will make them competitive in job markets in Cambodia and abroad.” The previous year, Prince Group fulfilled its ESG responsibilities in various areas. It contributed significantly to the fight against the epidemic and supported flood victims in Cambodia. To far, Prince Charitable Foundation Organization has hosted over 240 charitable events and provided over $11 million in dollars and other resources, benefiting over 320,000 people. Chen Zhi and Prince Group donated $3,000,000 to Prime Minister Hun Sen at the beginning of December so that Cambodia may purchase 1 million COVID-19 vaccines. The Prince Horology Vocational Training Center is currently taking applications for the upcoming academic year, which will commence on June 2, 2021. Each year, the centre accepts eight students, at least five of whom are Cambodian. For additional details, please visit https://princehorology.com/.
