1. Higher Education and Globalization in South East Asia: Universities in the Kingdom of Cambodia
Alexander Jun, Ph.D.
Professor of Higher Education
Azusa Pacific University

2. Changing landscape of tertiary education in Cambodia
Overview—Kingdom of Cambodia
Report on Tertiary Education
Trends
Challenges
Research Design
Introduction: NPIC

3. Overview: Kingdom of Cambodia

4. Country overview Cambodia is located in Southeast Asia
bordered by Thailand, Vietnam and Laos
80,462 square miles
14 million people
90% Khmer
5% is Vietnamese
1% is Chinese
4% other ethnic groups
The official language: Khmer
The country’s currency: Riel; U.S. dollar
Pol Pot (Khmer Rouge)

5. NGO Projects in Cambodia by Sector

6. Number of Higher Education Institutions
60 or more HEI’s
35 Universities
26 Institute/independent school
22 Public
40 Private (as of 2007 and counting…)

7. Cambodian Higher Education System
Academies, Universities, Institutes or Independent Schools
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS)
Department of Higher Education (DHE)

8. Role of Department of Higher Education
Develop policy and strategy for higher education sector
License HEIs for their operations
Assist HEIs to develop academic programs and managment to help meet accreditation
Improve quality and efficiency of higher education nationwide

9. Overview of Cambodian Higher Education
Total Enrollment 97,524
Gender Breakdown: Female 31% Male 69%
Private Universities: 58% (2006)

10. University Teaching Faculty
Total Number 3,605 (2004)
Female Faculty: 16% (2004)
Teaching with Masters Degrees: 2700 (2006)
Teachers with Doctorates: 416

11. Access & Equity to Higher Education
Participation in HEIs in Cambodia is low by international standards
Enrollment is concentrated in a few academic disciplines, such as business management
Current enrollment patterns show significant urban/rural and gender disparities

12. Challenges in Quality
Sufficient quality assurance systems have not been developed yet.
The low quality of many programs allows students to undertake multiple fulltime degrees.
Growth in HEI’s have lead to challenges in quality assurance

13. Challenges for College Graduates
HEIs produce more graduates than the economy can absorb
Graduate skills are often not matched to the needs of the country.

14. Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s)
Rapid Growth of HEI’s since 2002
As of August…2007
22 public and 40 private HEIs
Royal University of Phnom Penh-Public
Royal University of Law & Economics -Public
Norton University (1996)
Pannasastra University
University of Cambodia
National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia

15. Pilot Case Study National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia
Pilot Case (Yin, 2003)
Convenience
Access
Duration: 2 Days (1 week in Phnom Penh)
Interviews (President)
Observations
Campus Overview
Residence Halls
Classrooms

16. National Polytechnic institute of Cambodia
Opened: 2005
Two year technical and trade school
Joint Venture Between Two Countries:
South Korea and Cambodia

17. Dec. o6, 2007

18. 1. Academic System Regular Courses ( 4 & 2 years ) Division Major
No of Students 4 2
Mechanics
CAD/ CAM (Mechanics) 32 21 16 12 7
Industrial Facility(Air-Con) 33 13
Automobile repair 29 24 15
Electricity &
Electronics
Electricity 14 28 31 35 39 22 27 18
Construction 64 63 11 IT 17
Tourism 9
Sub-Total 46
185(Grad.)
207
107
176
103
Total
314
279
In the long run, this school must earn at least average returns and provide investors with average returns if they are to survive.
If a firms earns below average returns, investors will withdraw their funds and place them in others earning at least average returns.
The role of institutional investors!!!!

19. Special Courses ( short-term Courses ) IT Training Program
Training for overseas employment
Korean Language Programs
Training for job holders
English Language Programs
Training Committed by companies
Mechanical Engineering
Program
Training for trainers in NGO
Electrical Engineering
Program

20. Faculty Distribution Nationality Classification Faculty
Administrative Staff
The others
Total
Cambodian
Government 42 12 54
Contract 27 23 33 83
Sub-Total 69 35
137
Foreigner
Jeonju Univ. 18
KICOS 2
KOICA 22 91
159

21. Challenges to governance
9 different ministries and agencies (& private institutions)
Limited coordination at national policy level.
Management and staff appointments are generally made by the central government
Limited transparency in staff selection process
Higher education sector faces a shortage
Need educational leaders, planners, and managers to fill the position of retiring senior educators
Computerized management information system has not yet been established

22. Challenges to Privatization and globalization
U.S. Model of Education
One Size Does Not Fit A
Satellite Model vs. Collaboration
Linguistic Challenges (Cultural Integrity)
Cambodia University
Revenue Generation
Increase in International Student Tuition

23. Final Thoughts What is the Public Good?
Role of Higher Education in Failed States?
How to Embrace Cultural Integrity?
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