Promoting higher education quality in Cambodia: Challenges and recommendations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62037/cjer.2023.03.01.05Keywords:
Higher education, quality, challenges, recommendations, reform, CambodiaAbstract
Higher education in Cambodia has experienced positive and impressive progress over the last few decades. However, more efforts are needed to bring about further positive changes and new developments to the sector. This article aims to discuss key challenges facing higher education in Cambodia in relation to the need to promote its quality. The article brings to the fore six major challenges, including limited resources and infrastructure, political influence, weak institutional and sectoral governance, consequences of higher education privatization, low academic salaries, and limited opportunities for continuing professional development (CPD). The article also provides a set of recommendations to address these challenges, focusing on introducing a mechanism to improve resources and infrastructure, keeping political interference to a minimum, improving institutional and sectoral governance, bifurcating universities into research-intensive and teaching-intensive universities, introducing an improvement or reform to incentive and salary systems, and promoting CPD engagement among Cambodian university teachers. The article concludes with an argument for a reform of the Cambodian higher education sector to bring it to a higher stage of development.
Downloads
References
Akareem, H. S., & Hossain, S. S. (2012). Perception of education quality in private universities of Bangladesh: A study from students’ perspective. Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, 22(1), 11–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/08841241.2012.705792
Altbach, P. G. (2013). Advancing the national and global knowledge economy: The role of research universities in developing countries. Studies in Higher Education, 38(3), 316-330. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2013.773222
Brehm, W. (2021). Cambodia for sale: Everyday privatization in education and beyond. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003149781
Brehm, W. C. (2019). Cambodian higher education governance: The politics of global summitry and clientelism. In D. S. L. Jarvis & K. H. Mok (Eds.), Transformations in higher education governance in Asia (pp. 229–243). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9294-8_12
Cheng, M. (2011). ‘Transforming the learner’ versus ‘passing the exam’: Understanding the gap between academic and student definitions of quality. Quality in Higher Education, 17(1), 3- 17. https://doi.org/10.1080/13538322.2011.554634
Chet, C., Ford, D., & Ahrens, L. (2022). Reforming Cambodian universities: Building best practice at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. In V. McNamara & M. Hayden (Eds.), Education in Cambodia: From Year Zero towards international standards (pp. 241-257). Springer Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-8213-1_13
Chhaing, S., & Phon, S. (2022). Motivation of academics in the Global South: A case from Cambodia higher education. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-08-2022-0241
Corrado, R., Flinn, R. E., & Tungjan, P. (2019). Can ICT help Cambodian students become the solution for improving education in the country. Journal of Management, Economics, and Industrial Organization, 3(2), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.31039/jomeino.2019.3.2.1
Cullen, J., Joyce, J., Hassall, T., & Broadbent, M. (2003). Quality in higher education: From monitoring to management. Quality Assurance in Education, 11(1), 5–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09684880310462038
Green, D. (1994). What is quality in higher education? Society for Research into Higher Education. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED415723
Dahles, H. (2017). The politics of higher education in Cambodia.
International Institute for Asian Studies. https://www.iias.asia/sites/iias/files/nwl_article/2019-05/IIAS_NL78_36.pdf
Delanty, G. (2001). The university in the knowledge society. Organization, 8(2), 149-153. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350508401082002
Dem, T. (2017). Higher education in Cambodia: Current situation, problems and solutions. Global Journal for Research Analysis, 6(6), 339-342. https://www.doi.org/10.36106/gjra
Doeur, B. (2021). The role of digital technology in English major programs in Cambodia. In K. Heng, S. Kaing, D. Kao, M. Muong, B. Doeur, & T. Lor (Eds.), Online learning during COVID-19 and key issues in education (pp. 62-72). Cambodian Education Forum. https://cefcambodia.com/2021/12/15/the-role-of-digital-technology-in-english-major-programs-in-cambodia/
Doeur, B. (2022). Promoting teachers’ continuous professional development in Cambodian higher education: Issues and recommendations. Cambodian Journal for Educational Research, 2(1), 119-134. https://cefcambodia.com/cjer-volume-2-issue-1/
Doeur, B. & Heng, K. (2023). Continuing professional development for university teachers in Cambodia: Impediments and solutions. Cambodia Development Center. https://www.cd-center.org/continuing-professional-development-for-university-teachers-in-cambodia-impediments-and-solutions/
Dy, C., & Ogunniran, M. O. (2019). A comparative analysis of the role of international organizations in financing higher education system: A case study of Nigeria and Cambodia. US-China Education Review, 9(1), 1-17. https://doi:10.17265/2161-623X/2019.01.001
Heng, K. (2020, October 24). Post-pandemic, higher education reform is the priority. University World News.
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20201020094948838
Heng, K. (2021). Higher education in Cambodia: Reforms for enhancing universities’ research capacities. Academic Praxis, 1, 67-78. https://cerc.edu.hku.hk/academic-praxis/higher-education-in-cambodia-reforms-for-enhancing-universities-research-capacities/
Heng, K. (2022). Investigating research engagement of Cambodian academics: Challenges and opportunities [Doctoral dissertation, The University of Queensland]. UQ eSpace. https://doi.org/10.14264/56214e1
Heng, K. (2023a). Cambodia’s aspirations to become a knowledge-based society: Perspectives of Cambodian university students. Working Paper Series No. 138. Cambodia Development Resource Institute. https://cdri.org.kh/publication/cambodia-s-aspirations-to-become-a-knowledge-based-society-perspectives-of-cambodian-university-students
Heng, K. (2023b). Challenges and developments in university research in Cambodia: A case study of two universities. Higher Education, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-023-01080-2
Heng, K. & Doeur, B. (2022). Digital transformation in higher education: Key to enhancing Cambodia’s higher education sector. Cambodian Journal of Educational Research, 2(1), 146-156. https://cefcambodia.com/cjer-volume-2-issue-1/
Heng, K., Hamid, M. O., & Khan, A. (2022a). Academics’ conceptions of research and the research-teaching nexus: Insights from Cambodia. International Journal of Educational Development, 90, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2022.102569
Heng, K., Hamid, M. O., & Khan, A. (2022b). Research engagement of academics in the Global South: The case of Cambodian academics. Globalisation, Societies and Education, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767724.2022.2040355
Heng, K., & Heng, K. (2023). Promoting research in Cambodian higher education: Opportunities, challenges, and policy implications (in Khmer). Cambodian Journal of Education and STEM, 1(1), 93-104. https://cjes-dsrmoeys.com/publications/
Heng, K., & Sol, K. (2021). COVID-19 and Cambodian higher education: Challenges and opportunities. In K. Heng, S. Kaing, D. Kao, M. Muong, B. Doeur, & T. Lor (Eds.), Online learning during COVID-19 and key issues in education (pp. 31-48). Cambodian Education Forum. https://cefcambodia.com/2021/12/15/covid-19-and-cambodian-higher-education-challenges-and-opportunities/
Heng, K., & Sol, K. (2022). Education: Key to making Cambodia great again. Cambodia Development Center. https://www.cd-center.org/education-key-to-making-cambodia-great-again/
Heng, K., Sol, K., & Em, S. (2023). COVID-19 and digital transformation of Cambodian higher education: Opportunities, challenges, and the way forward. In P. O. d. Pablos, X. Zhang, & M. N. Almunawar (Eds.), Handbook of research on education institutions, skills, and jobs in the digital era (pp. 307-327). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-5914-0
Hoeun, C. B., Asavisanu, P., & Merritt, M. (2021). The development of an instructional leadership model for outcome-based education at private higher education institutions in Cambodia. Scholar: Human Sciences, 12(2), 408-427. https://repository.au.edu/items/9e6742ff-996d-49e3-be7b-ddbf25738de6
Leng, P. (2016). Mutuality in Cambodian international university partnerships: Looking beyond the global discourse. Higher Education, 72(3), 261-275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-015-9952-0
Mak, N., Sok., S., Un, L., Bunry, R., Chheng, S., & Kao, S. (2019). Governance in public higher education in Cambodia. CDRI Working Paper Series No. 114. Cambodia Development Resource Institute. https://cdri.org.kh/storage/pdf/wp114e_1617248568.pdf
MoEYS. (2022). Education congress: The education, youth and sport performance in the academic year 2020-2021 and goals for the academic year 2021-2022. http://moeys.gov.kh/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/220423-Education-congress-the-education-youth-and-sport-performance-in-the-academic-year-2020-2021-compressed.pdf
Nabaho, L., Aguti, J. N., & Oonyu, J. (2017). Making sense of an elusive concept: Academics' perspectives of quality in higher education. Higher Learning Research Communications, 7(2), 25-45. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1159619.pdf
Nhem, D. (2022). Quality in higher education: What do students in Cambodia perceive? Tertiary Education Management, 28, 43–59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11233-021-09084-2
Noor, A. & Ampornstira, F. (2019). Effects of leadership on employee morale in higher education. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 10(7), 141-144. https://ijbssnet.com/journal/index/4276
Peterson, M. (2015). Politics, patronage and the persistence of the ruling elite in post-UNTAC Cambodia [Bachelor’s Thesis, Lund University]. https://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&recordOId=7763368&fileOId=7763369
Ros, V., Eam, P., Heng, S., & Ravy, S. (2020). Cambodian academics: Identities and roles. Working Paper Series No. 120. Cambodia Development Resource Institute. https://cdri.org.kh/publication/cambodian-academics-identities-and-roles
Ros, V., & Sol, K. (2021). The quest for world-class universities: A goal for Cambodian universities. Cambodian Journal of Educational Research, 1(2), 24-40. https://cefcambodia.com/2021/09/14/1156/
Sam, C., & Dahles, H. (2017). Stakeholder involvement in the higher education sector in Cambodia. Studies in Higher Education, 42(9), 1764-1784. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2015.1124851
Schindler, L., & Puls, E, S., & Welzant, H., & Crawford, L. (2015). Definitions of quality in higher education: A synthesis of the literature. Higher Learning Research Communications, 5(3), 3-13. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1132898
Sen, V. (2019). Hybrid governmentality: Higher education policymaking in post-conflict Cambodia. Studies in Higher Education, 44(3), 513-525. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2017.1379985
Sen, V. (2022). Higher education in Cambodia: The constraining effects of traditional values. In V. McNamara & M. Hayden (Eds.), Education in Cambodia: From Year Zero towards international standards (pp. 97-112). Springer Singapore. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-16-8213-1_6
Sen, V. & Ros, S. (2013). Anatomy of higher education governance in Cambodia. Working Paper Series No. 86. Cambodia Development Resource Institute. https://cdri.org.kh/storage/pdf/wp86e_1617793377.pdf
Sol, K. (2021). Rethinking higher education in Cambodia: Contemporary challenges and priorities in the post-COVID-19 era. Journal of International Education, (27), 46-60. https://doi.org/10.24751/jies.27.0_46
Un, L. (2023). Higher education and its research in Cambodia: For what and for whom? https://nagoya.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/2005347/files/16.pdf
Un, L., & Sok, S. (2018). Higher education systems and institutions, Cambodia. In P. Teixeira & J. C. Shin (Eds.), Encyclopedia of international higher education systems and institutions (pp. 1-10). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9553-1_500-1
Un, L., & Sok, S. (2022). (Higher) education policy and project intervention in Cambodia: Its development discourse. In V. McNamara & M. Hayden (Eds.), Education in Cambodia: From Year Zero towards international standards (pp. 215-239). Springer Singapore. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-16-8213-1_12
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The articles published by this journal are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made.
