Higher Education in Cambodia

Access to the higher education sector in Cambodia has expanded remarkably over recent years, thanks to a liberal market economy and unbridled privatization. However, without strategic national investment, this achievement has come at a price: inequitable inclusion. Because of low compliance enforcement and little strategic proactive support, quality is also of concern, as is the relevance of academic and research programs to economic development and social progress. Improvements in student assessment and curriculum management are evident; nevertheless, curriculum management is not taken seriously. More effort is needed to make the curriculum better equip students with required knowledge, skills, and attitudes. While the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the sector to adopt new technologies and be innovative in teaching, the preferred approach in normal times has involved a traditional whiteboard-and-chalk teaching style and a conventional approach to academic management. Training and professional development have been neglected, and modes of university governance and management have not kept pace with the need to develop a vibrant university system. Higher education has injected many quality graduates into the labor market. Still, the role of higher education for national development needs re-engineering, with further alignment and investment required to support national development strategically. Quality and relevance, equitable access, institutional governance and management, strategic investment, and the alignment of higher education with national development are challenges anticipated for the future.