Higher Education Development and Study Abroad Experiences of Faculty in Cambodia

This chapter provides a snapshot of higher education development (HED) and study abroad experiences among faculty members in Cambodia. This research is based on case studies of four higher education institutions (HEIs), the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC), Royal University of Agriculture (RUA), the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), and the Royal University of Law and Economics (RULE). The research draws from existing literature, the authors’ direct knowledge and experience, a field survey, key informant interviews, and focal group discussions with HEI faculty members. It starts with an overview of the national higher education landscape, providing a historical overview of the sector and the development of the four HEIs. It also discusses higher education policies and their role in human resource development (HRD), followed by a more detailed assessment of mobility, international aid, and the impacts of study abroad. Cambodia’s HED has progressed steadily in the past four decades, although many strategic policy decisions need to be made. The government has intervened into the sector more strategically, especially in the past decade. With inadequate budget for sector-wide intervention, however, the investment has been more targeted, and its positive impact on academic programs’ quality improvement, university research development, and university governance is not yet clearly seen. The studying abroad of the faculty members at the national as well as at the four case universities has largely been funded by external agencies, and the overseas returnees often have a positive career growth and positive impacts on their institutional development. There is no national scholarship scheme for faculty mobility or to send Cambodians abroad strategically to serve HED or national development.