MoEYS: 80-90 Percent of Private Universities Have High Education Quality

By Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports evaluated late last year that about 80-90 percent of private universities and institutes throughout Cambodia have high quality in education, according to Sou Sophath, Deputy Secretary General of the Accreditation Committee of Cambodia (ACC) at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS).

In Cambodia today, there are 66 universities and institutions, but among those university only 80-90 percent of them are qualified and accreditation. And the University of Cambodia (UC) is one of those qualified universities and institutes, he said.

Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, President of UC, said that the University of Cambodia has gained more popularity and became the best quality of education in Cambodia.

The UC President, who is also the Secretary of Sate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, told about 100 participants who attended at the 5th Anniversary Ceremony of the Founding of UC held on June 22 that, “It is a historical opportunity since we have been established the University of Cambodia. Just five years, like the trees, we have grown and flourished.”

He said that, “UC has produced the best quality of education in supporting the education system in Cambodia. And the profile of UC has been reaching out in Cambodia as well as other universities in overseas.”

“I am very proud of our UC’s students here. They are the best products and can compete with foreign students who are from overseas,” he said.

Dr. Kao Kim Hourn said that in order to help Cambodian students taking the advantage of benefit of the higher education, for this year study (2008), UC has offered 600 full scholarships to the students who were able to pass high school exams, as well as the universities’ entrance exams. And for next year, the university will continue to offer another 600 full scholarships to the new students who will able to pass the high school exams.

Por Malis, Deputy Vice-President for Operations in the University of Cambodia, said that, “In just five years, there has already been a significant development for UC. There is no doubt that UC will continue to progress and expand into becoming Cambodia’s truly leading university, giving its aspiration, vision, commitment to quality higher education, and its networks with overseas universities, in accordance to UC’s strategic plan.”

She said the UC has been active and generous in providing full scholarships by working closely with donors in order to raise funds to help the poor students who could afford to pay for their education. And for the future, UC will continue to focus on strengthening the quality of all its academic programs in order to ensure that it would become the number-one university.

She added that UC will expand its academic programs and majors into other areas where is less demand, particularly in the areas of science and technology. And in addition, it will continue to reach out to the Cambodian community as well as to the international arena in order to keep the UC well connected with its own people on the one hand, and the world at large, on other hand.

Dr. Angus Munro, Vice-President for Academic Affairs in the University of Cambodia, said until today, UC has been offering the Honorary Doctorates to many high-ranking government officials in Cambodia as well as other former leaders in world such as Keat Chhon, Senior Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance; Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Council of Ministers; Professor Katherine Marshall, former Counselor to the President of the World Bank; Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the National Defense; Cham Prasidh, Senior Minister and Minister of Commerce; E. Dyck, President of TSC-Japan; Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodian Government; and Mr. Rikhi Thakral, a Singaporean Businessman and Philanthropist.

Kim Chantha, a BA student of UC said that, “I am a UC working student and I have been here studying since 2004. Through the time I spent and various encounters I came across with the guest speakers, lecturers and fellow students, UC became my third home, after my actual home and my work place.”

He said, “I do not wish to be criticized by others as someone who admired his or her own university. But the truth is still the truth, UC is one of the best organized and disciplined universities in Cambodia that I ever came across.”

He said that, “UC policy in teaching in English has brought real benefit to the students and I strongly support it. I saw how my classmates’ knowledge of English language improved over the time they spent at UC. I also see those graduated from other universities with their English knowledge are only comparable to those second year students at UC.”