The NED Conference being held in Phnom Penh

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA

Over 200 researchers, professors, lecturers and students from 10 universities and institutes in Cambodia have attended the National Education Development Conference (NED Conference) at the Royal University of Phnom Penh II.
The Conference was organized by the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC) and was jointly supported by the Council of Ministers of Cambodia and UNESCO in Cambodia.

Dr. Sorn Samnang, President of RAC, said that this marks the third occasion that RAC has organized this important conference in Cambodia.

Dr. Samnang said that the main purpose of the NED Conference was to gather Cambodian researchers, lecturers, professors and students together to discuss issues related to the quality of basic education and the development of a sustainable education policy for Cambodia.

The NED Conference is organized to coordinate the establishment of networks, relations and to discuss changes and reintegration among partners. The Conference will also examine ways to meet development goals through the improvement of teaching and basic education, according to Samnang.

The President emphasized that according to research for conducted earlier this year, higher education remains an engine for economic development, nation–building, human capital development and individual advancement.

He said that the governments in many countries are funding public university systems while encouraging the development of private higher education establishments to meet growing demand.

Neak Sary, a Researcher, said that to promote “Sustainable Education Development” in Cambodia, there must be four areas of focus - social development, environmental development, cultural development and economic development.

He continued that to ensure sustainable development in higher education, they also have to focus on improvement of overall quality, improvement of research facilities, and establishing University-Industry Collaboration and Partnership programs with the private sector.

“I think that now Cambodia has sufficient human resource capital to develop the country,” he said. “We are well on the way to building a sustainable society.”




Teruo Jinnai, UNESCO representative in Cambodia, said that UNESCO has been designed as a lead agency for the promotion of education. In this role, UNESCO is responsible for coordinating the efforts of governments and educators to integrate sustainable development into educational systems at all levels, both formal and informal.

He said that UNESCO is also responsible for developing partnerships with the private sector, civil society organizations and the media to promote sustainable development for the widest possible audience.

“The vision of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD) encompasses a world where everyone has the opportunity to benefit from education and learn the values, behaviors, and lifestyles required for a sustainable future and for positive societal transformation,” he said.

He continued, “As this vision guides us in pursuing our goals, we are reminded of the vastness of the task ahead of us. Therefore, it is essential that we recognize the interrelation of human needs and protection for the natural environment. Our aims are not completely new although they have only recently been endorsed. We are building on the continuous efforts of decades past, with a view to creating a brighter future.”

He said, “We are delighted that Cambodia has moved towards building a sustainable society. However, we are also aware of the challenges ahead. We expect that with the establishment of the National Education for Sustainable Development (NESD) Steering committee, the vision and mission will become ever clearer in their inclusiveness.

Im Sethy, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), gave his full support to the NED conference.

The Minister said that MoEYS’s had been moving towards building a sustainable education development policy. He added that the conference would help the ministry further these intentions.

On 24th October 2008, the Accreditation Committee of Cambodia (ACC), a wing of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport evaluated 76 of Cambodia’s 104 higher education centers. Three of these failed to make the grade.