THE ROLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION LEADERS IN BUILDING HUMAN CAPITAL IN CAMBODIA: CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES
BELTEI International University
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56943/jssh.v4i1.689Cambodia envisions to becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2050 and a high-income country by 2050. It needs to invest in its human capital to achieve such a vision. This study aims to examine the roles and competencies for higher education institution (HEI) leaders to best prepare Cambodian graduates to contribute to achieving Cambodia’s development vision. It also aims to identify key challenges faced by HEI leaders and appropriate strategies to help them prepare Cambodian graduates to be qualified human capital. The study employed a Delphi method, with a focus on qualitative data. A total of 57 participants (panelists) who were educational leaders, senior academics, and doctoral students participated in the study. The findings showed several key roles that Cambodian HEI leaders need to play and a number of competencies they need to possess in order to serve their roles effectively and make a difference to Cambodian higher education. Several key challenges faced by HEI leaders were also identified. The study also revealed a number of strategies that should be adopted for HEI leaders to best prepare Cambodian graduates for the world of work and enable them to be able to meaningfully contribute to achieving Cambodia’s development vision. This study concludes with implications for policy and research.
Keywords: Cambodia Challenges Higher Education Leaders Human Capital Strategies
Asian Development Outlook 2018 Update: (Asian Development Outlook). (2018). Asian Development Bank. https://doi.org/10.22617/FLS189567-3
Azcona, G., Chute, R., Dib, F., Dookhony, L., Klein, H., Loyacano-Perl, D., Randazzo, D., & Reilly, V. (2008). Harvesting the Future: The Case for Tertiary Education in Sub-Saharan Africa. https://www.foresightfordevelopment.org/sobipro/54/358-harvesting-the-future-the-case-for-tertiary-education-in-sub-saharan-africa
Ban, T., & Heng, K. (2023). Improving the quality of Cambodian higher education: Key challenges and suggestions. Cambodian Journal of Educational Research, 3(2), 35–61. https://doi.org/10.62037/cjer.2023.03.02.03
Burchi, F. (2006). Identifying the role of education in socio-economic development. International Conference on Human and Economic Resources, 193–206. https://www.idos-research.de/fileadmin/migratedNewsAssets/Files/Burchi_Intern.Conf.pdf
Chamnan, P., & Ford, D. (2004). Cambodian Higher Education: Mixed Visions. In Asian Universities: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Challenges. The Johns Hopkins University Press.
Cambodia Economic Update, December 2022: Navigating Global Economic Headwinds. (2022). World Bank Group. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/cambodia/publication/cambodia-economic-update-december-2022-navigating-global-economic-headwinds
Dalkey, N. C. (1972). The Delphi method: An experimental study of group opinion. In Studies in the quality of life: Delphi and decision-making (pp. 13–54). Lexington Books.
Dara, V. (2022). PM hails Cambodian teachers’ invaluable sacrifices, devotion. The Phnom Penh Post. https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/pm-hails-cambodian-teachers-invaluable-sacrifices-devotion
Dy, S. (2004). Strategies and Policies for Basic Education in Cambodia: Historical Perspectives. International Education Journal, 5, 90–97. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ903840
Education congress: The education, youth and sport performance in the academic year 2022-2023 and goals for the academic year 2023-2024. (2023). https://planipolis.iiep.unesco.org/sites/default/files/ressources/cambodia_education_congress_report_2022-2023_eng.pdf
Fostering an Inclusive Digitalisation Transformation in Cambodia. (2020). https://set.odi.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Fostering-an-Inclusive-Digitalisation-Transformation-in-Cambodia-Final.pdf
Franklin, K. K., & Hart, J. K. (2006). Idea Generation and Exploration: Benefits and Limitations of the Policy Delphi Research Method. Innovative Higher Education, 31(4), 237–246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-006-9022-8
Hangchuon, N. (2022). Education reform priorities.
Heng, K. (2023). Cambodia’s aspirations to become a knowledge-based society: Perspectives of Cambodian university students (138). https://cdri.org.kh/storage/pdf/Wp 138_Aspirations to Become a Knowledge-Based Society_1683818200.pdf
Heng, K. (2024). Understanding Cambodian Provincial University Students’ Perspectives on Cambodia’s Vision to Become a Knowledge-Based Society. Sage Open, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241242197
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://doi.org/10.62037/cjer.2022.02.01.09
Heng, K., & Doeur, B. (2024). Cambodia’s aspirations to become a knowledge-based society: Challenges and recommendations. Policy Futures in Education, 22(8), 1647–1661. https://doi.org/10.1177/14782103241234408
Heng, K., Meas, S., & Heng, K. (2023). Developing a Vibrant Research Ecosystem in Cambodia: Recent Initiatives and Future Directions. Cambodian Journal of Education and STEM, 1(2), 81–104. https://doi.org/10.62219/cjes.2023127
Heng, K., & Sol, K. (2021). Academic research in Cambodia: Progress, challenges, and ways forward. Cambodian Journal of Educational Research, 1(2), 6–23. https://doi.org/10.62037/cjer.2021.01.02.02
Heng, K., & Sol, K. (2023). Skills mismatches in Cambodian higher education: Major causes and possible solutions. Cambodian Journal of Educational Research, 3(1), 76–91. https://doi.org/10.62037/cjer.2023.03.01.04
Hsu, C., & Sandford, B. A. (2007). The Delphi Technique: Making Sense of Consensus. Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation, 12(1), 10. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.7275/pdz9-th90
Kian-Woon, K., Sopheap, C., Chinda, H., Sedara, K., Baromey, N., & Vimealea, T. (2010). Scoping study: Research capacities of Cambodia’s universities. http://hdl.handle.net/10625/48371
Madhur, S. (2014). Cambodia’s Skill Gap: An Anatomy of Issues and Policy Options (98; 98). https://cdri.org.kh/publication/cambodia-s-skill-gap-an-anatomy-of-issues-and-policy-options
Matching aspirations: Skills for implementing Cambodia’s growth strategy. (2012). http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/918971468232487028/pdf/673490SR0P11740lish021Mar120preview.pdf
McMahon, W. (2009). Higher Learning, Greater Good: The Private & Social Benefits of Higher Education. Http://Lst-Iiep.Iiep-Unesco.Org/Cgi-Bin/Wwwi32.Exe/[In=epidoc1.in]/?T2000=027209/(100).
Rany, S., Zain, A. N. M., & Jamil, H. (2012). Cambodia’s Higher Education Development in Historical Perspectives (1863-2012). International Journal of Learning and Development, 2(2), 224. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijld.v2i2.1670
Rectangular Strategy for Growth, Employment, Equity, and Efficiency: Building the foundation toward realizing the Cambodia vision 2025 (Phase IV). (2018). Royal Government of Cambodia. http://cdc-crdb.gov.kh/en/strategy/documents/Rectangular_Strategy_Phase_IV_Eng.pdf
Report of Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey 2019/20. (2020). National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning. https://www.nis.gov.kh/nis/CSES/Final Report of Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey 2019-20_EN.pdf
Robbins, L. (1997). Consumption and the Trade Cycle. In Economic Science and Political Economy (pp. 117–132). Palgrave Macmillan UK. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-12761-0_9
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
Sok, S., & Bunry, R. (2021). Internationalization of higher education in Cambodia: toward an agenda for higher education development. International Journal of Comparative Education and Development, 23(3), 193–211. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCED-08-2020-0049
Sok, S., & Bunry, R. (2024). Higher Education in Cambodia. In L. Pe Symaco (Ed.), Higher Education in Southeast Asia (Vol. 49, pp. 5–18). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-367920240000049002
The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2017 – Goal 4. (2017). https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2017/Goal-04/
Tilak, J. B. G. (2016). Public-Private Partnership in Education: A Rigorous Review. https://headfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/thf-papers_Public_Private_Partnership_in_Education.pdf
United Nations Millennium Declaration. (2000). https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/generalassembly/docs/globalcompact/A_RES_55_2.pdf
Wang, Y. (2012). Education in a changing world: Flexibility, skills, and employability. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/517491469672142098
