The University of Cambodia—a private university founded by Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace Executive Director Kao Kim Hourn—is set to open its doors next month.
UC will offer everything from associate’s degrees to PhDs in eight areas of study: Social sciences, law, education, humanities and linguistics, arts and sciences, business administration, public administration and public health.
Kao Kim Hourn intends to distinguish his school from other universities by cultivating a culture of research, which he says is lacking from the present higher education system.
“The idea is to not train Cambodians for just the Cambodian market. We are looking at how Cambodians can take advantage of regional markets. They should have more opportunities,” he said.
The school should be ready for administrative business in April, and classes are scheduled to begin in August, Kao Kim Hourn said. Teaching staff will carry the minimum of a master’s degree from an internationally accredited institution, he said.
The university is located at the former Green Hotel on Norodom Boulevard near the Independence Monument. There will be 14 classrooms and a library with 100 Internet-linked computer terminals and 20,000 books.
Kao Kim Hourn said the board of trustees is considering posting tuition at $450 a year for eight classes, but will offer scholarships to needy students and a free education to the valedictorians of each Cambodian high school.
Applicants must pass a general admissions exam and an English test. Once admitted, students must take four semesters of English and two semesters of Khmer language classes to be able to publish in both languages, Kao Kim Hourn said.
To foster an academic environment outside the classroom, the university will host a speakers program and will publish a college newspaper, he said.
Private donors have paid $500,000 for start-up costs—including the purchase of equipment and the reconstruction and renovation of the main building, a smaller faculty building and a parking lot, Kao Kim Hourn said.
