A research group from Azusa Pacific University in the United States visited the University of Cambodia (UC) on April 25-29 to conduct interviews and observations for a case study of UC examining globalization in higher education and best practices in tertiary education in Cambodia. Dr. Alexander Jun, Professor of Higher Education at Azusa Pacific University, led four doctoral candidates in the site visit and worked in collaboration with Peter Tan Keo, Vice President of Strategy, Development, and International Cooperation.
UC participated in the collaboration to further scholarly exchange on research and to build stronger relationships with other higher education institutions. The researchers conducted interviews with over 25 undergraduate students and staff members to better understand the context of higher education in Cambodia, namely teaching, learning, programs, and curricula. In addition, the team aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the culture of UC, the participants’ scope of experiences, and implementation of higher education policies.
Two of the UC students who participated in the interviews said they enjoyed participating in the research project and especially appreciated the opportunity to have meaningful interactions with the four American graduate students. According to the UC students, the interviews provided them with basic knowledge regarding university life in the US and how to conduct qualitative research. The Azusa research team will analyze the data collected from the research project and present its findings to the University in the upcoming months.
