Kimkong Heng | The University of Queensland, Australia (original) (raw)
Papers by Kimkong Heng
Journal of digital educational technology, Dec 31, 2023
Cambodian Journal of Educational Research, Jun 30, 2022
Welcome to the second volume of the Cambodian Journal of Educational Research (CJER). In this edi... more Welcome to the second volume of the Cambodian Journal of Educational Research (CJER). In this editorial, we look back at the historical development and achievements of the Cambodian Education Forum (CEF), which turned two years old in July 2022. We then provide brief information on CEF's new initiative, called "CEF Research Seminar Series." This editorial ends with an overview of articles in this issue: Volume 2, Issue 1. History and achievements The Cambodian Education Forum is now two years old. Co-founded in July 2020 by a team of emerging Cambodian scholars, CEF aspires to contribute to promoting research and publication culture in Cambodia. With this aspiration, CEF offers a platform for Cambodian academics, researchers, students, and beyond to publish their scholarly work concerning Cambodian education and other educational issues through a rigorous peer review and publication process (CEF, 2021). With an ambitious and inclusive vision, CEF aims to: • Provide a publication platform for Cambodian researchers, educators, and students • Share knowledge, research findings, and informed opinions about education in Cambodia
Higher Education
In recent years, university research in Cambodia has seen new developments and potential transfor... more In recent years, university research in Cambodia has seen new developments and potential transformations although many challenges remain. Drawing on data from in-depth interviews with 22 Cambodian academics, this study shows that the development of university research in Cambodia is constrained by various challenges and barriers to research, preventing Cambodia from promoting higher education internationalization and transforming itself into a knowledge-based society. The study highlights key challenges that limit possibilities for further positive developments of higher education research and suggests the need for policy reforms to make a difference to the university research landscape in Cambodia. The study also points to the broader issues of North-South knowledge divide and calls for national and institutional initiatives to support Cambodian academics and empower them to enhance their research engagement. Finally, the study discusses implications for future research.
An article accepted for publication by Policy Forum but they failed to publish it. Trump-Kim Summ... more An article accepted for publication by Policy Forum but they failed to publish it. Trump-Kim Summit in Vietnam and implications for Cambodia By Kimkong Heng and Veasna Var The first summit between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jung Un was held in Singapore on 12 June last year. Their second high-profile meeting is set to take place in Vietnam on 27 and 28 this month. The summit aims to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula by ge ing North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program in exchange of sanctions relief and economic incentives. The selection of Vietnam as a venue for the second Trump-Kim Summit does have implications for Cambodia, Vietnam's neighbour and traditional enemy.
ប្រធានាធិបតីអាមេរិក លោក ដូណាល់ ត្រាំ និងប្រមុខដឹកនាំប្រទេសកូរ៉េខាងជើង លោក គីម ជុងអ៊ុន នឹងជួប... more ប្រធានាធិបតីអាមេរិក លោក ដូណាល់ ត្រាំ និងប្រមុខដឹកនាំប្រទេសកូរ៉េខាងជើង លោក គីម ជុងអ៊ុន នឹងជួបគ្នាជាលើកទីពីរ នៅថ្ងៃទី២៧-២៨ ខែកុម្ភៈ ដើម្បីពិភាក្សាអំពីបញ្ហាធ្វើឲ្យឧបទ្វីបកូរ៉េគ្មានអាវុធនុយក្លេអ៊ែរ និងជាពិសេស ជំនួបនេះ អាមេរិកនឹងព្យាយាមបញ្ចុះបញ្ចូលកូរ៉េខាងជើង ឲ្យបោះបង់កម្មវិធីអាវុធនុយក្លេអ៊ែររបស់ខ្លួន ជាថ្នូរនឹងជំនួយសេដ្ឋកិច្ច។
ព័ត៌មានក្លែងក្លាយ គឺជាពាក្យពេញនិយមដែលកំពុងក្លាយជារឿងធម្មតា នៅក្នុងចំណោមពលរដ្ឋកម្ពុជា ជាព... more ព័ត៌មានក្លែងក្លាយ គឺជាពាក្យពេញនិយមដែលកំពុងក្លាយជារឿងធម្មតា នៅក្នុងចំណោមពលរដ្ឋកម្ពុជា ជាពិសេស ក្មេងៗយុវវ័យ និងអ្នករស់នៅក្នុងទីក្រុង។
China’s debt trap, also called debt-trap diplomacy, is a topic of significant interest which has ... more China’s debt trap, also called debt-trap diplomacy, is a topic of significant interest which has gained increasing attention in recent years. From Africa to Asia and even in South America, the issue of the Chinese debt trap associated with China’s no strings attached aid and loans have often become news headlines.
An article which appeared in Quartz last year named eight countries that are in danger of falling into China’s debt trap. These vulnerable nations included Djibouti, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, the Maldives, Mongolia, Montenegro, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.
As the US-China trade war appears to be further escalating, Cambodia should rethink its foreign p... more As the US-China trade war appears to be further escalating, Cambodia should rethink its foreign policy towards China and the West.
While Cambodia’s ties with China have substantially improved with time, its relations with the West have reached a new low in the last few years. Its fluctuating relationship with the United States seems to be less amicable, if not worse.
It is a cliché to say that Cambodia lacks a research culture. It is also not uncommon to hear phr... more It is a cliché to say that Cambodia lacks a research culture. It is also not uncommon to hear phrases such as “no reading culture,” “no research culture,” or “limited research” in the context of Cambodia.
The Cambodian government, though the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) and other relevant ministries and institutions, has endeavoured to promote reading and research in the country; however, a lot more need to be done.
To provide guidelines on how to promote research, MoEYS has published several national research policy documents such as Policy on Research Development in the Education Sector and Master Plan for Research Development in the Education Sector. It has also established a policy think tank for education, called Education Research Council, which was launched in 2015. The Ministry has moreover organized annual National Reading Day to promote a reading culture in the country.
In an era of the globalisation and internationalisation of higher education, it is difficult, if ... more In an era of the globalisation and internationalisation of higher education, it is difficult, if not impossible, to disregard the regional and global trend toward building world-class universities.
Many governments in Asia and Africa are making significant efforts to establish research-intensive universities to catch up with their counterparts in the US and Europe.
Competition for global university rankings has increasingly intensified, yet the success or failure of building world-class universities is to a great extent determined by individual governments’ commitment and economic strength.
The vast economic disparity between countries in the global North and South has created huge inequalities in knowledge production, leaving many developing countries in a peripheral status in the pursuit of world-class research institutions.
Against this backdrop, it seems an impossible dream for developing countries like Cambodia to aim for world-class status.
China’s global image suffered when it was found that the novel coronavirus that caused the global... more China’s global image suffered when it was found that the novel coronavirus that caused the global COVID-19 pandemic originated from Wuhan city in the north of China back in early 2020. Discrimination against Chinese people was reported in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. The blame was particularly placed on China and how it suppressed critical information until it was too late for the rest of the world to prepare for what was coming. In addition to its early mishandling of COVID-19, China’s image problem also stemmed from other actions and approaches that have generally not been well received by the international community, particularly democratic countries. For example, it was argued that “China’s growing assertiveness and territorial claims in the South China Sea; its practice of no-strings-attached development assistance; its use of debt-trap diplomacy; its WolfWarrior diplomacy; and other behavior such as alleged intellectual theft all have had a negative impact on China’s regional and international image as well as its efforts to raise its international reputation as a responsible global leader” (Heng, 2020b, para. 13).
Amid the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that has infected more than 14,000 people worl... more Amid the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that has infected more than 14,000 people worldwide and caused over 360 deaths, false claims and fake news about the spread of the virus are on the rise.
In Cambodia, fake news is not a new phenomenon. It is actually a buzzword that is becoming a new normal among Cambodians, particularly the political elites and youth.
As many Cambodians are now turning to social media, particularly Facebook, for their daily information intake, fake news and misinformation have a good chance to spread in Cambodian society.
Research is a process or series of steps aimed at collecting and analyzing information to arrive ... more Research is a process or series of steps aimed at collecting and analyzing information to arrive at answers to specific questions.
Research enables the creation of new knowledge and facilitates the use of existing knowledge to bring about new findings or discoveries. It also allows for the use of the existing stock of knowledge to create new understandings, concepts and inventions.
Research not only helps us to build upon the current body of knowledge, but also empowers us to advance our understanding of the world and beyond.
In Southeast Asia, only Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have until now reported zero deaths from COVID... more In Southeast Asia, only Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have until now reported zero deaths from COVID-19. Although critics have argued that some countries in this region lack the capacity to detect the virus, are underreporting cases, hiding reported cases or discouraging people from reporting them with legal threats, it seems that these countries have been able to contain the spread of the virus.
Cambodia had confirmed a total of 122 cases of COVID-19 in its population of 16 million by April 12, after which no new cases were reported for five weeks until three in late May. All of those 122 patients have recovered.
Despite having a weak health care system and being a resource-limited country, Cambodia has surprisingly emerged as a COVID-19 success story, while much richer Singapore is now battling a second wave of infections. So what is behind Cambodia's apparent success?
Unlike Europe, North America and recently Russia, Southeast Asia does not seem to have been hit a... more Unlike Europe, North America and recently Russia, Southeast Asia does not seem to have been hit as hard by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of total deaths and confirmed cases. Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia are the worst affected countries in the region, but Vietnam, Cambodia and previously Singapore, have managed to contain the spread of COVID-19.
ការស្រាវជ្រាវគឺជាដំណើរការ ឬជាជំហានបន្តបន្ទាប់គ្នាដែលមានគោលបំណង ប្រមូលនិងវិភាគព័ត៌មានដ... more ការស្រាវជ្រាវគឺជាដំណើរការ ឬជាជំហានបន្តបន្ទាប់គ្នាដែលមានគោលបំណង ប្រមូលនិងវិភាគព័ត៌មានដើម្បីទទួលបានចម្លើយចំពោះសំណួរជាក់លាក់ណាមួយ។
As it navigates a post-Covid recovery, Cambodia needs to strike a balance between the US and China.
The eldest son of Prime Minister Hun Sen is being groomed to take over, but still has to convince... more The eldest son of Prime Minister Hun Sen is being groomed
to take over, but still has to convince key political players.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cambodian government led by Prime Minister Hun Sen des... more In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cambodian government led by Prime Minister Hun Sen deserves praise, although many may think the opposite is the case.
From saving more than 2,000 passengers on the MS Westerdam cruise ship in February to successfully handling the spread of the coronavirus, to having a temporary pandemic relief fund to support vulnerable groups and poor families, and to endorsing the construction of international airports in Siem Reap and Kandal provinces to continue during the pandemic and economic fallout, Hun Sen’s government, despite its poor performance in some areas, should be recognised for positive efforts and developments during the COVID-19 crisis.
Journal of digital educational technology, Dec 31, 2023
Cambodian Journal of Educational Research, Jun 30, 2022
Welcome to the second volume of the Cambodian Journal of Educational Research (CJER). In this edi... more Welcome to the second volume of the Cambodian Journal of Educational Research (CJER). In this editorial, we look back at the historical development and achievements of the Cambodian Education Forum (CEF), which turned two years old in July 2022. We then provide brief information on CEF's new initiative, called "CEF Research Seminar Series." This editorial ends with an overview of articles in this issue: Volume 2, Issue 1. History and achievements The Cambodian Education Forum is now two years old. Co-founded in July 2020 by a team of emerging Cambodian scholars, CEF aspires to contribute to promoting research and publication culture in Cambodia. With this aspiration, CEF offers a platform for Cambodian academics, researchers, students, and beyond to publish their scholarly work concerning Cambodian education and other educational issues through a rigorous peer review and publication process (CEF, 2021). With an ambitious and inclusive vision, CEF aims to: • Provide a publication platform for Cambodian researchers, educators, and students • Share knowledge, research findings, and informed opinions about education in Cambodia
Higher Education
In recent years, university research in Cambodia has seen new developments and potential transfor... more In recent years, university research in Cambodia has seen new developments and potential transformations although many challenges remain. Drawing on data from in-depth interviews with 22 Cambodian academics, this study shows that the development of university research in Cambodia is constrained by various challenges and barriers to research, preventing Cambodia from promoting higher education internationalization and transforming itself into a knowledge-based society. The study highlights key challenges that limit possibilities for further positive developments of higher education research and suggests the need for policy reforms to make a difference to the university research landscape in Cambodia. The study also points to the broader issues of North-South knowledge divide and calls for national and institutional initiatives to support Cambodian academics and empower them to enhance their research engagement. Finally, the study discusses implications for future research.
An article accepted for publication by Policy Forum but they failed to publish it. Trump-Kim Summ... more An article accepted for publication by Policy Forum but they failed to publish it. Trump-Kim Summit in Vietnam and implications for Cambodia By Kimkong Heng and Veasna Var The first summit between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jung Un was held in Singapore on 12 June last year. Their second high-profile meeting is set to take place in Vietnam on 27 and 28 this month. The summit aims to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula by ge ing North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program in exchange of sanctions relief and economic incentives. The selection of Vietnam as a venue for the second Trump-Kim Summit does have implications for Cambodia, Vietnam's neighbour and traditional enemy.
ប្រធានាធិបតីអាមេរិក លោក ដូណាល់ ត្រាំ និងប្រមុខដឹកនាំប្រទេសកូរ៉េខាងជើង លោក គីម ជុងអ៊ុន នឹងជួប... more ប្រធានាធិបតីអាមេរិក លោក ដូណាល់ ត្រាំ និងប្រមុខដឹកនាំប្រទេសកូរ៉េខាងជើង លោក គីម ជុងអ៊ុន នឹងជួបគ្នាជាលើកទីពីរ នៅថ្ងៃទី២៧-២៨ ខែកុម្ភៈ ដើម្បីពិភាក្សាអំពីបញ្ហាធ្វើឲ្យឧបទ្វីបកូរ៉េគ្មានអាវុធនុយក្លេអ៊ែរ និងជាពិសេស ជំនួបនេះ អាមេរិកនឹងព្យាយាមបញ្ចុះបញ្ចូលកូរ៉េខាងជើង ឲ្យបោះបង់កម្មវិធីអាវុធនុយក្លេអ៊ែររបស់ខ្លួន ជាថ្នូរនឹងជំនួយសេដ្ឋកិច្ច។
ព័ត៌មានក្លែងក្លាយ គឺជាពាក្យពេញនិយមដែលកំពុងក្លាយជារឿងធម្មតា នៅក្នុងចំណោមពលរដ្ឋកម្ពុជា ជាព... more ព័ត៌មានក្លែងក្លាយ គឺជាពាក្យពេញនិយមដែលកំពុងក្លាយជារឿងធម្មតា នៅក្នុងចំណោមពលរដ្ឋកម្ពុជា ជាពិសេស ក្មេងៗយុវវ័យ និងអ្នករស់នៅក្នុងទីក្រុង។
China’s debt trap, also called debt-trap diplomacy, is a topic of significant interest which has ... more China’s debt trap, also called debt-trap diplomacy, is a topic of significant interest which has gained increasing attention in recent years. From Africa to Asia and even in South America, the issue of the Chinese debt trap associated with China’s no strings attached aid and loans have often become news headlines.
An article which appeared in Quartz last year named eight countries that are in danger of falling into China’s debt trap. These vulnerable nations included Djibouti, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, the Maldives, Mongolia, Montenegro, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.
As the US-China trade war appears to be further escalating, Cambodia should rethink its foreign p... more As the US-China trade war appears to be further escalating, Cambodia should rethink its foreign policy towards China and the West.
While Cambodia’s ties with China have substantially improved with time, its relations with the West have reached a new low in the last few years. Its fluctuating relationship with the United States seems to be less amicable, if not worse.
It is a cliché to say that Cambodia lacks a research culture. It is also not uncommon to hear phr... more It is a cliché to say that Cambodia lacks a research culture. It is also not uncommon to hear phrases such as “no reading culture,” “no research culture,” or “limited research” in the context of Cambodia.
The Cambodian government, though the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) and other relevant ministries and institutions, has endeavoured to promote reading and research in the country; however, a lot more need to be done.
To provide guidelines on how to promote research, MoEYS has published several national research policy documents such as Policy on Research Development in the Education Sector and Master Plan for Research Development in the Education Sector. It has also established a policy think tank for education, called Education Research Council, which was launched in 2015. The Ministry has moreover organized annual National Reading Day to promote a reading culture in the country.
In an era of the globalisation and internationalisation of higher education, it is difficult, if ... more In an era of the globalisation and internationalisation of higher education, it is difficult, if not impossible, to disregard the regional and global trend toward building world-class universities.
Many governments in Asia and Africa are making significant efforts to establish research-intensive universities to catch up with their counterparts in the US and Europe.
Competition for global university rankings has increasingly intensified, yet the success or failure of building world-class universities is to a great extent determined by individual governments’ commitment and economic strength.
The vast economic disparity between countries in the global North and South has created huge inequalities in knowledge production, leaving many developing countries in a peripheral status in the pursuit of world-class research institutions.
Against this backdrop, it seems an impossible dream for developing countries like Cambodia to aim for world-class status.
China’s global image suffered when it was found that the novel coronavirus that caused the global... more China’s global image suffered when it was found that the novel coronavirus that caused the global COVID-19 pandemic originated from Wuhan city in the north of China back in early 2020. Discrimination against Chinese people was reported in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. The blame was particularly placed on China and how it suppressed critical information until it was too late for the rest of the world to prepare for what was coming. In addition to its early mishandling of COVID-19, China’s image problem also stemmed from other actions and approaches that have generally not been well received by the international community, particularly democratic countries. For example, it was argued that “China’s growing assertiveness and territorial claims in the South China Sea; its practice of no-strings-attached development assistance; its use of debt-trap diplomacy; its WolfWarrior diplomacy; and other behavior such as alleged intellectual theft all have had a negative impact on China’s regional and international image as well as its efforts to raise its international reputation as a responsible global leader” (Heng, 2020b, para. 13).
Amid the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that has infected more than 14,000 people worl... more Amid the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that has infected more than 14,000 people worldwide and caused over 360 deaths, false claims and fake news about the spread of the virus are on the rise.
In Cambodia, fake news is not a new phenomenon. It is actually a buzzword that is becoming a new normal among Cambodians, particularly the political elites and youth.
As many Cambodians are now turning to social media, particularly Facebook, for their daily information intake, fake news and misinformation have a good chance to spread in Cambodian society.
Research is a process or series of steps aimed at collecting and analyzing information to arrive ... more Research is a process or series of steps aimed at collecting and analyzing information to arrive at answers to specific questions.
Research enables the creation of new knowledge and facilitates the use of existing knowledge to bring about new findings or discoveries. It also allows for the use of the existing stock of knowledge to create new understandings, concepts and inventions.
Research not only helps us to build upon the current body of knowledge, but also empowers us to advance our understanding of the world and beyond.
In Southeast Asia, only Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have until now reported zero deaths from COVID... more In Southeast Asia, only Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have until now reported zero deaths from COVID-19. Although critics have argued that some countries in this region lack the capacity to detect the virus, are underreporting cases, hiding reported cases or discouraging people from reporting them with legal threats, it seems that these countries have been able to contain the spread of the virus.
Cambodia had confirmed a total of 122 cases of COVID-19 in its population of 16 million by April 12, after which no new cases were reported for five weeks until three in late May. All of those 122 patients have recovered.
Despite having a weak health care system and being a resource-limited country, Cambodia has surprisingly emerged as a COVID-19 success story, while much richer Singapore is now battling a second wave of infections. So what is behind Cambodia's apparent success?
Unlike Europe, North America and recently Russia, Southeast Asia does not seem to have been hit a... more Unlike Europe, North America and recently Russia, Southeast Asia does not seem to have been hit as hard by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of total deaths and confirmed cases. Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia are the worst affected countries in the region, but Vietnam, Cambodia and previously Singapore, have managed to contain the spread of COVID-19.
ការស្រាវជ្រាវគឺជាដំណើរការ ឬជាជំហានបន្តបន្ទាប់គ្នាដែលមានគោលបំណង ប្រមូលនិងវិភាគព័ត៌មានដ... more ការស្រាវជ្រាវគឺជាដំណើរការ ឬជាជំហានបន្តបន្ទាប់គ្នាដែលមានគោលបំណង ប្រមូលនិងវិភាគព័ត៌មានដើម្បីទទួលបានចម្លើយចំពោះសំណួរជាក់លាក់ណាមួយ។
As it navigates a post-Covid recovery, Cambodia needs to strike a balance between the US and China.
The eldest son of Prime Minister Hun Sen is being groomed to take over, but still has to convince... more The eldest son of Prime Minister Hun Sen is being groomed
to take over, but still has to convince key political players.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cambodian government led by Prime Minister Hun Sen des... more In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cambodian government led by Prime Minister Hun Sen deserves praise, although many may think the opposite is the case.
From saving more than 2,000 passengers on the MS Westerdam cruise ship in February to successfully handling the spread of the coronavirus, to having a temporary pandemic relief fund to support vulnerable groups and poor families, and to endorsing the construction of international airports in Siem Reap and Kandal provinces to continue during the pandemic and economic fallout, Hun Sen’s government, despite its poor performance in some areas, should be recognised for positive efforts and developments during the COVID-19 crisis.
Insight: Cambodia Journal of Basic and Applied Research, 2019
The first chapter explains the different types of peer review in academic settings (e.g., reviews... more The first chapter explains the different types of peer review in academic settings (e.g., reviews of research grant applications, promotion and tenure track applications, academic books, book proposals, and journal articles). Then, it outlines the scope and aim of the book, briefly discussing the value of peer review in ensuring the quality and standard of academic publications, as well as criticisms -the slowness, subjectivity, and bias that come with it (see also .
Cambodian Journal of International Studies, 2019
UC Occasional Paper Series, 2017
UC Occasional Paper Series , 2017
World Order is expertly written by a man whose name is associated with both global peace and war ... more World Order is expertly written by a man whose name is associated with both global peace and war crimes, Henry Kissinger. The book is carefully crafted to reflect Kissinger's extensive knowledge and experience in American foreign policy, global politics and history. Having received numerous excellent reviews, the book is believed to be the summation of Kissinger's thinking about statecraft, strategy, characters of nations, the course of history, the future of the world, and in particular the world order.
Cambodian Education Forum , 2022
Cambodian Journal of Educational Research (Vol. 2, No. 2)
Cambodian Education Forum, 2021
Cambodian Journal of Educational Research (Vol. 1, No. 2)
Cambodian Education Forum, 2021
Cambodian Journal of Educational Research (Vol. 1, No. 1)
Department of Scientific Research (MoEYS), 2023
ទស្សនាវដ្ដីស្រាវជ្រាវកម្ពុជាសម្រាប់ការអប់រំ និងស្ទែម Cambodian Journal of Education and STEM
Cambodian Education Forum
Critical Issues in Cambodian Education: Insights from Youth The Role of Youth and the Importance ... more Critical Issues in Cambodian Education: Insights from Youth
The Role of Youth and the Importance of Their Perspectives
The Importance of Promoting Research for the Future of Cambodia
The Education Systems in Cambodia and Thailand: A Comparative Perspective
New Generation Schools in Cambodia: Issues and Recommendations
So Close, Yet So Far: Narrowing the Geographical Gap in Cambodian Education
Cambodian Women in Higher Education: Progress and Challenges
School Bullying: Causes, Effects, and Solutions
Corruption in Education: Causes, Impacts, and Solutions
Sexuality Education: Effectiveness, Barriers, and Recommendations
How Can Cambodian Youth Prepare for Industry 4.0?
Cambodian Education Forum , 2022
The Cambodian Journal of Educational Research (CJER) is a peer-reviewed academic journal initiate... more The Cambodian Journal of Educational Research (CJER) is a peer-reviewed academic journal initiated and managed by the Cambodian Education Forum (CEF). CJER publishes English manuscripts in the field of education, which would be of interest to Cambodian or international readership. All manuscripts must be original and have not been previously published or currently under publication consideration elsewhere. All manuscripts submitted to CJER will go through an initial screening by the CJER editorial team. The editorial team will then decide whether or not to send a manuscript for a blind peer review by two invited reviewers.
We would like to thank all the interns and editors of the Cambodian Education Forum, particularly... more We would like to thank all the interns and editors of the Cambodian Education Forum, particularly Koemhong Sol, Sovanncharya Ren, and Samnang Yen, who have contributed to this edited volume in different capacities as contributing authors, reviewers, or editors. Without their contributions, this volume would not have been possible. Kimkong Heng and Sopheap Kaing would also like to respectively thank the Australia Awards Scholarships and the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for their financial support which has enabled them to complete this book and pursue their academic interests. All of us are also grateful to our families and friends for their love and support. Without them, this book would not have been written.
This edited volume puts together articles written by the first batch of interns at Cambodian Educ... more This edited volume puts together articles written by the first batch of interns at Cambodian Education Forum (CEF). These interns are Cambodian youth who have volunteered to work with the CEF editorial team to write English articles for publication. They have joined the first round of an internship program that lasted for almost six months, from November 2020 to April 2021. Participation in the internship program was voluntary, and interns were required to write and publish at least one article per month with CEF. Over the course of the program, these interns have each published between one to four articles, while a few of them have only completed the first draft and failed to bring their article to an acceptable standard for publication by CEF. Overall, seven interns managed to write 18 articles that are compiled and republished in this volume. We put together their articles to produce this volume because we wish to contribute to the promotion of reading, writing, research, and publication in Cambodia. We particularly aim to support youth to learn the skills of writing and publishing articles in English, as well as skills to reflect on contemporary educational issues. We believe that Cambodian youth and young Cambodian writers need mentoring support and opportunities to showcase their knowledge and skills, particularly critical thinking and writing skills. With sufficient support, they will be able to improve their analytical and critical thinking skills to write and publish short opinion or research-based articles in English. While editing and producing this volume, we acknowledge limitations in our editing and copyediting skills. As editors, we have endeavored to edit and proofread this volume to make it as flawless as possible; however, we believe that this edited book is not free of errors. In this regard, we would welcome any constructive feedback or comments that can enhance the quality of this collaborative work and other works by CEF. Secondly, we wish to acknowledge the financial support of our scholarship providers who sponsor our PhD studies. Each of us, including Kimkong Heng, Sopheap Kaing, Vutha Ros, and Koemhong Sol, would like to respectively thank Australia Awards, Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships, HKU Postgraduate Scholarship, and Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship. Without these sponsors' generous support, we may not have the opportunity to complete this edited volume. Finally, we wish to express our sincere thanks to our respective families and friends for their love, support, understanding, and blessing. Without them, the completion of this book would have been both less likely and less meaningful. vi
This edited volume represents our humble attempt to put together all the articles that Cambodian ... more This edited volume represents our humble attempt to put together all the articles that Cambodian Education Forum (CEF) has published since July 2020 when the CEF website was launched. Since we did not require the contributing authors to write on a particular topic or follow specific writing styles, the articles that they submitted to us varied considerably in terms of topics and formats. Fortunately, despite the diversity in topics, we were able to compile 21 articles and grouped them into four parts for republication in this edited book. We would like to thank all the people-contributing authors and reviewers, including anonymous reviewers-who helped make this book possible. Without them, the idea for this edited volume would never have been put into action. Each of us would also like to acknowledge the financial support of our scholarship sponsors, including Australia Awards (for sponsoring Kimkong Heng), Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (Sopheap Kaing), HKU Postgraduate Scholarship (Vutha Ros), and Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship (Koemhong Sol). Without the generous support of these sponsors, we may not have the time and resources required to complete this book. Kimkong Heng, Sopheap Kaing, and Vutha Ros would like to thank Dr. Sokphea Young for bringing the three of us together to speak at a roundtable discussion hosted by his Cambodian Scholars Network, which provided us with an excellent opportunity to collaborate and embark on the founding of Cambodian Education Forum, which later made the writing and publishing of this book possible. Finally, we are grateful to our families for their love, support, patience, and understanding throughout the preparation of this edited book. v Table of Contents Preface iii Acknowledgments iv Notes on Contributors x Notes on Cambodian Education Forum xviii 1. Introduction: The need to promote a strong research and publication culture in Cambodia