PROPOSED EDUCATIONAL POLICY ALTERNATIVES FOR CAPACITY BUILDING OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY IN CAMBODIA

Abstract

This research aims (1) to analyze the capacity building of higher education institutions to promote sustainability in Cambodia; and (2) to propose educational policy alternatives for capacity building of higher education institutions to promote sustainability in Cambodia, as follows. First, the researcher analyzed the capacity building by employing the document study; the survey with 83 university leaders, 176 faculty members, and 720 students from 24 higher education institutions; and the interviews with 15 university leaders, 16 faculty members from eight disciplines, and five key experts. Second, the researcher drafted the educational policy alternatives based on the incremental model of policy making by adjusting the existing policies with the research findings, and organizing the focus group discussion meeting of 11 experts from the relevant public sector, private sector, and non-governmental organizations to improve the educational policy alternatives in accordance with Cambodian context. The research findings were presented as the following. The capacity of Cambodian higher education institutions for promoting sustainability appeared to be at a low level. They lacked university leaders and faculty members with a doctoral degree and sufficient sustainability knowledge and skills to mobilize the “sustainable self” concept in higher education and local communities. Public higher education institutions had more opportunities for obtaining external support and more activities than the private ones. Some higher education institutions revealed their cooperation with governmental institutions, international governments and organizations, and non-governmental organizations on research development and community development. Only a few higher education institutions had operated the community service learning program to increase opportunities for the student engagement in community outreach activities. The educational policy alternatives for capacity building of higher education institutions to promote sustainability in Cambodia covered totally 11 alternatives: (1) Promote awareness of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) among relevant stakeholders; (2) Promote awareness of and participation in practical concepts of sustainability and ESD in Cambodian context among higher education institutions; (3) Strengthen capacity and boost motivation of faculty members to enhance sustainability research; (4) Ensure that curriculum and extra-curricular activities in all higher education institutions’ academic programs are integrated with sustainability concepts; (5) Develop faculty members’ capacity to enhance the sustainable self-based instruction for all academic programs at higher education institutions; (6) Enhance the cooperation among higher education institutions on sustainability knowledge sharing and research development; (7) Enhance the cooperation with governmental institutions, international governments and organizations, and relevant non-governmental organizations on the increase of sustainability research, student capacity building for sustainability, and public awareness of sustainability; (8) Enhance the cooperation with private sector on the promotion of sustainability research, the student capacity improvement, and the development of sustainable business models; (9) Promote community service learning and student engagement in the voluntary activities; (10) Enrich academic resources and physical infrastructure for university people to increase their sustainability knowledge; and (11) Enrich academic financial resources for utilizing in capacity building activities to promote sustainability