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HIGHER EDUCATION IN CAMBODIA: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF STUDENT CHALLENGES
(1) Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia
(*) Corresponding Author
Abstract
Students are recognized as the fundamental component in developing a country’s higher education mission. However, there is less attention in the scholarly literature focused on student life in higher education. The purpose of the study is to explore the challenges of Cambodian higher education students. A qualitative approach was utilized, and purposive sampling was used (n = 97). The data were analysed using thematic coding, derived from a literature review and emergent patterns. The study highlights the five main challenges: (1) Academic performance; (2) Personality adaptation; (3) Career readiness; (4) Socio-cultural background; and (5) Student services platform. The findings of this study provide concrete, actionable recommendations that will directly support the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports, HEIs, industry partners, and other relevant stakeholders in closing the skills gap and strengthening graduate employability, enabling them to collaborate closely and effectively to deliver responsive services and meet the needs of the job market. This is particularly important for ensuring the quality, sustainability, and inclusiveness of economic growth, as the government emphasizes.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.24071/ijiet.v10i2.14708
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