PHNOM PENH – The Education Ministry is inviting students studying abroad and in higher education institutions to submit theses and dissertations to be kept in a repository for future research. 

Theses and dissertations from all academic years approved for broader distribution will be accepted in hard and soft formats.  

The ministry also urged university rectors and students to help develop a diverse and comprehensive collection of academic resources for research.

Heng Kimkong, a researcher in education and co-founder of the Cambodian Education Forum, praised the initiative and said it could address the lack of access to theses. 

“This would help students, teachers and researchers seek relevant academic references,” Kimkong said. 

However, Kimkong thinks the ministry should assess the quality of each thesis and dissertation before sharing it publicly. 

Kimkong said the ministry should encourage universities to develop repositories for uploading students’ theses to websites for easier access.

Keo Solina, a high school teacher who graduated from Mahasarakham University in Thailand, said she was optimistic about the initiative. Such a repository would be more convenient for students conducting research.

However, she urged the government to pay closer attention to creating job opportunities for graduates in research fields, as many students may struggle to find relevant employment. 

“The support from the government for research fields would contribute to the country’s growth,” Solina said. 

Prom Thary, a PhD student in political science at RUDN University, Moscow, and in public administration at South Korea’s Cheongju University also praised the initiative as the theses and dissertations could serve as the basis for future research and discoveries. 

Thary hoped the ministry would clarify that submissions are voluntary, recalling that his previous university allowed students to decide whether to make their theses publicly accessible. 

Mom Mit, a master’s degree graduate in management and international business forum from Financial University in Moscow, said the initiative would inspire students to enhance the quality of theses and dissertations. 

The call for submissions from the ministry came weeks after Prime Minister Hun Manet instructed Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron to consider establishing an online or institutional repository of students’ research.