Second Higher Education Improvement Project

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The proposed project aims to enhance Cambodia's competitiveness by improving the quality and relevance of higher education and research in line with industrial needs. It builds upon the progress and lessons learned from an ongoing higher education improvement project (HEIP). The project consists of three main components.The first component focuses on enhancing the quality and relevance of academic programs and research in STEM and other related fields within higher education institutions (HEIs) to meet national and regional standards and improve the skills and knowledge of students to meet industry demands. On the quality and relevance of higher education, the project will (i) update curriculums with the inclusion of innovative pedagogy; (ii) improve lecturers’ professional qualifications and their capacity; (iii) provide technical support to potential programs to prepare for meeting national or international standards; (iv) provide technical support to targeted HEIs to strengthen industrial; (v) support the targeted HEIs for the development of short-non-degree programs; and (vi) provide mentoring fund to high-capacity targeted HEIs to provide technical support to those with lower capacity. On research quality and relevance at targeted HEIs, the project will support applied research in STEM, with high focus on industrial linkage, prototype/product development, technology transfer, and commercialization; and research that drive the national policy development. The main activities for research will: (i) provide necessary funding to several selected research projects; (ii) strengthen research funding rules and researchers' conditions; and (iii) provide continued support for selected research projects under HEIP to produce impactful results/products and obtain standard certifications for primary laboratories. The project will also continue to improve the institutional governance capacity of the targeted HEIs to implement their long-term strategic plans, by strengthening data management, internal quality assurance (IQA), tracer studies, student grievances, human resources management, and financial management. Finally, the project will construct and/or renovate classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and necessary offices to expand access to academic programs and research, which are of improved quality and relevance at targeted HEIs.The second component of the project aims to strengthen the system of higher education sector by improving sectoral governance, research management and development, and project management. The objective is to create an environment that supports concrete growth and development. This component will also focus on increasing the capacity of Directorate General of Higher Education (DGHE) to strengthen the higher education sub-sector by (i) digitalizing key functions of higher education data and service delivery, (ii) supporting HEIs to implement an OBE curriculum framework, (iii) supporting public and private HEIs to implement the IQA system to improve program quality and institutional capacity development status towards national/regional quality recognition through the engagement with the AUN-QA and other agencies, (iv) supporting the implementation of a performance-based management system, (v) conducting strategic research on the higher education sub-sector to inform policymaking, and (vi) developing a comprehensive regulatory framework to govern online education. This sub-component will also construct a new building for DGHE to accommodate the needs for additional staff and expanded operations. The third component of the project is Contingent Emergency Response (CERC) with zero allocation in order to provide swift response in the event of an Eligible Crisis or Emergency, by enabling the Royal Government of Cambodia to request the World Bank to re-allocate uncommitted project funds to support emergency response and reconstruction. An "Eligible Crisis or Emergency" refers to an event that has resulted in or is likely to result in a significant negative impact on the economy and/or society due to natural or man-made crises or disasters (based on Paragraph 12 of the Bank Policy: Investment Project Financing, which pertains to Projects in Situations of Urgent Need of Assistance or Capacity Constraints). It may include extreme climate event (e.g., flood), nature disasters (e.g., earthquake), public health emergency (e.g., COVID-19), and any natural disaster or man-made crisis.The project will support nine selected public HEIs and relevant departments in MoEYS. The public HEIs include five within Phnom Penh—Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC), Royal University of Agriculture (RUA), Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Prek Leap National Institute of Agriculture (NIA), Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA)—and four in provinces—Svay Rieng University (SRU), National University of Battambang (NUBB), National University of Cheasim Kamchaymear (NUCK), and University of Heng Samrin Thbongkhmum (UHST). The rationales behind the selection are: (i) ITC, RUA, RUPP and NIA are sector leading universities in STEM, with a combined enrollment of 43% in STEM and agricultural subjects in 2022; (ii) SRU, NUBB, NUCK, and UHST are key provincial institutions to expand access to students coming from their own provinces and the provinces nearby, and contribute to the regional economic growth for supplying skilled workforce and conducting research to meet the local industry needs; (iii) and RUFA is a leading university to supply graduates in archaeology for conserving and preserving the country’s historical sites and artifacts and in architecture and urbanism for designing sustainable and climate resilient infrastructure and urban spaces.