NEWS

The Centre of Excellence in Higher Education Teaching and Learning Innovations (CEHETLI) and Faculty of Education and Human Development at The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) co-organised the third policy dialogue virtually on ‘Driving and Supporting Professional Development in Higher Education: Policies and Practices’ on 18 October 2021. The event brought together 68 university leaders and senior higher education management officials from Cambodia and EdUHK to discuss how universities can lead and support professional development at their universities and contribute to equitable and quality of teaching and learning in Cambodian universities.

The event started with project updates by Professor Lim Cher Ping, Chair Professor of Learning Technologies and Innovation of EdUHK. Prof Lim shared the progress of the Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (GCTLHE) and Doctor of Education (EdD) Scholarship and the next steps of the project. He highlighted the pivotal role of the master teachers to conduct professional development for their colleagues in their faculty and university​.

Next, was the sharing by three master teachers i.e. Mr Ork Ngon Seng​ from University of Heng Samrin Thbongkhmum (UHST), Mr Ly Vannarath from National University of Battambang (NUBB) and Ms Chey Sotharoth​ from Royal University of Phnom Penn (RUPP). The three master teachers shared their professional learning experiences in the GCTLHE, and how they applied to their teaching practices. Moreover, they shared their plans to support professional development among colleagues in their university, and the support needed from the senior management on capacity building of their colleagues. To create a conducive atmosphere to discuss the support at the university level, each rector was invited to respond to their needs. His Excellency Pin Vannaro, rector from UHST, His Excellency Khorn Sok, rector from NUBB and His Excellency Dr Chet Chealy, rector from RUPP, emphasized the importance of professional development for the capacity building of staff. They highlighted that the master teachers are the agent of change in their universities. In addition, the rectors echoed Professor Lim’s assertion that the senior management must provide support for the master teachers to carry out the professional development in their university.

In his presentation, Professor Allan Walker, Adjunct Chair Professor of International Educational Leadership of EdUHK, shared the role of university leaders for professional development. University leaders should build a learning vision, provide learning support, manage the learning programme and model to drive quality professional development.

Professor Walker’s presentation was followed by the discussion of rectors and senior management staff from RUPP, UHST, NUBB, RUA and ITC, chaired by Dr Sok Soth, from the Faculty of Education at RUPP. During the discussion, rectors and senior management staff shared their expectations, related university policies, and issues and challenges on professional development for the quality enhancement of teaching and learning. They pointed out that the lack of financial support for staff may hinder professional development among staff, so offering incentives to staff may be one of the possible ways to encourage the staff to participate in professional development. The senior management would attempt to offer different incentives to address the professional learning needs at their universities.

Dr Nith Bunlay, Deputy Director General of Higher Education in Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS), charting the next steps, emphasised the importance of professional development for the quality enhancement of higher education in Cambodia. At the same time, he highlighted that it is challenging to balance the workload among university teachers, especially during the pandemic. He encouraged that university teachers and senior management could have more communication to ensure the quality and sustainability of professional development.

At the end of the event, His Excellency Mak Ngoy, Director General of Higher Education (DGHE) in MoEYS expressed his gratitude to RUPP, EdUHK, the 46 master teachers and the senior management from the six partner universities for all their support. H.E Mak Ngoy said, ‘The study of Graduate Certificate could improve the knowledge and skills of the master teachers, and they can bring in the innovations to their universities and enhance and the inclusiveness and quality of the teaching and learning at their universities.’