| Name | HENG Kreng |
|---|---|
| Country | Cambodia |
| Year / month of graduation | March 2014 |
| Degree obtained | PhD in Educational Development |
| Position / organization as of March 2021 |
Director, Department of Scientific Research, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport |
This article was written in March 2021.
Why did you choose Japan, and Hiroshima university for your study?
One major reason I chose Japan is due to its outstanding economic and education development. The rapid development in Japan developed my interest to study the development strategies Japan had employed so far following the 2nd world war. Another reason is its geographical proximity to Cambodia. It is easy to travel and I still have a sense of being at home and in the Asian soil while studying abroad.
In addition, Japan has been a good friend to Cambodia in many respects especially in terms of support to socio-economic development in Cambodia. Hiroshima University was the first choice in my selection list due to its long history of education and training. HU offers a wide range of international programs in education and research. Also, HU is located in an environment conducive to learning and living. What I like the most is the green campus and clean, suburban city of Higashi-Hiroshima.
What did you learn and study at Hiroshima university?
During the study at Hiroshima University, I have learnt a great deal of useful and relevant contents and skills including, but not limited to, educational planning, education policies and best practices of education reforms and internationalization across the developing and developed worlds. HU provides an excellent model of a research-based education program which requires all students to conduct research and write a thesis.
Through this program, I could identify the area of specialization. The topics of my master’s and doctoral theses are related to the assessment of student learning and its related factors. The research-intensive master’s and doctoral programs at HU have strengthened my research competence greatly, upon which I could become one of the outstanding researchers and consultants in education policies, student assessment and project evaluation.
Did you enjoy your stay in Hiroshima?
I enjoyed both study and social life there. The best experience in Hiroshima was the academic freedom given by my supervisor. With his support and freedom given to all students, we could identify our own strength and successfully completed our degrees with high confidence. The stay in Saijo was also fantastic.
HU is close to shopping centers, restaurants and sport centers. Given the small city of Higashi-Hiroshima, we could explore the city with ease. Also, there are many attraction sites and festivals in Hiroshima. All of these made my study life more enjoyable.
Please tell us your current work. Does what you learned or studied at Hiroshima university help you?
Currently, I am a director of the Department of Scientific Research, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of Cambodia. The work is closely linked to the research expertise I have gained from my study and some years of experience as the education researcher and consultant.
My main tasks are to promote research at Cambodian higher education institutions; to improve the quality of postgraduate programs, and to promote a linkage of STEM education between secondary education and higher education. Meanwhile, I am supporting the higher education sub-sector to formulate policies and strategies to guide universities in Cambodia to strengthen governance, education programs and quality assurance.
A number of tasks achieved or ongoing include a 10-year higher education strategy, new Research and Development Policy for the higher education sector, setting up research fund to universities, guideline to center of excellence, journal standards, guideline to tracer study, human resource development mater plan, guideline to student grievance, and internal quality assurance manual. The policy analysis experiences and research skills gained from HU provides me with great potential in completing difficult or new tasks with high confidence.
Do you recommend Hiroshima university for others to choose?
HU is a great place for study. If you wish to improve education policy analysis and research skills, I strongly recommend HU. Professors and supporting staff there are helpful and caring about students’ academic and social life. The facilities are sufficient to enrich student experiences. So are student services. HU provides more than a place to study but a place to enjoy social events as well.
