Students' perceptions toward private sector higher education in Cambodia
Ohio University, Athens, PhD Thesis, (2010)Abstract
A breakthrough in the modern history of Cambodian higher education is the introduction of the privatization policy in the mid-1990s. It allowed public universities to offer fee-paying programs and private universities to open. In just over ten years, private higher education institutions have been mushrooming, reaching 45 to this point. The rapid growth of private higher education has generated both positive and negative opinions among the public. This thesis joins the discussion by exploring the reasons why increasing numbers of students are gravitating towards the private higher education sector and how they view their experiences there. Data was collected, through surveys and interviews, at three private universities in Cambodia. The study employed the constant comparative method of qualitative analysis. Nine key themes emerged in relation to private higher education in Cambodia, including quality of faculty, extensive use of English, reasonable and affordable tuition fees, various class schedules, easier and fewer entry requirements, weak school policies on student behavior, limited degree recognition, rich library resources and family influence. The study offers several directions for future research about the role of the private higher education sector in Cambodia.