About the Department of Geography and Land Management:

The Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Land Management provides students with knowledge of human, physical and economic geography, as well as land management, to meet the high demand for people skilled in these fields in Cambodia. These skills are particularly relevant in Cambodia, which is experiencing a shortage of skilled and effective managers in agriculture, geography, and land management. After completing the Bachelor of Arts (Geography and Land Management) degree, many students spend a year completing a teacher training qualification of Pedagogy. This combination of degrees allows graduates to enter employment in various sectors, including teaching, government ministries, non-governmental organizations, and private enterprise.

Historically, geography has been taught at RUPP since its inception in 1960. From 1995-1997, the French organization, CERPAA (Centre for Population Study and Research in Africa and Asia) assisted the department by training students and staff in demography. From 1997-1999, Louvain La Neuve University (Belgium) took over this support role. Both organizations helped the department establish a library (Room 308, Campus I) which is administrated by the Center for Population Studies. At the same time, a Population Research, Training, and Policy Program was established to strengthen research skills and staff development. This program is supported by the United Nations Fund for Population Activity (UNFPA) and the Australian National University (ANU). Since 2001, staff members have undergone regular training in population research and policy by a senior lecturer from ANU.

In September 2001, several staff members attended training in curriculum development at Lambaga University (Indonesia). RUPP has also established staff exchanges with Lambaga University. Besides the support from the above-mentioned organizations, RUPP has built a collaborative relationship between the Department of Geography and Land Management and its counterpart at the University of Bordeaux III in France. As part of this relationship, expatriate experts, funded by the Embassy of France, conducted training and field research at RUPP for two years, from 1999 to 2001. As part of their stay, these experts also offered a Maitrise degree at RUPP. Four of the graduates from this degree now work for the Department. In response to the needs of Cambodia’s market, the Department has recently revised and updated the curriculum, to provide students with the latest knowledge, theories, and perspectives, which are necessary for current market job opportunities.

To suit the updated curriculum, the department’s changed its name to the Department of Geography and Land Management in 2006. The department hopes to encourage more students to graduate with the B.A. (Geography and Land Management) to serve the need for trained professionals in this field throughout Cambodia. It also hopes to expand its capacities in the areas of physical geography, Cartography, GIS training, research methodologies, population and human resources development, rural-urban development, and human and economic development.

Vision and Mission

Our vision, mission, core values, and key strategies

Admission

Admission to the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Land Management is administered by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, and based on sound results in the High School Certificate subjects of Geography and Mathematics. Applicants shall gain at least a grade of D in Geography and Mathematics. The degree is available for both scholarship and non-scholarship applicants each year.

Assessment

Students are assessed by a combination of formal written and oral examinations and practical work, including field research, tutorial sessions, map making, and group/individual assignments. In addition, students must maintain an adequate attendance rate to pass the degree. In the fourth year, students choose either a sitting exam or writing a thesis for graduation. This depends on the outstanding results of each student to choose the options mentioned above.

Curriculum

Total Credit: 137 to 138 (including 18 credits of English course)

Credit Requirement

• Requirement 137 Credits
• Four-years course include Foundation Year

Discipline focused

• Physical Geography
• Geographic Information System (GIS), Cartography and Remote Sensing
• Human & Economic Geography
• Cross-Cutting (English, Computer Applications, Research Methodology, History, Philosophy, Sociology...)

Resource center

The department houses a small departmental library for use by all staff and students, as well as several computers which students can use when writing assignments, reports, and theses. In addition, students and staff have access to all university libraries, including the well-stocked Hun Sen Library.