About the Institute of Foreign Languages

Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) hosts around 22,000 students in undergraduate and postgraduate programs. It offers degrees in fields such as sciences, humanities and social sciences, engineering, education, and foreign languages.

RUPP provides Cambodia's foremost degree-level language programs through the Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL) . RUPP has full membership in the ASEAN University Network (AUN).

There are currently 6 departments at the Institute of Foreign Languages, namely Department of English, French, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Thai. Currently, there are about 5,000 students studying at IFL.

RUPP has one main library – Hun Sen Library. It was opened on the 7th of January 1997 by Prime Minister Hun Sen. The library has a collection of more than 100,000 volumes in Khmer, English and French, and some volumes in Japanese, Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese, as well as smaller collections of videos, audio cassettes, CDs/DVDs and electronic resources.

IFL also has its own library called Self-Access Centre (SAC) with a collection of about 11,000 volumes in English, French, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Thai languages. The SAC houses an extensive collection of reading, listening and video kits for language and vocabulary skills development. The center also holds a significant collection relating to general education subjects taken in the Foundation Year.
 

Overview of the Institute of Foreign Languages

The Institute of Foreign Languages is a higher education institution dedicated to foreign language training at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. Initially known as the Foreign Language Center, it evolved from the Language School Annex, which was situated at the present Boeung Keng Kang High School, following the transformation of the Higher Pedagogical School into the University of Phnom Penh as per the Council of Ministers’ Sub-Decree No. 04 Angkor dated February 3, 1988, establishing the University of Phnom Penh. At the outset of its operations, the Institute of Foreign Languages comprised two departments, the Department of French and the Department of English (1988) . Currently, the Institute has expanded to include four additional departments, established in succession: the Department of Japanese (2003), the Department of Korean (2007), the Department of Chinese (2007), and the Department of Thai (2014)

Vision

To be the leading regional hub of excellence in foreign language education, research, and cultural studies, recognized for fostering multilingual competence, intercultural understanding, and graduating globally competitive language professionals who contribute meaningfully to national and international relations.

IFL Strategic Plan 2026-2030 Booklet

Goal 1: Enhance the quality of foreign language instruction and learning by implementing outcome-based education programs, innovative pedagogical approaches, effective assessment methods, and the integration of digital technology.

Objective 1.1: Enhance the quality of foreign language instruction and acquisition by implementing outcome-based education programs, innovative pedagogical approaches, effective assessment methods, and the integration of digital technology.

Activities: 

• Evaluate and enhance all comprehensive curricula to ensure alignment with the outcomes-based education program and the student competencies of the Royal University of Phnom Penh. 

• Augment the integration of blended learning and online instruction in language education.

Objective 1.2: Enhance the integration of digital technology and innovative pedagogical approaches across all curricula.

Activities:

• Educate instructional personnel in innovative pedagogical methods. 

• Instruct educational staff in the integration of digital technology in teaching.

Objective 1.3: Execute student evaluations across all subjects.

Activities:

• Provide training for educational personnel on assessment methodologies. 

• Assess and validate student performance, utilizing the findings to enhance educational programs.

Goal 2: Enhance research capacity in language, education, and culture by fostering high-quality research, scientific publications, and engagement in both national and international research collaborations.

Objective 2.1: Enhance research activities and scholarly publications of academic staff by a minimum of 10–15% annually.

Activities:

• Develop policies and strategies to enhance research initiatives in the domains of language, education, and culture. 

• Conduct regular training for educational personnel in research methodologies and scholarly publications.

Objective 2.2: Guarantee the effective and sustainable utilization of financial resources and infrastructure

Activities: 

• Foster collaborative research and joint projects with both national and international organizations. 

• Offer guidance on research methodologies to academic personnel and encourage research and publication efforts. 

• Encourage and facilitate participation in national and international conferences, workshops, and forums. 

Goal 3: Foster effective governance, transparency, and accountability by means of management, stakeholder engagement, and stringent policy implementation.

Objective 3.1: Enhance management and decision-making systems to ensure transparency and accountability.

Activities: 

• Consistently evaluate and revise management policies and procedures. 

• Enhance communication and information exchange among leadership, educational personnel, and administrative staff.

Objective 3.2: Guarantee the efficient and sustainable utilization of financial resources and infrastructure.

Activities:

• Implement mechanisms that engage staff and stakeholders in the decision-making process. 

• Enhance monitoring, evaluation, and accountability systems.

Goal 4: Develop and leverage human, financial, and infrastructural resources to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and long-term growth

Objective 4.1: Enhance human resource competencies through ongoing professional development.

Activities:

• Develop a human resource development and continuing professional development plan for educational and administrative personnel. 

• Execute a human resource development and continuing professional development plan for educational and administrative personnel on a regular basis.

Objective 4.2: Guarantee the effective and sustainable utilization of financial resources and infrastructure.

Activities: 

• Enhance financial management systems and optimize resource utilization. 

• Invest in infrastructure, libraries, and digital technologies. 

• Identify new revenue streams and partnerships for sustainable development.

Goal 5: Transform the institute into a center of excellence for foreign language education and professional training that adheres to both national and international standards.

Objective 5.1: Establish a minimum of two exemplary academic programs in foreign languages within five years.

Activities: 

• Identify and cultivate curricula with the potential to achieve excellence. 

• Enhance the curricula identified in Activity 1 to ensure alignment with national (ACC) and regional (AUN-QA) standards.

Objective 5.2: Elevate the reputation of the Institute of Foreign Languages at both national and international levels.

Activities: 

• Enhance collaboration with foreign institutions, including embassies and international organizations. 

• Coordinate diverse initiatives to elevate the appeal of the Institute of Foreign Languages.