PhD Program in Khmer Studies

BACKGROUND

Why Is Doctoral Level Training Necessary and Why in Particular for Khmer Studies?

Cambodia has very few faculty members having doctoral-level degrees who are still serving in teaching and research at universities.

The Royal University of Phnom Penh, which is Cambodia’s oldest and largest public one, having come into existence since 1960 and continuing to do so now in 2017, does not yet have a doctoral-level training programme, even though it has now been operating master degree training for more than ten years.

Even more importantly, if one were to examine scholarly-level publications about Cambodia, we would see that they have mostly been done by foreigners and a small number of  Khmer in its diaspora. Even worse, there is not yet clarity as to what Khmer studies means.

These factors have impelled the Royal University of Phnom Penh to put forward a proposal for this programme. 

HISTORY OF STUDY OF THINGS KHMER

Although Cambodia has had relations with foreigners since very long ago,  interest by foreigners in its temples, its ways of life, its types of rule, and its systems of thought only emerged substantively starting when French explorers arrived in Cambodia in the 19th century, especially after Cambodia became the French protectorate.

At the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th, a study of Khmerology led in particular by  French officials and scholars emerged substantively and clearly, even if it was not yet comprehensive.

After receipt of independence early in the 1950s, a Khmerization and Khmer Studies movements led by Khmer intellectuals began, while foreign intellectuals were still continuing research of Khmerology. However, Khmer intellectual movements then again ceased to exist, extinguished by civil war and then the genocidal regime of the Khmer Rouge.

What Khmerology has, since the ending of the civil war in the early- to mid-1990s, hitherto been intellectually preserving and developing has focused largely on physical infrastructure (temples and building) and seems to not yet reflect its past and present Renaissance, Enlightenment and other thought movements that could be usefully derived from a country considered as having the oldest civilization in this region. This has meant a lack of preservation and development of Khmer thinking and philosophy and of local wisdom for the development of Cambodian society.

This could be attributed to two factors:

1. A disarray in the running of the development of higher education in Cambodia (possibly due to historical factors and the not giving of a priority to the higher-education subsector);

2. The influence of the process of internationalization of higher education, especially since the end of the 1990s, makes for a misunderstanding that historical Khmer ways of living, types of rule, and systems of thought are of no value in a modern society.  This is evident in such phenomena as:

-    A predilection for using foreign languages, even to the point of writing in foreign script for reading Khmer words and accompanied by turmoil in the national language;

-    A predilection, especially among the youth, for celebrating foreign traditional and customary ceremonies, such as Valentines’ Day, Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Christmas and Halloween;

-    The use of foreign imprint books (both in form and content) at (higher) education institutes;

-  The deeming of foreign, especially Western, knowledge as superior to local knowledge, and thus as more sound and valid for the solution of Cambodian social problems, as evidenced by the tendency to deliberately cease to think of local wisdom in the context of several major development projects starting from the 1990s.

A Khmer Studies movement is to be observed re-emerging in the organization of a (international) conferences on Khmer Studies at the Royal University of Phnom Penh during the late 1990s and early 2000s, but unfortunately this movement did not persist, disappearing at the end of the first decade of the 21^st century. 

Thus, nearly all of the historical scholarly work on Cambodia still focuses on two subjects: Angkor Wat and the rise/fall of the Khmer Rouge (1975-1979). Contemporary research also focuses almost exclusively on two subjects: democratization or development policy, and is mainly dominated by outsiders. Whether historical or contemporary, virtually all studies are underpinned by one common, yet banal assumption: if everyone plays their appropriate role, the prescribed policies will lead Cambodia society to development – these days via science, industrialization, and a consumption-based market economy.

Currently, even though there is some bringing up of legends, folktales for discussion and study, explanations and interpretations of them in concrete contexts, and the drawing out of experiences from them as lessons for the resolution of real-life problems or the making of social arrangements is at the lowest of levels. This is because of a perception and a confidence that these extant texts do not contain within them anything knowledgeable or intelligent with regard to technical know-how.  This is because we lack meanings for and methodologies and theories of Khmer Studies and because of the lack of a culturally self-aware contextualization of present problems on the part of most Khmer intellectuals.

Study tour and capacity building programmes that have hitherto been arranged for policy-makers and development agencies via so-called “foreign assistance,” plus the presence of the foreign consultants permanently attached to each and every one of these projects, have strengthened a conviction that the current ills among Cambodian individuals and within Cambodian society are the result of inefficient and ineffective implementation of imported (foreign) ideas/development projects (rooted exclusively in notions of science, industrialization, and a consumption-based market economy) rather than understanding of the extent to which such a one-sided reliance on such to ideas/development projects are inappropriate in the Cambodian context. Debates about the effectiveness of different types of international aid including ‘foreign assistance’ has been going on for a while, and many have agreed that ‘technical assistance’ has not been contributing much to capacity development in developing countries, if local context is not included in the equation.

This does not mean that foreign methodologies and theories that we have studied lack universality or suitability for Cambodian society, nor does it mean that foreign consultants have ill-will in attempting to help Cambodia.  Rather, the important problem is that when these methodologies and theories are put to use, the local context is not taken into account seriously enough, or, even worse yet, it is thought that “local wisdom is not a medication or a vision for Cambodian society.”  The current progress and the evolution of Cambodian society is one in which, as Khmerologists such as Madame Pou Saveros have put it, “Cambodia is in the process of losing its moral values and the core values in its arrangements of life and society.”

Discussion on ‘moral values’ and ‘core value’ of Cambodian society need to be uncovered, via research, discussion and debate by Cambodian intellectuals, political leaders and scholars themselves about on what the future direction of the country should be based. This discussion, especially among scholars should be only a closed inner circle, but must be an attempt to engage with international intellectual circles. In this way, a lesson-learn and consensus building-among Cambodians will be better achieved and served. It is necessary therefore to begin training and research in the realm of Khmer Studies with the use of clear definitions, methodologies and theories in the study of local wisdom and to produce intellectually high-level knowledge in order that it can be specifically oriented to the understanding of current problems and future reconstitution of individual lives and social order.

So far, the majority of studies on modern and contemporary Cambodian society have been done by foreign researchers and a number of members of the Khmer diaspora who have  mainly used foreign languages as the medium of communication and framework and lack of using local languages and grounded theory.  This is why what must necessarily and most importantly be done at this time in order to add value and kick-start a domestic intellectual dialogue is to introduce local programs of study about modern and contemporary Cambodian society, especially by Cambodian scholars using both Khmer and English (foreign) language.

Vision

To be a nationally and internationally recognized doctoral programme that advances Khmer Studies through excellence in research, innovation, and scholarly leadership, while preserving, revitalizing, and promoting Khmer intellectual traditions, cultural heritage, language, philosophy, and indigenous knowledge for the sustainable development of Cambodian society.

Mission

The PhD Programme in Khmer Studies is committed to:

• Producing highly qualified scholars and researchers with advanced expertise in Khmer Studies who can contribute effectively to teaching, research, policy development, and academic leadership in Cambodia and beyond.
• Promoting original and interdisciplinary research on Khmer civilization, including its history, language, literature, philosophy, arts, religion, social institutions, systems of thought, and contemporary issues.
• Preserving and revitalizing Khmer intellectual heritage by documenting, analyzing, and disseminating Khmer knowledge systems, local wisdom, and cultural practices that have shaped Cambodian identity across generations.
• Strengthening national research capacity by increasing the number of Cambodian doctoral graduates capable of generating high-quality scholarly publications and contributing to the global knowledge on Cambodia from Cambodian perspectives.
• Integrating Khmer knowledge with contemporary scholarship to address social, cultural, educational, and developmental challenges facing Cambodia in the twenty-first century.
• Fostering academic collaboration and exchange with national and international institutions to enhance research quality, encourage intellectual dialogue, and promote greater recognition of Khmer Studies within the global academic community.
• Cultivating ethical values and social responsibility among doctoral candidates, encouraging them to apply their expertise for the preservation of Cambodia’s cultural heritage and the advancement of national development.

Goal/Objectives

The main goal of this programme is to strengthen the understanding of Cambodian society among Cambodian intellectuals, others in the Cambodian elite and the general public so that there is more awareness among Cambodians of their own history, society, science, belief system, values, politics, culture, as well as  that of their Asian neighbors, through scientific and academic writing, debates, and discussion.

           In order to achieve the above goal, the program will commit to implement the following objectives:

i.      Conducting research training at the Doctoral level;

ii.   Promoting academic and scientific discussion and debate about Cambodian society, culture, and history;

iii.  Enhancing understanding of Cambodia and the Khmer among ASEAN and western scholars; and

iv.  Strengthening academic network among Cambodian scholars, between Cambodian scholars and their fellows in the region and the world.

Strategy

From the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Royal University of Phnom Penh, the program will be coordinated by the Vice-Dean, Dr. Keo Chanvuthy. Cooperation will be possible upon the agreement with institutions to jointly work on the project and its goals. The coordinator(s) will be assisted by the secretariat team’s expert on finance, public relations and logistical matters. All administrative and financial procedures will be under the same regulations, those implemented by Royal University of Phnom Penh. In cases of making arrangements for partnership, mutual agreements can serve as the basis for cooperation.

Eligible Applicant

• Hold a Master's degree from a recognized university in social sciences and humanities, or related fields.
• Applicants from other disciplines may be considered subject to faculty review and completion of prerequisite courses if required.
• Demonstrate English language proficiency at an intermediate level or higher.
• Professionals from government agencies, private companies, NGOs, and international organizations are encouraged to apply.

Application Process

-        All the applicants for PhD program are required to submit to Academic Office the following documents:

o  The Certified transcripts of completed M.A or transcript of an equivalent accredited degree in the field of Social Sciences and Humanities

o   The application form

o And English Certificate (at least 550 for TOFEL/ 6.0 For IELTS, an equivalent internationally recognized test or passing English test organized by the Academic Office)

-        All the applicants are asked to submit and defend the research proposal.

-   After passing the entrance exam, each applicant should immediately confirm and officially enroll at the Academic Office. They will be considered as giving up their study if they fail to do so.

-  All the successful applicants should pay the tuition fee before the deadline set by RUPP. 

- All the applicants are asked to contribute $ 30 as the application fee and entrance exam.

Duration of Program

Studying an Associate's doctoral degree in Khmer Studies, a respective student is required to take 3-6 years or 54 credits of course.

-   Each PhD program has 6 semesters equivalent to 3 years.

- It consists of 54 credits: 21 credits for subject studies, 18 credits for writing and defense of dissertation, 15 credits for presenting in scientific forums; personal holding of seminars; and publication of research articles at local and international journals.

Programs Description

The doctoral-level studies programme for Khmer Studies research is to be divided into minimum credit values according to the below grouping of categories:

Course Structure

  Year I

  Year II

Year III

Grading System

Professional/Career

After getting the Ph.D. Degree in Khmer Studies the graduates will expect to get the career opportunity as follow:

-                Professional researcher

-                Professor in social sciences and humanities

-                Advisor to the development project

​

Contact Information:

• Email: keo.chanvuthy@rupp.edu.kh
• Phone Number: (855) 12 533 767
• Address: Campus 2, RUPP