Call for Proposals

Cambodia has experienced rapid economic growth for decades until it was hit by the COVID-19 Pandemic, which, in its wake, created a “New Normal” – a new way of living and working through the forced adoption of technologies. Such technologies, especially those used in distant communication and collaboration, are developed at an amazing speed in response to increasing market demand locally and globally. In the meantime, the country’s economy is expected to grow at a rate of 4.5 percent in 2022 and 6 percent annually in the medium term based on the World Bank’s prediction due to the effect of the new free-trade agreements and investment law even though the road ahead remains unclear. But with rapid techno-economic transformation after such a consequential disruption, there emerge new social problems that cannot be solved with old policy instruments; for instance, the poverty trap of education, the digital divide, inequality in learning, and a decrease in returning students. This is not to mention more fiscal deficit, which is also anticipated since the Cambodian government will need to maintain economic recovery agendas to keep the economic engine running and support the poor.

 

Despite the fact that COVID-19 has disrupted education for millions of children across the globe, including those in Cambodia, the pandemic also presents an opportunity for the country to re-imagine and re-designing to build back better, as the existing structure or status quo might become a shackle impeding innovative ideas, any attempt of reform, or creative destruction. But it is not just the COVID19 that has changed how we live, the ongoing so-called technological revolution accelerated by the pandemic has also created millions of new jobs, being unheard of before. A decade ago, a mobile application for food/grocery delivery was neither popular nor regarded as a potential business. However, it is now a booming sector and a path of daily life for busy waged-workers and is providing temporary income-generating activities for those who are looking for flexible part-time work. Such technological transformation, in addition, opens a new chapter to global socio-economic growth, enhances efficiency, lowers production costs, and addresses various challenges. Even so, industrial modernization is simultaneously causing massive structural unemployment and tragic loss of livelihood for low-skilled workers whose routine tasks are replaced by automation. In this regard, quality education to improve individual skills to work with or operate the machine can play a crucial role in the post-COVID19 economic recovery and in paving the way for sustainable development.

 

It is within this context that CESCam is organizing the 3rd Biennial Conference of the Comparative Education Society of Cambodia on May 25, 2023, at the Cambodia University of Technology and Science (CamTech) campus and is now inviting abstract proposals for paper presentations, panel discussions, poster sessions, and workshops on various issues related to education in Cambodia and beyond, highlighting the theme “De-schooling for Post-COVID19 Recovery”. Proposals should address one of (but are not limited to) the following subthemes:

      • New education model
      • Education and technology
      • Curriculum revisit
      • Learning loss and human capital development
      • Entrepreneurship in education
      • Global citizenship
      • STE(A)M Education
      • Industry-university partnership
      • Research culture and practice in higher education institutions
      • Evidence-informed practice in educational policy
      • University and education for what?

Please submit ONLY ONE abstract at a time. Abstracts must be either in English or Khmer. Abstracts and panel submission in Khmer should be one-page long. Abstracts in English should be between 250 – 300 words. Panel submission in English should be between 500 – 750 words. Abstracts must contain the following contents:

      • Title for the paper or panel session
      • Objectives and/or research questions
      • Significance of the study/proposed topic
      • Theoretical/conceptual framework
      • Methodology
      • Findings

Proposals are intended for the demonstration of initial results worthwhile showing to the academic community. Extended abstracts will be reviewed by the technical committee comprising experts from different fields. Evaluation is done according to the following criteria:

      • Relevance
      • Technical content
      • Novelty and originality
      • Recommendation

Download the template to write your abstract: https://qr1.be/N9LC

Please submit your abstract using the link: https://ee.humanitarianresponse.info/x/da7dJzS5

Deadline for submission: 17 February 2023, 23:59 (GMT+7)

Extended deadline for submission: 17 March 2023, 23:59 (GMT+7)

For further information about the conference, please contact Mr. Lim Seakleng, the Conference Coordinator, at seakleng.lim@camtech.edu.kh.