FAAC NEWSLETTER

Volume 1, Issue 2 April—June 2009

FULBRIGHT
BUSINESS NAME
ALUMNI ASS OCIATION OF CAMBODIA (FAAC)
ASSOCIATION

After Siem Reap—Lecture Series in Preah Sihanouk Province

Fulbright returnees who are pants. The three-hour-long

By Chan Virak, MA in TESOL,
experts in education and lan- workshop attracted a number of
San Jose State University (2008)
guage teaching: „Study Skills‟ students from different fields of
by Mr. Om Soryong (MSc in study including English lan-
Instructional Design), guage teaching, tourism and
„Importance of Reading‟ by Mr. business administration.
Chan Sophal (MEd in Educa-
This workshop is part of the
tional Psychology), „How to Be-
come a Good Listener‟ by Mr. FAAC‟s Lecture Series Program
Chau Samphas (MA in TESOL), for the purpose of allowing the
and „Socio-cognitive Strategies Fulbright returnees to share
FAAC presenters and participants in Language Learning‟ by Mr. their knowledge and experience
Chan Virak (MA in TESOL). The
C ontinuing our commitment
to promote educational
exchange and academic coun-
presentations were conducted
using both Khmer and English
with university students. Similar
workshops have already been
conducted at various educa-
seling, the Fulbright Alumni to accommodate the different
levels of the participants‟ Eng- tional institutions both in Phnom
Association of Cambodia
lish proficiency, and this was Penh and provinces in Cambo-
(FAAC) delivered a workshop
on study skills at Build Bright well received by the participat- dia, and will continue to allow
University (BBU), Preah Siha- ing students. The session con- for such exchange with the
nouk Province, on 28th March. cluded with a lot of questions younger generation of Cambo-
from the participants and infor-
dia and ultimately for promoting
The workshop comprised four mal and friendly chats between
distinct presentations by four the presenters and the partici- a community of sharing and
learning.

FAAC with US Embassy Reaching Out

By Mr. Chau Samphas, MA in was to provide the participants, Cham on 29 February 2009 was
TESOL, University of Illinois at especially those with aspiration overly exciting! There were lots
Urbana-Champaign (2006) for future academic advance- of feedbacks and questions
ment, with detailed information
F AAC members actively took
part in the Information Ses-
sions on Educational Exchange
related to the Fulbright Student
Fellowships, the Hubert Hum-
from the audience; and we
never felt we had enough time
to provide answers, comments
phrey Fellowships, the Teach-
Programs to the United States, ing Excellence and Achieve- and advice.
organized by the Public Affairs ment Program, the Global Un-
Section of the U.S. Embassy, in dergraduate Exchange Pro-
higher educational institutions gram, the Undergraduate Inten-
across the country: Phnom sive English Study Program,
Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang, and the Study of the United
Kampong Cham, and Preah States Institutes for Student
Sihanouk Province, earlier this Leaders Program.
year in February and March.
My experience during an infor-
The sessions‟ main objective
mation session in Kampong

Inside this issue: About Fulbright and FAAC:

 More than 100 Cambodians have by now
Selected Alumni Profile 2 been granted the Fulbright Scholarship to
pursue graduate degrees in various fields of
Cambodia and Its Environmental Dilemma 3 their expertise.
Where to Get Information for Further Study? 3  FAAC now has more than 80 members
working and contributing to Cambodia‟s
Recruitment of FAAC Volunteers 4 development in their own field of expertise.
 Page 2 FAAC NEWSLETTER

ASPIRATIONS & ACHIEVEMENTS

To showcase the contributions our alumni have made to our nation, we are creating profile articles of our
alumni. The first of this multiple-part series begins with Pol. Maj. Gen. Meach Sophana.

By Thon Sonina & Teng thing that I learned was dard,” he said.
Chankaruk Ratha, Depart- how to survive and live in a
ment of Media and Com- society that was so different If the Immigration Depart-
munication from ours. To me it is also ment performs well, there
knowledge,” he said. will be trust for Cambodi-

P ol. Maj. Gen. Meach

Sophana, 43, Deputy
Director of Center for Secu-
It was not easy for him to
achieve his goal, but once
ans as well as the coun-
try‟s reputation as a whole,
he added.
rity Department, Ministry of he successfully completed
Interior, was among the first his course in journalism and For him and his family,
generation of Cambodian mass communication within education always comes
scholars to be granted a only one year and a half, first. But that is not all. An-
Police Major General Fulbright Scholarship for Mr. Meach Sophana man- other ambition for Mr.
Meach Sophana, Fulbright graduate study in the US, in aged to finish another Meach Sophana is for
Alumnus, MA in Journalism 1994, after the period of course in the field of Public Cambodia to have a place
and Mass Communication,
wars and instability in Cam- Administration. Right after in the world, where every-
New York University, 1996. one knows and recognizes.
bodia. Back then, being he received his M.A., he
Currently: able to achieve such an returned to Cambodia and In order to do that, as a
opportunity was an arduous started working for the Na- Cambodian, one has to
 Deputy Director of Central thing to do since the Eng- tional Police, and he later prove to other nations that
Security Department,
lish language was still lim- became Deputy Director of he or she is intelligent and
Ministry of Interior outstanding and that noth-
ited: not enough learning the Department of Immigra-
ing is impossible. With
 Deputy Chief of the Se- materials and lack of guid- tion, dealing with immigra-
such an instauration he
cretariat of the National ance and experience, as tion law and communicating
Commission for Counter compared to the present. with foreigners and inform- has served the community
Terrorism However, Mr. Meach So- ing them of the immigration and Cambodia and contrib-
phana proved to be one of rules, regulations and the uted immensely to its de-
 Adviser to Deputy Prime
Cambodia‟s outstanding like. velopment.
Minister and Minister of
Interior
candidates, considering his His children are next to
high level of education and “As a deputy director of the
Immigration Department I him, the living proof of his
 Ph.D. Candidate, Univer- work experience. This
have contributed a lot to the words. They have taken up
sity of Sydney, sponsored pushed him through to pur- challenges and been able
by Australian Leadership sue his Master‟s Degree in country‟s development be-
cause immigration serves to study in top universities
Award the field of Journalism and including West Point (USA)
Mass Communication. many purposes in the gov-
ernment. It serves security and the Australian Defense
“I‟ve learned a lot during my purposes; it serves the role Force Academy (ADFA).
“Nothing is two years of study in the of helping to protect the “Nothing is impossible as
impossible as US. Because at that time I border security, promoting long as we‟re all given a
had been living in a closed the country‟s image and in fair opportunity, in a proper
long as we’re society for so long, it was a the future I‟m hoping to be place and at a proper
all given a fair big challenge for me to a part of the improvement time,” said Mr. Meach So-
open myself to the world for of our country‟s economy phana.
opportunity, in the first time. So the first as well as of our living stan-
a proper place
and at a Words of Advice from Pol. Maj. Gen. Meach Sophana
proper time.”
 You have to have a passion and determination.
 You must get an education that can change your life, your perspective and vision
about the world.
 You must put all your efforts when applying for a scholarship. Improve your English
and do your best to improve your grades.
Nina and Ratha are  You must be well-prepared and have an excellent idea on why you are applying
currently under- for the scholarship before your interview.
graduate students at  You have to tell the interviewers that you believe in education, you want to change your
the Royal University life, you want to change your living standard, you want to help develop your country,
of Phnom Penh and and you want to help the people, your friends and family.
working as FAAC
 You must admit the fact that before you can help others, you need to help yourselves
volunteers.
first, because this is the nature of a human.
 Keep applying. This year you may be rejected, but next year you might be accepted.
 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 Page 3

Cambodia and Its Environmental Dilemma

By Oum Pisey, MSc in crease in figures if there get is forest plantation,
Forest Resource Man- are no measures taken to watershed protection to
agement, State University address them. replace degraded
of New York (1999) lands. However, vis-à-vis
To deal with this, the Min- to combating climate
Although the situation of istry of Environment and change, for Cambodia it is
environment in Cambodia other ministries, together still a voluntary basis be-
especially climate change with donors, have di- cause the country is not
is not as serious as that rected most funding to an industrial country,
in developed countries, clean development which emits tons of car-
we will face many conse- mechanism activities, bons (CO2 and CO) into
quences from global national adaptation activi- the atmosphere although
warming, triggering the ties, reduced emis- Cambodia ratified UN
rise of sea level along the sion from deforestation Convention on Climate
coastline, flood, and and degradation, etc., in Change in 1995 and ac-
drought including irregu- Mr. Oum Pisey is now
order to capture Green ceded to the Kyoto Proto- a Technical Adviser for
lar rainy and dry seasons. House Gases from emit- col in 2002. Cambodia
Coastal communities the Ministry of Environ-
ting into the atmosphere. may not impose tough ment and Project Man-
might face a lot of prob- There is tradeoff in this regulations on combating
lems such as shrinking ager for UNEP/GEF.
environment. A rich coun- climate change activities He also holds a degree
land for farming, salt pro- try can buy a carbon because of the concern
duction and settle- in Public Policy from
credit from Cambodia that it would scare inves- Singapore and is now
ment. Water-born dis- since it has discharged tors away from its young
eases such as malaria, a PhD candidate in
large amount of GHGs industry, which I think is Political Science at the
typhoid fever and dengue into the atmosphere. arguable.
fever as well as allergy University of Cambo-
What Cambodia would dia.
from sunlight could in-

Where Can You Get Information for Further Study?

By Bounchan Sumana, nouncements where they Educational Advising plus other countries as
MSc in Educational Ad- work and study. Center in Cambodia well as on how to apply.
ministration, Texas A&M (EACC): Supported by The center provides the
Your school: Your school the US Department of services free of charge.
University (2007)
may have a bulletin board State, US Embassy and You can contact the
Khem Noeun is a fresh – an information board on the Maryknoll society, center in person, by
graduate from a law which many flyers are EACC provides students calling or through e-
school and wants to con- posted. Building a habit of with information related mail. Detailed informa-
tinue her study abroad; reading the bulletin board to scholarships to study tion is as follows:
however, Noeun has no is a good way to keep in the United States
idea where to get schol- your eyes and ears open
arship information. to any news. Also talk to
your teachers about what Educational Advising Center in Cambodia
How do you obtain schol- kind of scholarship you Room 103, first floor main building
arship information to would like to get. (Building A or Faculty of Science building)
study abroad, particularly Royal University of Phnom Penh
to study in the U.S.? Here Press: Announcements in Tell: 023 884320, 011 850121, or 017 890434
are some good places to newspapers can also be E-mail: caradvchthon@online.com.kh
start with: useful. You can find out Website: www.eacc-edu-kh.com
quickly if there is any
People you know: Talk scholarship suitable for
to your parents, relatives, you. You can also get an
friends, neighbors, and idea of where to go in
even your acquaintances Ms. Bounchan Sumana is an advisor at the
order to get more informa- Educational Advising Center in Cambodia,
(the people that you build tion.
network with). Sometimes and she has just received the Australian
people you know are the Websites: A number of Leadership Awards for PhD study in Higher
best sources of informa- websites are useful, such Education Administration at the University of
tion about scholarship as www.bongthom.com Newscastle, Australia.
openings. They may and http://
know about certain an- cambodiajobs.blogspot.com.
 VISION: To Foster Peace and Development in Cambodia through the Promotion
of Access to Quality Education and Cross-cultural Understanding

FULBRIGHT ALUMNI ASS OCIATION OF CAMBODIA

ASSOCIATION
To all alumni: want to contribute an article? Please send one to
camfulbrigters@gmail.com

OUR NEW OFFICE: Clockwise from top-

FAAC Room, Building A right: (1) FAAC
University of Puthisastra president attended
Street 180 & 184, Boeng Rang, Doun Penh the inaugural meeting
Phnom Penh of the British
Kingdom of Cambodia Chevening Alumni
Phone: (+855) 013 757 443; 098 620 592 Association of Cam-
E-mail: camfulbrighters@gmail.com bodia.
(2) FAAC members
interviewed a candi-
CURRENT FAAC COMMITTEE: date for the volunteer
position at the De-
President: Mr. Theam Rottanak partment of Media
Vice-president: Mr. Peou Chivoin and Communication.
Treasurer: Mr. Om Soryong
Secretary General: Ms. Thon Vimealea (3) Fulbright alumnus
Kim Sedera con-
ducted a lecture on
research methods, as
part of the Fulbright
lecture series, at the
Institute of Foreign
Languages.
(4) FAAC members
and volunteers posed
after a working lunch.

RECRUITMENT OF FAAC VOLUNTEERS

By Thon Vimealea, MA in Development Economics, Williams College (2006)
To fulfil its missions, FAAC has recruited volunteers to assist in its various activities, and most important of
all, to promote the spirit of volunteerism among Cambodian students and to be able to more widely share
knowledge and experience both on the Fulbright program and of the expertise among Fulbright returnees to
Cambodian students. The selection criteria include academic ability and background, time availability, pro-
spective commitment, English proficiency, personality and ability to work in a team. After weighing FAAC‟s
needs with the candidates‟ current study needs, FAAC decided to recruit nine volunteers:
1. Ms. Chea Socheata, Institute of Foreign Languages
2. Ms. Duong Seylene, Institute of Foreign Languages
3. Mr. Leang Sovannarith, Institute of Foreign Languages
4. Mr. Ros Ratana, Royal University of Law and Economics & Panhasastra University of Cambodia
5. Ms. Seng Chandaly, Institute of Foreign Languages
6. Mr. Sor Bunthorng, University of Puthisastra
7. Mr. Sok Sovanchandara, Institute of Foreign Languages
8. Mr. Teng Chan Karuk Ratha, Department of Media and Communication
9. Ms. Thon Sonina, Department of Media and Communication
The volunteers are expected to help FAAC coordinate and arrange upcoming and on-going events such as
lecture series, workshops, retreat, and produce its newsletters and brochure. They will also sit in the FAAC
office, which serves a variety of purposes including providing information for students wishing to learn more
about FAAC and the Fulbright program.
Certificates and/or letters of recommendation will be provided to those who meet satisfactory work perform-
ance after serving FAAC for at least six months, but more important than that, it is hoped that in return for
their services, the students will be better equipped with upgraded professionalism and relevant work and ex-
periences for their future endeavours.