Insight: Cambodia Journal of Basic and Applied Research, Volume 1 No.

2 (2019)
© 2019 The Authors
© 2019 Research Office, Royal University of Phnom Penh
Editorial: Promotion of Research Culture at Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs) in Cambodia
CHET Chealy*
Rector, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Russian Federation Boulevard, Toul Kork,
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
*Corresponding Author: CHET Chealy (rector@rupp.edu.kh)

To cite this article: Chet, C. (2019) Promotion of Research Culture at Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs) in Cambodia. Cambodia Journal of Basic and Applied Research (CJBAR),
1(2), 05–08.

A well-known saying by Albert Einstein quotes ‘scientific research is based on the idea that
everything that takes place is determined by laws of nature, and therefore this holds for the
actions of people’. In this modern era, research conducted by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
is enormously significant (Migosi et al., 2012) and faculty members are obligated to get involved
in research especially academic one (Arimoto, 2014). It is the fact that a product of academic
research helps to predict not only to advance knowledge in differing discipline fields but also to
enhance teaching effectiveness and improve student learning outcomes (Scott, 2004).
Moreover, the HEIs learning exist to accomplish functions associated with scholarly publishing,
which circulates research findings and advance new ideas and knowledge leading into creativity
and innovation. The number of journal articles published by faculty members has been used for
university raking, and scholarly publications are also used to consider during hire or promotion
of faculty members.
As the result, research has been significantly highlighted as a compulsory pursuit of
academics at most universities especially research-oriented universities (Altbach, 2014). In the
same time, job opportunity and academic promotion at HEIs are now relying upon the
achievements in scholarly publication. When facility members are publishing in the academic
world; the publication outlet can determine a scholar’s qualification or status both within the
local research community and internationally. In addition, scholarly research and publishing have
become an essential piece of the academic community. At the most universities has recognized
publication and the center of the scholarly communication process is the academic reward
system (Darko-Ampem, 2003).

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Insight: Cambodia Journal of Basic and Applied Research, Volume 1 No. 2 (2019)
© 2019 The Authors
© 2019 Research Office, Royal University of Phnom Penh
In Cambodia, the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) is widely considered to be the
nation’s leading HEIs, in terms of research outcomes. The latest search of international peer-
reviewed research publications including an author with an institutional affiliation worked with
facility member at RUPP in Scopus, a worldwide abstract and citation database returned 245
documents and 124 authors. Figure 1 shows that faculty members from RUPP and their research
partners has published in various field ranging from science, engineering, social science,
environment, medicine and business. Out of the total, Social Science was recorded as high as
21.2% following by Environmental Science (17.2%), Agricultural and Biological Sciences (9.5%).
Faculty members at RUPP have worked with researchers across disciplines around the worlds for
their research activities and publication. The international affiliations have played a very
important role in providing sources of funds and technical support for research and publication.
Figure 1. Publication by faculty and researcher affiliated with RUPP by field of study.

Source: Elsevier, 20201

While individual faculty members and academics at RUPP currently publish scientific
research, this is driven by individual interests and passions, as well as an ability to mobilize
external resources. However, there are few existing mechanisms capable of promoting the
development of a research culture of scientific research and publication at either the institutional
or national level. In response, RUPP has been selected by relevant government agencies and
international finance institutions such as the World Bank, to showcase best-practice HEIs in

1
https://www.scopus.com/affil/profile.uri?afid=60071997
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Insight: Cambodia Journal of Basic and Applied Research, Volume 1 No. 2 (2019)
© 2019 The Authors
© 2019 Research Office, Royal University of Phnom Penh
Cambodia. This privilege has been granted as a result of the strong effort demonstrated by RUPP
in promoting the publication of scientific research by faculty members.
Up-to-date, RUPP is one of the few public universities in Cambodia that possesses the
capacity to promote quality research and development output due to strong research
background and capacity of faculty members. In promoting a culture of research and publication,
the RUPP has developed the RUPP Strategic Plan (2019−2023) and Policy on Research
Development and Innovation for implementing research-oriented university. In addition, RUPP
now hosts various journals such as the Cambodia Journal of Natural History; Insight: Cambodia
Journal of Basic and Applied Research; and the Cambodia Communication Review as part of the
process of establishing these new scientific communities. These journals publish academic and
applied research from both within Cambodia; and outside of Cambodia that contributes to the
social, economic, and environmental development of Cambodia and the region.
In early 2020, RUPP will soon lunch the Policy on Research Development and Innovation
and it is an instrumental in stimulating RUPP as a research-intensive university. Within the next
10 years, RUPP is still working to promote research-related activities and publication; the mission
of RUPP is exploring and investigating theories, concepts, ideas and social phenomena for
establishing novel knowledge and scientific evidence in priority fields at RUPP, for both academic
and applied purposes, recognizing and motivating achievements of research development and
innovation produced by RUPP faculty and staff, building the knowledge, skills, and competencies
that enhance the opportunities available to RUPP researchers to conduct and publish academic
and applied research, and creating enhanced national, regional, and international collaborative
research partnerships that support RUPP faculty and staff through grants and exchange
programs.
The newly-established Policy on Research Development and Innovation will illustrate how
RUPP plans to conduct research-related activities such as grant management, publication and
hosting knowledge hubs. It is also very important for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport
(MoEYS) and development partners such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). Through this document they can
clearly observe to the approach of RUPP to research, development and innovation.

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Insight: Cambodia Journal of Basic and Applied Research, Volume 1 No. 2 (2019)
© 2019 The Authors
© 2019 Research Office, Royal University of Phnom Penh
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