I Want to Study at University of Southeast Asia, Siem Reap
Apr. 30, 2009
By Tom Fearon
The University of South-East Asia (USEA) has grown rapidly since opening in 2006 to become one of Siem Reap's largest universities. The university campus, opposite Angkor High School, teems with state-of-the-art technology inside the classrooms and has sleek modern finishes outside.
The private university has 49 lecturers and three faculties: arts, humanities and languages; science and technology and economics; business and tourism.
USEA has more than 800 students enrolled for the 2008-09 academic year, including 70 studying for their master's, a program on the agenda for the first time this year. In 2007 USEA achieved top honours from the Accreditation Committee of Cambodia.
Running the show
Rector Sien Sovanna has been in charge of USEA since 2007. He is the owner of Siem Reap's booming language school chain, Future Bright Institute, and said the university's all-encompassing name aimed to make it famous within the region and internationally.
Vice Rector Rous Bunthy is one of the university's inaugural directors. Rous Bunthy, a Phnom Penh native, said the campus gave Siem Reap people a quality alternative to studying in the Kingdom's capital.
"The perception has changed more and more. People have recognised they can study in a quality learning environment right here without going to Phnom Penh," he said.
"Our aim is to provide education and training to the highest quality to meet national and international labour market needs."
Getting in
Students must have a high school diploma and take a placement test in English to be accepted to an associate's or bachelor's degree program. The two-year associate's degree covers 20 subjects, while the bachelor's degree covers up to 44 subjects over four years depending on the faculty.
Fees, scholarships and grants
An associate's degree costs $340 per year and a bachelor's degree costs $360 per year, with fees for studying English or information technology are slightly higher.
USEA offers students three graded scholarships. An A-grade scholarship covers all tuition fees for the duration of a Bachelor degree, a B-grade scholarship covers 50 percent and a C-grade scholarship 30 percent. USEA has an international student exchange program with Dhurakij University in Bangkok, Thailand.
The university has an incentive system for students who have a perfect attendance sheet for lectures.
Strength to strength
The modern buildings at USEA are fitted with state-of-the-art learning resources, courtesy of the US Embassy and the World Bank. There are two computer rooms in the five-storey classroom complex and a cafeteria.
The resource centre has an employment office, and provides counselling services and studying strategies to help before semester exams.
USEA Vice-Rector Rous Bunthy hinted there were plans afoot to introduce new faculties accommodating agriculture, law and political science some time in the near future.
Sarun Key, 22, Verin district, Siem Reap:
"Teaching is a way to help many people. Moreover, PTTC is a great place to learn English because students can practise every day with native-speaking volunteers who teach at the college. In the future, teaching will become a much sought-after profession. It's an increasingly valued job, and the need for teachers is especially great in rural areas. I want to help improve education in Cambodia. One day, I hope to establish a nongovernmental organisation that aims to strengthen ties between schools and communities."
Hol Holsambo, 21, Wat Bo District, Siem Reap:
"I knew the college had an excellent reputation for training teachers. Also, the chance to go and teach at the elementary school each week is a valuable learning experience. Education is becoming more important. By training more teachers, more young children in rural areas will benefit by having the opportunity to learn Khmer and English during primary school. Initially, I wanted to teach at a private school, but now my focus is teaching small children, whether in town or in the countryside."
Sinccheng Sean, 24, third-year international business student, Kralanh District, Siem Reap
"After I finished high school I knew what I wanted to study, but I wasn't sure which university best suited me. I was happy when I found out about USEA because it provided a good alternative to studying in Phnom Penh, which would have meant being a long way from my family. The university offers flexible study patterns and the buildings are big and new."
Oum Chorvy, 21, third-year finance and banking student, Pouk District, Siem Reap
"When I was in high school, I initially wanted to be a doctor, but when I decided to focus on studying finance, I looked at several different universities. My family thought studying in Phnom Penh would be too far away, so I decided to study here and have been very happy with my decision. Studying at USEA was a good decision for me."
Contact
University of South-East Asia
Phoum Wat Bo, Khom Salakomroek, Srok Siem Reap, Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Fax:/Phone : 063 963 853
Mobile : 016 386 638
Email : info@usea.edu.kh
Web: www.usea.edu.kh
