The Center for Educational Research and Innovation (formerly known as Education Unit) of Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI) was established in 2015 to bring related funding and grants under one roof to support innovative research with potential to improve education and training in Cambodia. To maximise the impact and effectiveness of education policy research and dialogue, the Unit works in coordination and consultation with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and its Directorate General of Higher Education, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MOLVT) and its Directorate General of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, and the Ministry of Tourism (MOT). Core areas of focus are education system reform, technical and vocational education and training, and teaching and learning quality.
The Education Unit works to address key issues faced by Cambodian higher education (HE) and technical and vocation education and training (TVET). With the support from four development partners, namely the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Asia Foundation, the unit’s research themes include, to mention just a few, STEM education, governance and financing in HE and internationalization of and talent attraction in HE, public-private partnerships for TVET and innovations in education and training.
Upon its inception, the Center for Educational Research and Innovation of Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI) has worked rigorously to conduct policy-informing research with a focus on post-secondary education, both vocational and academic, and influence policy-making with the research evidence. The Unit has contributed to various publications including in-house Working Paper Series, Policy Brief and the quarterly Cambodia Development Review as well as international journals. Some of the Unit’s highlighted works in 2019 include a paper entitled “correlates of STEM major Choice” (Research in Science & Technological Education) and another on “innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Cambodia: the roles of academic institutions” (CDRI Working Paper Series). The research produced are also communicated to policymakers and other stakeholders through regular forums and conferences to serve as basis for policy dialogues and discussion on the issues concerned. Apart from researching and conducting policy discussions, the unit is also actively engaged in providing technical capacity development to the CDRI staff and partners in the forms of training workshops, researcher exchange and international exposure visits and internships.
Under the Ponlok Chomnes Program, the Center for Educational Research and Innovation will utilize the support to strengthen its organizational and technical capacity and to conduct researchers. This partnership program is called “Thnal Udom Chomnes: Promoting Cambodian Higher Education Innovation”.
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