First UK University Opens in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

[CEOCambodiaNews]

UK ambassador lauds launch of new UK university
Bor Pich Zelin | Publication date 27 September 2023 | 21:41 ICT
The UK is set to fortify its commitment to Cambodia’s educational development, marked by the inauguration of De Montfort University Cambodia, the first UK higher education institution to open a branch in the country. The development coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

British ambassador Dominic Williams expressed his excitement about the launch.

“Through this university, we can demonstrate that education is crucial for the next step in Cambodia’s development and is also an important part of the bilateral trade relationship,” he said.

Williams added that the university fosters a unique, lifelong relationship between individuals, including Cambodian students studying at UK institutions, both within the country and abroad.

Trade envoy Heather Wheeler, representing the UK prime minister, expressed her aspirations for more Cambodians to access schooling in both the country and the UK during the official launch on September 25.

“The opening of this university is an important achievement that will contribute to delivering top-notch education and teaching,” she stated.
...
Established by sub-decree No 203 on July 20, the university boasts six faculties, including Business and Law, Computer Science, Design, English, Education and Engineering.
https://phnompenhpost.com/national/uk-a ... university

[Alex]

De Montfort sounds pretty French for a British university, a bit like Guillaume le Conquérant who managed to bring civilization to the island monkeys.

[Bluenose]

Leicester Polytechnic as was. The UK decided to greatly increase the number of school leavers able to attend university by simply renaming lots of colleges and polytechnics as universities.
Simon de Montfort was of French origin but was instrumental in forming the British version of parliamentary democracy.

[armchairlawyer]

De Montfort University is ranked 119 (out of 131) in the 2023 Times league table of UK universities.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/uk-university-rankings

And in the 601-800 range in the rankings of world universities
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/wo ... university

[Doc67]

A lot of these trumped-up polys are in trouble. Kids are wising up to the £50k debt pile with no higher paying job prospects at the end of the process. Add to this the current interest rates on that £50k is now capped 7.3% (some were raging at over 10% because of the RPI factor).

Someone (not the kids) worked out they won't be paying any of these off before they retire unless they earn in the region of £50k+ because the repayment rate of 9% and the interest is 7.3% will make this a very long haul. It is effectively an interest-only mortgage with no real estate to show for it. To put this into perspective, this means that BASE rate of tax for these kids goes from 20% to 29%. Plus National insurance. Plus pension payments. It is some form of debt trap / tax rate trap, because they government abandoned free education and now captures the money back in taxes PLUS interest.

Also, in some classic government goal-post-moving tricks, the earnings threshold for repayments has been reduced from £27k to £25K in England and, furthermore, the loans won't be written off for 40 years (UP from 30 years) if you live in England. It is only 30 years in Wales or Scotland and a mere 25 years in Northern Island. That's the United Kingdom for you.

If you live in London, and the degree isn't an essential gateway to a profession, it should be viewed as a very expensive holiday camp with exam stress thrown in.

De Montfort, ranked 119 of 131* (and once you go below 100 it's a ) is looking for a new crop of students who might be able to afford $10k (?) a year but can not fund a full-blown 3 years abroad programme of 3 or 4 times that sum. I wonder who will staff the place; it sounds like a very nice jolly for some of them.

Here's their rating chart since 2020



* @armchairlawyer
https://www.bbc.com/news/education-62241512

[Alex]

De Montfort University is ranked 119 (out of 131) in the 2023 Times league table of UK universities.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/uk-university-rankings

And in the 601-800 range in the rankings of world universities
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/wo ... university

Wow, real quality then. The ambassador should be ashamed to promote that trash.

[Doc67]

De Montfort University is ranked 119 (out of 131) in the 2023 Times league table of UK universities.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/uk-university-rankings

And in the 601-800 range in the rankings of world universities
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/wo ... university

Wow, real quality then. The ambassador should be ashamed to promote that trash.

That's his job, to promote British government interests, not the interests of British people. Propping up failing UK universities is in their interest.

[John Bingham]

Any idea what the fees are for the Cambodian branch?

[Arget]

And who decides what the pass mark for graduation will be? Same as local ones?

[finn]

wonder what they will pay qualified foreign university teachers and what will be the fees for non-upper class khmer? Or will they be excluded and it just another 'International School' in name only?