Staff and Their Research Interests

Prof. Dr. Sok Soth has been the Dean of the Faculty of Education at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) since 2016. He holds a Master's Degree in English Language Teaching from De La Salle University, Philippines, and a Ph.D. in Education from Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia, under Australian Leadership Award. With over a decade of experience as an Applied Linguistics lecturer, researcher, and teacher trainer, Dr. Soth's research interests focus on language and culture, particularly their influence on identity and educational practices. He is also interested in Curriculum and Instruction. His dedication to enhancing educational quality and professional development has made him a respected figure in the field of education.

Dr. Keng Chansopheak is a prominent figure in Cambodian academia, currently serving as the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Education at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP). Her dedication to education extends beyond administration, as she actively engages in research focused on Cambodian history and its intricate relationship with social transformations. Dr. Keng's expertise in Cambodian history is well-recognized within academic circles. Her research delves into the complexities of Cambodia's past, exploring its influence on contemporary social dynamics. By examining historical events and their lasting impact, she contributes valuable insights to understanding Cambodia's present and shaping its future. In addition to her administrative and research roles, Dr. Keng is also actively involved in community outreach programs. She frequently participates in workshops and seminars, sharing her knowledge and expertise with educators and the wider public. Her commitment to disseminating knowledge underscores her belief in the power of education to foster positive change within society. Dr. Keng Chansopheak's multifaceted contributions to education and historical research have earned her respect and recognition within Cambodia's academic landscape. Her work continues to inspire and inform, leaving a lasting impact on the field of education and the understanding of Cambodian history.

Assistant Prof. Dr. Tao Nary received PhD in Educational Assessment from Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia. She specialises in classroom-based assessment and its links to instructional strategies and student learning. She lectures in classroom-based assessment, critical pedagogy, and training and professional development as part of the Master’s degree program at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. Her primary teaching and research interests are classroom-based assessment literacy, large-scaled learning assessment, the impact of testing on learning and instruction, program evaluation, teacher professional development, and academic misconduct by students including cheating and plagiarism.

Assistant Prof. Dr.Mam Socheath has worked in the field of education since 2005 through secondary education level as a teacher of English and tertiary education level as a lecturer and researcher. He graduated his Ph.D. in Development Education from Chulalongkorn University after earning his Bachelor of Education in TEFL and Master of Education in Educational Research and Evaluation, and attending the teacher training courses for Teacher of Basic Education and Teacher with Higher Education degrees. The areas of his interests include educational policy and leadership, educational evaluation, teaching methodology and pedagogy, teacher education, and education for sustainable development. His major publication relates to research and teaching about sustainability in Cambodia universities, capacity building of faculty members to promote sustainability in Cambodian HEIs, and university student engagement in local communities towards sustainability in Cambodia.

Sot Visal earned his Bachelor's degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from the Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL) at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) in 2010. He further distinguished himself by obtaining a Master's degree in Educational Administration and Leadership with an outstanding award from RUPP in 2014. Currently, he serves as the head of Educational Studies Département, Faculty of Education, Royal University of Phnom Penh. His teaching specializations include Introduction to Research, Quantitative Research, and Educational Leadership and Management. Sot Visal's research interests cover a wide range of areas, including Program Evaluation, School Leadership and Management, In-Service Training and Professional Development, and English Language Teaching and Learning. He has been involved in several significant research projects, such as the Tracer Study of the Master of Education Program at RUPP, the Multi-Grades Teaching in Cambodia initiative in collaboration with MoEYS, UNESCO, and RUPP, and the study on the Effectiveness of VSO Teaching Methods, Resources, and Trainings for Primary School English Teaching in Grade 4 in Cambodia, conducted by VSO.

Haing Sivpheng holds a Master’s degree in Education from Charles Darwin University in Australia. She has been working at the Royal University of Phnom Penh for several years. Her research interests include education quality, educational management and planning, instructional design, and professional development. Currently, Sivpheng serve as the deputy head of department of Educational Studies in the Faculty of Education, Royal University of Phnom Penh. She also teaches and researches besides her administration roles.

Hor Youhan, Head of Higher Education Development and Management Departemnt, Faculty of Education, Royal University of Phnom Penh, earned his Bachelor's degree in Education in English from the Institute of Foreign Languages at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) in 2006. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master's degree in Educational Administration and Leadership from RUPP in 2013. Currently, he is a full-time lecturer at the Faculty of Education, RUPP. With a passion for educational development and leadership, Hor Youhan has dedicated his career to teaching and research in the field of education. His areas of expertise include educational leadership, curriculum development, and teacher training. He is actively involved in various educational projects and initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of education in Cambodia. In addition to his academic duties, Hor Youhan is a mentor and advisor to students, guiding them in their academic and professional journeys. His commitment to fostering a supportive and enriching learning environment has made him a respected and influential figure at RUPP. He continually seeks to contribute to the academic community through his research, publications, and participation in educational conferences and seminars.

Mr. Moeurn Chantrea is an esteemed educator and lecturer at the Faculty of Education, Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP). He holds a Bachelor's degree in Education from RUPP and a Master's degree in Higher Education Management and Development. Also, he is currently a Ph.D student from the same institution. Mr. Chantrea specializes in student services, curriculum development, educational leadership, and teacher training. His research interests include student services in higher education, higher education management and development, education policy, school management, and professional development for educators. With a dedication to improving educational practices in Cambodia, Mr. Chantrea has contributed to several important projects aimed at enhancing the quality of teaching and learning. He is highly regarded for his commitment to student mentorship and his active participation in the academic community. Mr. Chantrea is also a head of the Lifelong Learning Department, Faculty of Education, Royal University of Phnom Penh.

Mrs. Svay Souma is an esteemed educator and lecturer at the Faculty of Education, Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP). She is also the deputy head of the Lifelong Learning Department, Faculty of Education, Royal University of Phnom Penh.

Ms. Leang Lengngich is a Program Coordinator at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP). She holds a Bachelor's degree in Management from the National University of Management and a Bachelor's degree in English for Business from Cambodian Mekong University, both obtained in 2016. She also obtained a graduate certificate for Early Childhood Education from Education University of Hong Kong under the funding from Higher Education Improvement Project (HEIP). Leang Lengngich is dedicated to supporting educational programs and initiatives at RUPP, contributing to the university's mission of providing quality education.

Mr. Heng Nareth obtained his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) in 2006. He currently serves as an Assistant in charge of Administration and Finance in the Faculty of Education at RUPP. In this role, Heng Nareth provides essential support to the management team by preparing and managing various administrative tasks, including processing payments, managing office supplies, and handling other related responsibilities as requested by the management team. His dedication and meticulous attention to detail ensure the smooth operation of the faculty's administrative functions.

Dy Samsideth is a founding member of the Faculty of Education of the Royal University of Phnom Penh and a member of the Education Research Council of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. After he graduated his PhD from the Graduate School of Education, Hiroshima University in March 2005, he worked for almost five years as education specialist for UNESCO and almost three years for the Asian Development Bank in Cambodia. He recently provided research consultancy services for the Swiss Development Cooperation and the Asian Development Bank in both Cambodia and Myanmar on Vocational Skills Development and Higher Education, for German Development Cooperation (GIZ) on Skills Development Training, ADB, UNESCO, CDRI, ACLEDA Bank for Teacher Education and Training, Higher Education Reform and Institutional Strategic Plan. He also published paper articles in various reviewed journals and chapters of edited books on Basic Education, Skills Development, and Higher Education in Cambodia.

No Fata's research areas and interests include educational quality and inequality, educational planning and policies, teachers and teaching, curriculum design and development, and language education. He has led several research projects, including projects on designing teacher policy action plan (TPAP) for MoEYS, promoting research culture at Cambodian higher education institutions by mastering the funding proposal writing, higher education policy, school dropout, school accountability, just to name a few. He also consulted many projects and research studies with national and international organizations, such as IIEP, UNESCO, the World Bank, NEP, CAMFEBA, CDRI and others.

Mok Sarom holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Brunei Darussalam in Brunei, and a PhD in Educational Administration from the Srinakharinwirot University in Thailand. He has published with a number of international journals such as Journal of Pragmatics, RELC Journal, Asian Educational Review and Asian Englishes. His teaching and research interests include leadership, teaching, organizational culture and strengths development, vocabulary acquisition for English language learners, socio-linguistics, and discourse analysis. He also worked as the consultant for many projects.

Chan Sophal has been a lecturer of English at the Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL), Royal University of Phnom Penh since 1998. He has been teaching various subjects to students in B.A. and B.Ed. programs, including Academic Writing, Research Methodology, and Translation and Interpreting. Sophal graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from IFL in 1998 and a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Hawaii, USA, in 2004. Sophal has been a regular presenter/contributor at the CamTESOL Conference held annually in Cambodia. He has presented research findings on topics of interest, including ‘Doing two university degrees concurrently; common English writing mistakes of Cambodian learners; extensive reading habits among Cambodian university students; and ELT management’. He has served as an editorial board member for the LEiA Journal (Language Education in Asia). He has also supervised research projects and/or theses in the Master of TESOL Program as well as in the Master of Education Program.

Chin Sam Ath obtained his bachelor’s degree in Khmer Literature from RUPP in 2011. He spent one more year completing teaching pedagogy training at the National Institute of Education (NIE). He also graduated from Western University with Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English as a Foreign Language in 2013. He is currently an academic assistant in the Faculty of Education, as well as pursuing a master’s degree in Educational Policy and Planning at RUPP. He has also involved as a research assistant in several research projects dealing with data collection, data entry, transcription, translation, and interpretation.

Chhinh Sitha graduated from Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation (IDEC), Hiroshima University, Japan in 2004. His area of teaching and research focuses mainly on policy and political economy of education and how they contribute to development of other social sectors. He has written articles, book chapters and research reports on several aspects of educational practices. His current longitudinal research project looks at the political economy of schooling in Cambodia focusing on issues of quality and equity. He is a founding member of Faculty of Development Studies, Faculty of Education and Teaching and Learning Center of the Royal University of Phnom Penh.

Kreng Heng holds a PhD in Educational Development from Hiroshima University, Japan. His academic and consulting experience covers a wide range of educational issues in general and higher education, ranging from student competency, teaching effectiveness, school accountability, strengthening school support committee, curriculum development, educational policy, school-to-work transitions and graduate skills. He has run training programmes in statistical analysis at the University of Phnom Penh and has worked in several projects in both Japan and Cambodia which have involved reviewing assessment tests and contextual questionnaires, analyzing national assessment data, designing and reviewing research instruments and protocols (sampling, recruitment, consent form, identification, confidentiality, interviewing, and data management), conducting field audits, and coordinating data collection and analysis. He has written a number of research reports and other publications in peer-reviewed international journals. He is also a founding member of the Faculty of Education of Royal University of Phnom Penh. He currently lectures courses such as educational assessment (classroom-based assessment and national student assessment), educational research and quantitative data analysis, and education policy.

• Mr. Nith Bunlay (PhD)
• Mr. Un Leang (PhD)
• Mr. Rath Chhang (PhD)
• Mr. Sok Serey (PhD)
• Mr. In Vichea (PhD)
• Mr. Keuk Chan Narith (PhD)
• Ms. Heng Sokha (MA)
• Mr. Chau Samphas (MA)
• Mr. Vong Chhorvy (MA)