The Challenges of the First-Year Student in Higher Education Institutions in Cambodia
Abstract
In the 1990s, the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) initiated the privatization of higher education institutions (HEIs. This policy shift led to a dramatic increase in the number of HEIs, expanding from only 8 in the late 1990s to 189 in the academic year 2022–2023. Alongside this growth, students’ enrollment number surged from 175,962 in the academic year 2021–2022 to 237,243 in 2022–2023. The transition from secondary to higher education represents a significant change for students. Currently, there is not many research studies that mainly focus on the first – year student challenges in higher education in Cambodia. This qualitative research aims to explore the challenges faced by first-year students in Cambodia’s HEIs. A semi-structured interviews was selected with the participants purposively selected from six public and private HEIs. In sum, there are fifty-seven participants in total from the six HEIs and other relevant institutions to contribute to the study. The findings indicate that first-year students encounter several challenges such as academic challenges, personal challenges, social integration challenges, transition to career-oriented learning challenges, and adaptation to available student services challenges. The results underscore the need for HEIs to prioritize creating a supportive environment that fosters a smooth transition, encouraging student retention and continuity into subsequent years.
References
1. Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU). (2002). Greater expectations: A new vision for learning as a nation goes to college. Washington, DC: AACU.
2. Astin, A. (1999). Student involvement: A developmental theory for higher education. Journal of College Student Development, 40(5), 518–529.
http://search.proquest.com.ezp.lib.unimelb.edu.au/docview/195180247?accountid=12372
3. Accreditation Committee of Cambodia. (2009). Minimum standards for accreditation of higher education institutions. Phnom Penh.
4. Accreditation Committee of Cambodia. (2004). The decision to provide foundation year certificates to Cambodian higher education institutions. Phnom Penh.
5. Accreditation Committee of Cambodia. (2013). Minimum standards for accreditation of higher education institutions. Phnom Penh.
6. Accreditation Committee of Cambodia. (2018). The instruction on minimum standards for accreditation of higher education institutions. Phnom Penh.
7. Accreditation Committee of Cambodia. (2023). The instruction on minimum standards for accreditation of higher education institutions. Phnom Penh.
8. Angelo, T. A., & Cross, K. P. (1993). Classroom assessment techniques: A handbook for college teachers (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
9. Audin, K., & Davy, J. (2003). University quality of life and learning (UNiQoLL): An approach to student well-being, satisfaction, and institutional change. Journal of Further and Higher Education.
10. Baik, C., Ryan, N., & Sophie, K. (2015). The first-year experience in Australian universities: Findings from two decades, 1994–2014. Melbourne, Australia: Centre for the Study of Higher Education.
11. Ben, K. (1996). The Pol Pot regime: Race, power, and genocide in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge, 1975–1979. Yale University Press.
12. Brock, T. (2010). Young adults and higher education: Barriers and breakthroughs to success. The Future of Children, 20(1), 109–132.
13. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.
14. Buntheoun, S. (2018). Exploring ICT for higher education: The case of French and Cambodian end/key users. Phnom Penh.
15. Buote, V. M., Pancer, S. M., Pratt, M. W., Adams, G., Birnie-Lefcovitch, S., Polivy, J., & Wintre, M. G. (2007). The importance of friends: Friendship and adjustment among first-year university students. Journal of Adolescent Research, 22(6), 665–689.
16. Camelia, S., & Nastase, E. (2018). University dropout: Causes and solutions. Journal of Economic Studies, 10(4), 2–4.
17. Carini, R. M., Kuh, G. D., & Kleint, S. P. (2006). Student engagement and student learning: Testing the linkages. Research in Higher Education, 47(1), 1–32.
18. Cambodia Development Resource Institute .(2015). Cambodia education 2015: Employment and empowerment. Phnom Penh: Green Investment Green Business Printing House.
19. Chet, C. (2009). Higher education in Cambodia. In Y. Hirosato & Y. Kitamura (Eds.), The political economy of educational reforms and capacity development in Southeast Asia (pp. 153–165). Dordrecht: Springer.
20. Chet, C., & Un, L. (2019). The internationalization of higher education in Cambodia. Cambodia Journal of Basic and Applied Research (CJBAR), 1(1), 07–16.
21. Chet, C. (2006). Cambodia. In UNESCO, Higher education in Southeast Asia (pp. 13–33). Bangkok: UNESCO Bangkok.
22. Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Harrison, K. (2007). Research methods in education (6th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.
23. Crawford, J., Butler-Henderson, K., Rudolph, J., Malkawi, B., Glowatz, M., Burton, R., Magni, P. A., & Lam, S. (2020). COVID-19: 20 countries’ higher education intra-period digital pedagogy responses. Journal of Applied Learning and Teaching, 3(1).
24. Crystal, D. (1997). English as a global language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
25. Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Boston, MA: Pearson Education.
26. Cowley, P., & Hyams-Ssekasi, D. (2018). Motivation, induction, and challenge: Examining the initial phase of international students’ educational sojourn. Journal of International Students, 8(1), 109-130. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1101039
27. Cullen, J., Joyce, J., Hassall, T., & Broadbent, M. (2003). Quality in higher education: From monitoring to management. Quality Assurance in Education, 11(1), 5–14.
28. Daniels, N., & MacNeela, P. (2021). Students’ views of the promoters and barriers to first-year college persistence in Ireland: A partnership study. Student Success, 12(1), 56–71. https://doi.org/10.5204/ssj.1211
29. Davies, R., & Elias, P. (2003). Dropping out: A study of early leavers from higher education. Queen’s Printer.
30. Doygun, O., & Gulec, S. (2012). The problems faced by university students and proposals for solution. Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.788
31. Downs, C. T. (2005). Is a year-long access course into university helping previously disadvantaged Black students in biology? South African Journal of Higher Education, 19(4), 666–683.
32. Dy, S. S. (2015). Higher education: Trends, issues, and policy options. In S. Khieng, S. Madhur, & R. Chhem (Eds.), Cambodia Education 2015: Employment and empowerment (pp. 31–56). Cambodia Development Research Institute.
33. Earnest, D. R., & Dwyer, W. O. (2010). In their own words: An online strategy for increasing stress-coping skills among college freshmen. College Student Journal, 44(4), 888–900.
34. Eisenberg, D., Golberstein, E., & Gollust, S. E. (2007). Help-seeking and access to mental health care in a university student population. Medical Care, 45(7), 594–601.
35. Els, V. R., Ellen, P. J., & Vim, C. M. (2018). First-year university students’ academic success: The importance of academic adjustment. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 33(4), 749–767. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-017-0347-8
36. Etzkowitz, H., James, D., Marina, R., & Chunyan, Z. (2007). The triple helix model for innovation: The university-industry-government interaction. Asia Pacific Tech Monitor, 24(1), 14–23.
37. Elwick, A., & Cannizzaro, S. (2017). Happiness in higher education. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 71(2).
38. Fisher, G. (1995). Thinking about access: The significance of disciplinary communities. Academic Development, 1(1), 7–12.
39. Fisher, S., Murray, K., & Frazer, N. A. (1985). Homesickness, health and efficiency in first-year students. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 5, 181–195.
40. Ford, D. (2006). Cambodian higher education—Growing pains. International Higher Education, 44, 10–11.
41. Fraenkel, J. R., & Wallen, N. E. (2012). How to design and evaluate research in education (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
42. Gibney, A., Moore, N., Murphy, F., & O’Sullivan, S. (2011). The first semester of university life: ‘Will I be able to manage it all?’. Higher Education, 62(3), 351–366. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-010-9392-9
43. Giddan, N. S. (1988). Community and social support for college students. Thomas.
44. Graig, A. P. (1989). The conflict between the familiar and unfamiliar. South African Journal of Higher Education, 3(1), 166–172.
45. Hamilton, S. F., & Hamilton, M. (2006). School, work, and emerging adulthood. In J. Arnett & J. Tanner (Eds.), Emerging adults in America: Coming of age in the 21st century (pp. 257–277). American Psychological Association.
46. Hang, C. N. (2015). Cambodia economic: Toward prosperity: Development, challenge, and future vision. Phnom Penh.
47. Hang, C. N. (2015). (2016). Education reform in Cambodia: Toward knowledge-based society and prosperity. Phnom Penh.
48. Hassel, S., & Ridout, N. (2018). An investigation of first-year students' and lecturers' expectations of university education. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, Article 2218. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02218
49. Heng, K. (2013). The effects of faculty behavior on the academic achievement of first-year Cambodian urban university students. Educational Research Policy Practice, 13(3), 233–2 50.
50. Heng, K. (2023). Challenges and developments in university research in Cambodia: A case study of two universities. Higher Education, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-023-01080-2
51. Heng, K., & Heng, K. (2023). Promoting research in Cambodian higher education: Opportunities, challenges, and policy implications (in Khmer). Cambodian Journal of Education and STEM, 1(1), 93–104.
52. Heng, K., Doeur, B., & Din, L. (2023). Promoting higher education quality in Cambodia: Challenges and recommendations. Cambodian Journal of Educational Research, 3(1), 92–109.
53. Heng, K., & Sol, K. (2023). Challenges facing higher education in Cambodia and ideas for reform. Cambodian Journal of Educational Research, 3(1), 1–19.
54. Heng, K. (2024). Challenges and developments in university research in Cambodia: A case study of two universities. Higher Education, 87(6), 1593–1613.
55. Holly, K. M. (2015). The year of change: Challenges faced by first-year students based on individual identities. James Madison University.
56. Hubbard, R. S. (1994). How effective is self-directed learning at generating successful learningexperiences, and what is its role within higher education? ERIC: FL022468.
57. Hughes, P., Wyld, C., & Abbott-Chapman, J. (1992). Monitoring student progress: A framework for improving student performance and reducing attrition in higher education. National Clearinghouse for Youth Studies.
58. Huong, N. T. T. (2022). Speaking problems facing first-year English majors at University of Education, Thai Nguyen University. TNU Journal of Science and Technology, 227(04), 186–194. https://doi.org/10.34238/tnu-jst.5684
59. Johnson, C., Gitay, R., Salam, A. G., Bensaid, A., Ismail, A., Al-Tameemi, R. A. N., Rpmanowski, M. H., Fakih, B. M. K., & Hazaa, K. A. (2022). Student support in higher education: Campus service utilization, impact, and challenges. Cell Press, 1–13.
60. Kantanis, T. (2000). The role of social transition in students’ adjustment to the first year of university. Journal of Institutional Research, 9, 100–110.
61. Katrevich, A. V., & Aruguete, M. S. (2017). Recognizing challenges and predicting success in first-generation university students. Journal of STEM Education, 18(2), 73–77.
62. Kingdom of Cambodia. (1949). Royal decree on the establishment of the National Law and Economic University. Phnom Penh.
63. Kingdom of Cambodia. (1960). Royal decree on the establishment of the Royal Khmer University. Phnom Penh.
64. Kariuki, S. M. (2006). The globalisation of education: How prepared are students in previously disadvantaged South African universities to face the global world with confidence? Commonwealth Youth and Development, 4(1), 41–48.
65. King, A. E., McQuarrie, F. A., & Brigham, S. M. (2021). Exploring the relationship between student success and participation in extracurricular activities. SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, 36(1-2), 42–58.
66. Koch, A. K., & Gardner, J. N. (2017). Transforming the “real” first-year experience: The case for and approaches to improving gateway courses. Cambridge University Press.
67. Kwok, K., Chan, S., Heng, C., Kim, S., Neth, B., & Thon, V. (2010). Scoping study: Research capacities of Cambodia’s universities.
68. Lam, S. (2020). COVID-19: 20 countries’ higher education intra-period digital pedagogy responses. Journal of Applied Learning and Teaching, 3, 1.
69. Larcombe, W., Baik, C., & Brooker, A. (2015). How universities can enhance student mental wellbeing: The student perspective. Higher Education Research and Development, 38(7), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2019.1576596
70. Lea, S. J., & Farbus, L. (2000). Student support: Educational necessity or mawkish indulgence? Psychology Teaching Review, 9(1), 16–25. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsptr.2000.9.1.16
71. Lerner, R. K., Lerner, J. V., Almerigi, J. B., & Theokes, C. (2005). Positive youth development, participation in community youth development programs, and community contributions of fifth-grade adolescents: Findings from the first wave of the 4-H study of positive youth development. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 25(1), 17–71.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431604272461
72. Leang, U., & Say, S. (2019). Higher education governance in Cambodia: An update. Phnom Penh.
73. Loo, E., & Hang, D. T. T. (2007). Effects of ICTs on media transformation, education, and training in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. University of Wollongong. https://ro.uow.edu.au/creartspapers/31
74. Lowe, H., & Cook, A. (2003). Mind the gap: Are students prepared for higher education? Journal of Further and Higher Education, 27(1), 53–76.
75. Marin, M., Lord, C., Andrews, J., Juster, R., Sindi, S., Arsenault-Lapierre, G., Fiocco, A., & Lupien, S. J. (2011). Chronic stress, cognitive functioning and mental health. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 96(4), 583–595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2011.02.016
76. Melanie, L., Lia, S., Thalia, A., & Maxime, P. (2022). Sources of stress and coping strategies among undergraduate nursing students across all years. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 54(3), 261–271. https://doi.org/10.1177/0844562121102807
77. Ministry of Education Youth and Sport. (2020). The official announcement of the result of the grade 12 national examination in the academic year 2019-2020. Phnom Penh.
78. Ministry of Education Youth and Sport. (2019). Cambodian SDG4 Education 2030 Roadmap. Phnom Penh.
79. Ministry of Education Youth and Sport. (2024). Higher education reform: Building a quality higher education system that develops human resources with excellent knowledge, skills, and moral values in order to work and live within the era of globalization and knowledge-based society. Phnom Penh.
80. Ministry of Education Youth and Sport. (2024). Education congress: The summary of education, youth, and sport performance in the academic year 2022-2023 and goal for the academic year 2023-2024. Phnom Penh.
81. Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training. (2024). Labour market bulletin: Labour market vision in Cambodia. Phnom Penh.
82. Moeurn, C. (2017). School-to-university transition. Phnom Penh.
83. Mudhovozi, P. (2012). Social and academic adjustment of first-year university students. Journal of Social Sciences, 33(2), 251–259.
84. Mulaudzi, I. C. (2023). Challenges faced by first-year university students: Navigating the transition to higher education. Journal of Education and Human Development, 12(2), 79–87. https://doi.org/10.15640/jehd.v12n2a8
85. Murtagh, L. (2010). They give us homework! Transition to higher education: The case of initial teacher training. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 34(4), 405–418. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2010.484057
86. National Youth Development Council & UNFPA. (2000). Analysis of the needs of Cambodian youth. Phnom Penh.
87. National Employment Agency. (2000). Qualifications and skills mismatches in Cambodia 2020. Phnom Penh.
88. National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. (2015). Transition from second level and further education to higher education: Focused research report No. 6.
89. Nault, R. (2008). Making the most of Cambodia’s human resources. Cambodia Development Review, 12(2).
90. Newfield, C. (2018). The great mistake: How we wrecked public universities and how we can fix them. Johns Hopkins University Press.
91. Nunn, L. M. (2021). College belonging: How first-year and first-generation students navigate campus life. Rutgers University Press.
92. Oluwatimilehin, E. F. (2024). First-year students’ challenges and coping strategies in public and private universities in Osun State, Nigeria. Innovare Journal of Education, 12(3), 9-14
93. Ozlem, D., & Selma, G. (2012). The problems faced by university students and proposals for solution. Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.788
94. Pantages, T. J., & Creedon, C. F. (1978). Studies of college attrition: 1950–1975. Review of Educational Research, 48, 49–101.
95. Paul, E. L., & Brier, S. (2001). Friendsickness in the transition to college: Precollege predictors and college adjustment correlates. Journal of Counseling & Development, 79(1), 77–89. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2001.tb01946.x
96. Parker, H., Hughes, A., Marsh, C., Ahmed, S., Cannon, J., Taylor-Steeds, E., Jones, L., & Page, N. (2017). Understanding the different challenges facing students in transitioning to university particularly with a focus on ethnicity. New Directions in the Teaching of Physical Sciences, 12, 2051-3615.
97. Ploner, J. (2018). International students’ transitions to UK higher education – revisiting the concept and practice of academic hospitality. Journal of Research in International Education, 17(2), 164–178. https://doi.org/10.1177/147524091878669
98. Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research & evaluation methods. Sage Publications.
99. Phyrom, S., & Sopheak, S. (2023). Technology integration of Cambodian higher education: Emerging changes since Covid-19 and notable challenges. Phnom Penh.
100. Pancer, S. M., Hunsberger, B., Pratt, M. W., & Alisat, S. (2000). Cognitive complexity of expectations and adjustment to university in the first year. Journal of Adolescent Research, 15(1), 38–57. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558400151003
101. Ramrathan, L. (2013). Towards a conceptual framework for understanding student dropout from HEIs. South African Journal of Higher Education, 27(1), 209–220.
102. Richards, J. C., & Renandya, W. A. (2002). Methodology in language teaching: An anthology of current practice. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511667190
103. Rickinson, B., & Rutherford, D. (1996). Systematic monitoring of the adjustment to university of undergraduates: A strategy for reducing withdrawal rates. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 24(2), 213-225.
104. Rothman, S., Kelly-Woessner, A., & Woessner, M. (2011). The still divided academy: How competing visions of power, politics, and diversity complicate the mission of higher education. Rowman & Littlefield.
105. Royal Government of Cambodia. (2008). The ethics and professionalism of Cambodian teachers. Phnom Penh.
106. Sam, R., Zain, A. N. M., & Jamil, H. (2012). Establishment of institutional policies for enhancing education quality in Cambodian universities. International Journal of Higher Education, 1(1).
107. Schostak, J. (2006). Interviewing and representation in qualitative research: Conducting educational research. Open University Press.
108. Shabana, A., & Naeem, A. (2024). Issues and challenges of academic stress among first-year university students: An investigative study. International Journal of Social Science and Entrepreneurship, 4(1). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378147864_Issues_And_Challenges_ofAcademic_Stress_Among_First-Year_University_Students_An_Investigative_Study
109. Shaun, A. H., & Stephen, J. Q. (2009). Student engagement in higher education. Routledge.
110. Simpson, R., & Frost, S. (1993). Inside college: Undergraduate education for the future. Plenum Press.
111. Stallman, H. (2010). Psychological distress in university students: A comparison with general population data. Australian Psychologist, 45(4), 249-257.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00050067.2010.482109
112. Stone, G. L., & Archer, J. (1990). College and university counseling centers in the 1990s: Challenges and limits. The Counseling Psychologist, 18(4), 539–607.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000090184001
113. Stylianou, D., Blanton, M., & Knuth, E. (2011). Introduction. In D. Stylianou, M. Blanton, & E. Knuth (Eds.), Teaching and learning proof across the grades, a K–16 perspective (2nd ed., pp. 1–12). Routledge.
114. Tan, K.H. (1974). The role of higher education institution in development: The Khmer Republic case. Regional Institution for Higher Education and Development.
115. Tao, S., Dong, Q., Pratt, M., Hunsberger, W., & Pancer, S. (2000). Social support: Relations to coping and adjustment during the transition to university in the People’s Republic of China. Journal of Adolescent Research, 1(1), 123-144.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289359054_Social_support_Relations_to_coping_and_adjustment_during_the_transition_to_university_in_the_People's_Republic_of_China
116. Tett, L., V. Cree, and Christie, H. (2017). From Further to Higher Education: Transition as an On-Going Process. Higher Education 73 (3): 389–406. doi:10.1007/s10734-016-0101-1.
117. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (2000). Principles and standards for school mathematics. NCTM.
118. The World Bank. (1997). Vietnam education financing. The World Bank.
119. The Task Force on Higher Education and Society. (2000). Higher education in developing countries: Peril and promise. The World Bank.
120. Thompson, M., Pawson, C., & Evans, B. (2021). Navigating entry into higher education: The transition to independent learning and living. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 45(10). https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2021.1933400
121. Tinto, V. (1983). Leaving college: Rethinking the causes and cures of student attrition (2nd ed.). University of Chicago Press.
122. Tinto, V. (1987). Leaving college: Rethinking the causes and cures of student attrition. University of Chicago Press.
123. Tinto, V. (1993). Leaving college: Rethinking the causes and cures of student attrition (2nd ed.). University of Chicago Press. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226922461.001.0001
124. Tinto, V. (1998). Learning communities: Building gateways to student success. 7(4), 1–11.
125. Tinto, V.(2015).Through the Eyes of Students.Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice 19 (3): 254–269. doi:10.1177/1521025115621917.
126. UNESCO. (2009). Student affairs and services in higher education: Global foundations, issues and best practices. UNESCO.
127. U.S. News. (2023). St. Bonaventure University overall rankings | US News Best Colleges. U.S. News. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/st-bonaventure-university-2817/overall-rankings
128. Wicks, A.C., Freeman, R.E. and Gilbert, R.D.(1994). A feminist reinterpretation of the stakeholder concept. Business Ethics Quarterly, 4(4), pp.475-497.
129. Yang, L., & Chen, J. (2016). Interpreting studies: The way forward –Proceedings of the 10th National Conference and International Forum on Interpreting. Bbel.
130. Yasmin, C., Sarah, G., Hannah, G., Kiu, S., & Yue, Y. (2024). Challenges and barriers for first-year home and international students in higher education in the UK and Ireland: A scoping review. Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal, 5(2).
131. Yorke, M., & Longden, B. (2007). The first-year experience in higher education in the UK. Report on phase 1 of a project funded by the Higher Education Academy. Higher Education Academy.
132. Yost, L. (2019). Innovation hubs become the new trend on college campuses. Medium. https://medium.com/@laina.yost/innovation-hubs-become-the-new-trend-on-college-campuses-7ade51e4f46a
133. Zitzow, D. (1984). Assessing student stress: School adjustment rating by self-report. Sage Publications, 40(1).
2. Astin, A. (1999). Student involvement: A developmental theory for higher education. Journal of College Student Development, 40(5), 518–529.
http://search.proquest.com.ezp.lib.unimelb.edu.au/docview/195180247?accountid=12372
3. Accreditation Committee of Cambodia. (2009). Minimum standards for accreditation of higher education institutions. Phnom Penh.
4. Accreditation Committee of Cambodia. (2004). The decision to provide foundation year certificates to Cambodian higher education institutions. Phnom Penh.
5. Accreditation Committee of Cambodia. (2013). Minimum standards for accreditation of higher education institutions. Phnom Penh.
6. Accreditation Committee of Cambodia. (2018). The instruction on minimum standards for accreditation of higher education institutions. Phnom Penh.
7. Accreditation Committee of Cambodia. (2023). The instruction on minimum standards for accreditation of higher education institutions. Phnom Penh.
8. Angelo, T. A., & Cross, K. P. (1993). Classroom assessment techniques: A handbook for college teachers (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
9. Audin, K., & Davy, J. (2003). University quality of life and learning (UNiQoLL): An approach to student well-being, satisfaction, and institutional change. Journal of Further and Higher Education.
10. Baik, C., Ryan, N., & Sophie, K. (2015). The first-year experience in Australian universities: Findings from two decades, 1994–2014. Melbourne, Australia: Centre for the Study of Higher Education.
11. Ben, K. (1996). The Pol Pot regime: Race, power, and genocide in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge, 1975–1979. Yale University Press.
12. Brock, T. (2010). Young adults and higher education: Barriers and breakthroughs to success. The Future of Children, 20(1), 109–132.
13. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.
14. Buntheoun, S. (2018). Exploring ICT for higher education: The case of French and Cambodian end/key users. Phnom Penh.
15. Buote, V. M., Pancer, S. M., Pratt, M. W., Adams, G., Birnie-Lefcovitch, S., Polivy, J., & Wintre, M. G. (2007). The importance of friends: Friendship and adjustment among first-year university students. Journal of Adolescent Research, 22(6), 665–689.
16. Camelia, S., & Nastase, E. (2018). University dropout: Causes and solutions. Journal of Economic Studies, 10(4), 2–4.
17. Carini, R. M., Kuh, G. D., & Kleint, S. P. (2006). Student engagement and student learning: Testing the linkages. Research in Higher Education, 47(1), 1–32.
18. Cambodia Development Resource Institute .(2015). Cambodia education 2015: Employment and empowerment. Phnom Penh: Green Investment Green Business Printing House.
19. Chet, C. (2009). Higher education in Cambodia. In Y. Hirosato & Y. Kitamura (Eds.), The political economy of educational reforms and capacity development in Southeast Asia (pp. 153–165). Dordrecht: Springer.
20. Chet, C., & Un, L. (2019). The internationalization of higher education in Cambodia. Cambodia Journal of Basic and Applied Research (CJBAR), 1(1), 07–16.
21. Chet, C. (2006). Cambodia. In UNESCO, Higher education in Southeast Asia (pp. 13–33). Bangkok: UNESCO Bangkok.
22. Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Harrison, K. (2007). Research methods in education (6th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.
23. Crawford, J., Butler-Henderson, K., Rudolph, J., Malkawi, B., Glowatz, M., Burton, R., Magni, P. A., & Lam, S. (2020). COVID-19: 20 countries’ higher education intra-period digital pedagogy responses. Journal of Applied Learning and Teaching, 3(1).
24. Crystal, D. (1997). English as a global language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
25. Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Boston, MA: Pearson Education.
26. Cowley, P., & Hyams-Ssekasi, D. (2018). Motivation, induction, and challenge: Examining the initial phase of international students’ educational sojourn. Journal of International Students, 8(1), 109-130. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1101039
27. Cullen, J., Joyce, J., Hassall, T., & Broadbent, M. (2003). Quality in higher education: From monitoring to management. Quality Assurance in Education, 11(1), 5–14.
28. Daniels, N., & MacNeela, P. (2021). Students’ views of the promoters and barriers to first-year college persistence in Ireland: A partnership study. Student Success, 12(1), 56–71. https://doi.org/10.5204/ssj.1211
29. Davies, R., & Elias, P. (2003). Dropping out: A study of early leavers from higher education. Queen’s Printer.
30. Doygun, O., & Gulec, S. (2012). The problems faced by university students and proposals for solution. Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.788
31. Downs, C. T. (2005). Is a year-long access course into university helping previously disadvantaged Black students in biology? South African Journal of Higher Education, 19(4), 666–683.
32. Dy, S. S. (2015). Higher education: Trends, issues, and policy options. In S. Khieng, S. Madhur, & R. Chhem (Eds.), Cambodia Education 2015: Employment and empowerment (pp. 31–56). Cambodia Development Research Institute.
33. Earnest, D. R., & Dwyer, W. O. (2010). In their own words: An online strategy for increasing stress-coping skills among college freshmen. College Student Journal, 44(4), 888–900.
34. Eisenberg, D., Golberstein, E., & Gollust, S. E. (2007). Help-seeking and access to mental health care in a university student population. Medical Care, 45(7), 594–601.
35. Els, V. R., Ellen, P. J., & Vim, C. M. (2018). First-year university students’ academic success: The importance of academic adjustment. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 33(4), 749–767. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-017-0347-8
36. Etzkowitz, H., James, D., Marina, R., & Chunyan, Z. (2007). The triple helix model for innovation: The university-industry-government interaction. Asia Pacific Tech Monitor, 24(1), 14–23.
37. Elwick, A., & Cannizzaro, S. (2017). Happiness in higher education. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 71(2).
38. Fisher, G. (1995). Thinking about access: The significance of disciplinary communities. Academic Development, 1(1), 7–12.
39. Fisher, S., Murray, K., & Frazer, N. A. (1985). Homesickness, health and efficiency in first-year students. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 5, 181–195.
40. Ford, D. (2006). Cambodian higher education—Growing pains. International Higher Education, 44, 10–11.
41. Fraenkel, J. R., & Wallen, N. E. (2012). How to design and evaluate research in education (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
42. Gibney, A., Moore, N., Murphy, F., & O’Sullivan, S. (2011). The first semester of university life: ‘Will I be able to manage it all?’. Higher Education, 62(3), 351–366. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-010-9392-9
43. Giddan, N. S. (1988). Community and social support for college students. Thomas.
44. Graig, A. P. (1989). The conflict between the familiar and unfamiliar. South African Journal of Higher Education, 3(1), 166–172.
45. Hamilton, S. F., & Hamilton, M. (2006). School, work, and emerging adulthood. In J. Arnett & J. Tanner (Eds.), Emerging adults in America: Coming of age in the 21st century (pp. 257–277). American Psychological Association.
46. Hang, C. N. (2015). Cambodia economic: Toward prosperity: Development, challenge, and future vision. Phnom Penh.
47. Hang, C. N. (2015). (2016). Education reform in Cambodia: Toward knowledge-based society and prosperity. Phnom Penh.
48. Hassel, S., & Ridout, N. (2018). An investigation of first-year students' and lecturers' expectations of university education. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, Article 2218. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02218
49. Heng, K. (2013). The effects of faculty behavior on the academic achievement of first-year Cambodian urban university students. Educational Research Policy Practice, 13(3), 233–2 50.
50. Heng, K. (2023). Challenges and developments in university research in Cambodia: A case study of two universities. Higher Education, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-023-01080-2
51. Heng, K., & Heng, K. (2023). Promoting research in Cambodian higher education: Opportunities, challenges, and policy implications (in Khmer). Cambodian Journal of Education and STEM, 1(1), 93–104.
52. Heng, K., Doeur, B., & Din, L. (2023). Promoting higher education quality in Cambodia: Challenges and recommendations. Cambodian Journal of Educational Research, 3(1), 92–109.
53. Heng, K., & Sol, K. (2023). Challenges facing higher education in Cambodia and ideas for reform. Cambodian Journal of Educational Research, 3(1), 1–19.
54. Heng, K. (2024). Challenges and developments in university research in Cambodia: A case study of two universities. Higher Education, 87(6), 1593–1613.
55. Holly, K. M. (2015). The year of change: Challenges faced by first-year students based on individual identities. James Madison University.
56. Hubbard, R. S. (1994). How effective is self-directed learning at generating successful learningexperiences, and what is its role within higher education? ERIC: FL022468.
57. Hughes, P., Wyld, C., & Abbott-Chapman, J. (1992). Monitoring student progress: A framework for improving student performance and reducing attrition in higher education. National Clearinghouse for Youth Studies.
58. Huong, N. T. T. (2022). Speaking problems facing first-year English majors at University of Education, Thai Nguyen University. TNU Journal of Science and Technology, 227(04), 186–194. https://doi.org/10.34238/tnu-jst.5684
59. Johnson, C., Gitay, R., Salam, A. G., Bensaid, A., Ismail, A., Al-Tameemi, R. A. N., Rpmanowski, M. H., Fakih, B. M. K., & Hazaa, K. A. (2022). Student support in higher education: Campus service utilization, impact, and challenges. Cell Press, 1–13.
60. Kantanis, T. (2000). The role of social transition in students’ adjustment to the first year of university. Journal of Institutional Research, 9, 100–110.
61. Katrevich, A. V., & Aruguete, M. S. (2017). Recognizing challenges and predicting success in first-generation university students. Journal of STEM Education, 18(2), 73–77.
62. Kingdom of Cambodia. (1949). Royal decree on the establishment of the National Law and Economic University. Phnom Penh.
63. Kingdom of Cambodia. (1960). Royal decree on the establishment of the Royal Khmer University. Phnom Penh.
64. Kariuki, S. M. (2006). The globalisation of education: How prepared are students in previously disadvantaged South African universities to face the global world with confidence? Commonwealth Youth and Development, 4(1), 41–48.
65. King, A. E., McQuarrie, F. A., & Brigham, S. M. (2021). Exploring the relationship between student success and participation in extracurricular activities. SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, 36(1-2), 42–58.
66. Koch, A. K., & Gardner, J. N. (2017). Transforming the “real” first-year experience: The case for and approaches to improving gateway courses. Cambridge University Press.
67. Kwok, K., Chan, S., Heng, C., Kim, S., Neth, B., & Thon, V. (2010). Scoping study: Research capacities of Cambodia’s universities.
68. Lam, S. (2020). COVID-19: 20 countries’ higher education intra-period digital pedagogy responses. Journal of Applied Learning and Teaching, 3, 1.
69. Larcombe, W., Baik, C., & Brooker, A. (2015). How universities can enhance student mental wellbeing: The student perspective. Higher Education Research and Development, 38(7), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2019.1576596
70. Lea, S. J., & Farbus, L. (2000). Student support: Educational necessity or mawkish indulgence? Psychology Teaching Review, 9(1), 16–25. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsptr.2000.9.1.16
71. Lerner, R. K., Lerner, J. V., Almerigi, J. B., & Theokes, C. (2005). Positive youth development, participation in community youth development programs, and community contributions of fifth-grade adolescents: Findings from the first wave of the 4-H study of positive youth development. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 25(1), 17–71.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431604272461
72. Leang, U., & Say, S. (2019). Higher education governance in Cambodia: An update. Phnom Penh.
73. Loo, E., & Hang, D. T. T. (2007). Effects of ICTs on media transformation, education, and training in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. University of Wollongong. https://ro.uow.edu.au/creartspapers/31
74. Lowe, H., & Cook, A. (2003). Mind the gap: Are students prepared for higher education? Journal of Further and Higher Education, 27(1), 53–76.
75. Marin, M., Lord, C., Andrews, J., Juster, R., Sindi, S., Arsenault-Lapierre, G., Fiocco, A., & Lupien, S. J. (2011). Chronic stress, cognitive functioning and mental health. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 96(4), 583–595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2011.02.016
76. Melanie, L., Lia, S., Thalia, A., & Maxime, P. (2022). Sources of stress and coping strategies among undergraduate nursing students across all years. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 54(3), 261–271. https://doi.org/10.1177/0844562121102807
77. Ministry of Education Youth and Sport. (2020). The official announcement of the result of the grade 12 national examination in the academic year 2019-2020. Phnom Penh.
78. Ministry of Education Youth and Sport. (2019). Cambodian SDG4 Education 2030 Roadmap. Phnom Penh.
79. Ministry of Education Youth and Sport. (2024). Higher education reform: Building a quality higher education system that develops human resources with excellent knowledge, skills, and moral values in order to work and live within the era of globalization and knowledge-based society. Phnom Penh.
80. Ministry of Education Youth and Sport. (2024). Education congress: The summary of education, youth, and sport performance in the academic year 2022-2023 and goal for the academic year 2023-2024. Phnom Penh.
81. Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training. (2024). Labour market bulletin: Labour market vision in Cambodia. Phnom Penh.
82. Moeurn, C. (2017). School-to-university transition. Phnom Penh.
83. Mudhovozi, P. (2012). Social and academic adjustment of first-year university students. Journal of Social Sciences, 33(2), 251–259.
84. Mulaudzi, I. C. (2023). Challenges faced by first-year university students: Navigating the transition to higher education. Journal of Education and Human Development, 12(2), 79–87. https://doi.org/10.15640/jehd.v12n2a8
85. Murtagh, L. (2010). They give us homework! Transition to higher education: The case of initial teacher training. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 34(4), 405–418. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2010.484057
86. National Youth Development Council & UNFPA. (2000). Analysis of the needs of Cambodian youth. Phnom Penh.
87. National Employment Agency. (2000). Qualifications and skills mismatches in Cambodia 2020. Phnom Penh.
88. National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. (2015). Transition from second level and further education to higher education: Focused research report No. 6.
89. Nault, R. (2008). Making the most of Cambodia’s human resources. Cambodia Development Review, 12(2).
90. Newfield, C. (2018). The great mistake: How we wrecked public universities and how we can fix them. Johns Hopkins University Press.
91. Nunn, L. M. (2021). College belonging: How first-year and first-generation students navigate campus life. Rutgers University Press.
92. Oluwatimilehin, E. F. (2024). First-year students’ challenges and coping strategies in public and private universities in Osun State, Nigeria. Innovare Journal of Education, 12(3), 9-14
93. Ozlem, D., & Selma, G. (2012). The problems faced by university students and proposals for solution. Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.788
94. Pantages, T. J., & Creedon, C. F. (1978). Studies of college attrition: 1950–1975. Review of Educational Research, 48, 49–101.
95. Paul, E. L., & Brier, S. (2001). Friendsickness in the transition to college: Precollege predictors and college adjustment correlates. Journal of Counseling & Development, 79(1), 77–89. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2001.tb01946.x
96. Parker, H., Hughes, A., Marsh, C., Ahmed, S., Cannon, J., Taylor-Steeds, E., Jones, L., & Page, N. (2017). Understanding the different challenges facing students in transitioning to university particularly with a focus on ethnicity. New Directions in the Teaching of Physical Sciences, 12, 2051-3615.
97. Ploner, J. (2018). International students’ transitions to UK higher education – revisiting the concept and practice of academic hospitality. Journal of Research in International Education, 17(2), 164–178. https://doi.org/10.1177/147524091878669
98. Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research & evaluation methods. Sage Publications.
99. Phyrom, S., & Sopheak, S. (2023). Technology integration of Cambodian higher education: Emerging changes since Covid-19 and notable challenges. Phnom Penh.
100. Pancer, S. M., Hunsberger, B., Pratt, M. W., & Alisat, S. (2000). Cognitive complexity of expectations and adjustment to university in the first year. Journal of Adolescent Research, 15(1), 38–57. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558400151003
101. Ramrathan, L. (2013). Towards a conceptual framework for understanding student dropout from HEIs. South African Journal of Higher Education, 27(1), 209–220.
102. Richards, J. C., & Renandya, W. A. (2002). Methodology in language teaching: An anthology of current practice. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511667190
103. Rickinson, B., & Rutherford, D. (1996). Systematic monitoring of the adjustment to university of undergraduates: A strategy for reducing withdrawal rates. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 24(2), 213-225.
104. Rothman, S., Kelly-Woessner, A., & Woessner, M. (2011). The still divided academy: How competing visions of power, politics, and diversity complicate the mission of higher education. Rowman & Littlefield.
105. Royal Government of Cambodia. (2008). The ethics and professionalism of Cambodian teachers. Phnom Penh.
106. Sam, R., Zain, A. N. M., & Jamil, H. (2012). Establishment of institutional policies for enhancing education quality in Cambodian universities. International Journal of Higher Education, 1(1).
107. Schostak, J. (2006). Interviewing and representation in qualitative research: Conducting educational research. Open University Press.
108. Shabana, A., & Naeem, A. (2024). Issues and challenges of academic stress among first-year university students: An investigative study. International Journal of Social Science and Entrepreneurship, 4(1). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378147864_Issues_And_Challenges_ofAcademic_Stress_Among_First-Year_University_Students_An_Investigative_Study
109. Shaun, A. H., & Stephen, J. Q. (2009). Student engagement in higher education. Routledge.
110. Simpson, R., & Frost, S. (1993). Inside college: Undergraduate education for the future. Plenum Press.
111. Stallman, H. (2010). Psychological distress in university students: A comparison with general population data. Australian Psychologist, 45(4), 249-257.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00050067.2010.482109
112. Stone, G. L., & Archer, J. (1990). College and university counseling centers in the 1990s: Challenges and limits. The Counseling Psychologist, 18(4), 539–607.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000090184001
113. Stylianou, D., Blanton, M., & Knuth, E. (2011). Introduction. In D. Stylianou, M. Blanton, & E. Knuth (Eds.), Teaching and learning proof across the grades, a K–16 perspective (2nd ed., pp. 1–12). Routledge.
114. Tan, K.H. (1974). The role of higher education institution in development: The Khmer Republic case. Regional Institution for Higher Education and Development.
115. Tao, S., Dong, Q., Pratt, M., Hunsberger, W., & Pancer, S. (2000). Social support: Relations to coping and adjustment during the transition to university in the People’s Republic of China. Journal of Adolescent Research, 1(1), 123-144.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289359054_Social_support_Relations_to_coping_and_adjustment_during_the_transition_to_university_in_the_People's_Republic_of_China
116. Tett, L., V. Cree, and Christie, H. (2017). From Further to Higher Education: Transition as an On-Going Process. Higher Education 73 (3): 389–406. doi:10.1007/s10734-016-0101-1.
117. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (2000). Principles and standards for school mathematics. NCTM.
118. The World Bank. (1997). Vietnam education financing. The World Bank.
119. The Task Force on Higher Education and Society. (2000). Higher education in developing countries: Peril and promise. The World Bank.
120. Thompson, M., Pawson, C., & Evans, B. (2021). Navigating entry into higher education: The transition to independent learning and living. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 45(10). https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2021.1933400
121. Tinto, V. (1983). Leaving college: Rethinking the causes and cures of student attrition (2nd ed.). University of Chicago Press.
122. Tinto, V. (1987). Leaving college: Rethinking the causes and cures of student attrition. University of Chicago Press.
123. Tinto, V. (1993). Leaving college: Rethinking the causes and cures of student attrition (2nd ed.). University of Chicago Press. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226922461.001.0001
124. Tinto, V. (1998). Learning communities: Building gateways to student success. 7(4), 1–11.
125. Tinto, V.(2015).Through the Eyes of Students.Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice 19 (3): 254–269. doi:10.1177/1521025115621917.
126. UNESCO. (2009). Student affairs and services in higher education: Global foundations, issues and best practices. UNESCO.
127. U.S. News. (2023). St. Bonaventure University overall rankings | US News Best Colleges. U.S. News. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/st-bonaventure-university-2817/overall-rankings
128. Wicks, A.C., Freeman, R.E. and Gilbert, R.D.(1994). A feminist reinterpretation of the stakeholder concept. Business Ethics Quarterly, 4(4), pp.475-497.
129. Yang, L., & Chen, J. (2016). Interpreting studies: The way forward –Proceedings of the 10th National Conference and International Forum on Interpreting. Bbel.
130. Yasmin, C., Sarah, G., Hannah, G., Kiu, S., & Yue, Y. (2024). Challenges and barriers for first-year home and international students in higher education in the UK and Ireland: A scoping review. Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal, 5(2).
131. Yorke, M., & Longden, B. (2007). The first-year experience in higher education in the UK. Report on phase 1 of a project funded by the Higher Education Academy. Higher Education Academy.
132. Yost, L. (2019). Innovation hubs become the new trend on college campuses. Medium. https://medium.com/@laina.yost/innovation-hubs-become-the-new-trend-on-college-campuses-7ade51e4f46a
133. Zitzow, D. (1984). Assessing student stress: School adjustment rating by self-report. Sage Publications, 40(1).
Authors
[1]
“The Challenges of the First-Year Student in Higher Education Institutions in Cambodia”, Soc. sci. humanities j., vol. 8, no. 12, pp. 6069–6101, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.18535/sshj.v8i12.1527.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.