Today, we are witnessing increased innovation in agricultural education and agricultural business application. Higher agricultural education that emphasizes conventional agriculture has helped increase and modernize production, but it frequently falls short of addressing the interdisciplinary connected and impacts of climate change on agriculture and rural areas. Universities are thus ripe with opportunities to modify the curriculum and improve the prospects of farming as business to supply for food, and tourism.
Royal University of Agriculture (RUA), established in 1964, and based in Dangkor District, Phnom Penh is an outstanding academic institution that offers study programs which are quality-focused, cutting-edge, and competitive in both traditional and developing disciplines to fulfill current and future demands in the country and the region.
Vision & Mission of the University
RUA is the largest agricultural University in Cambodia which is working tirelessly to bring its 2030 vision to progressively achieve an international level, develop human resources equipped with knowledge, skills, professionalism, and high productivity to invent products and technology that meet the market needs. The university strives to be a significant contributor to Cambodia’s 2050 vision of becoming a high middle income country by 2030 and a high income in 2050, by imparting innovative education program, inventing new product and technology, which in turn will have a positive impact on other economically significant sectors as well.
“Universities play an important role in country’s economic growth via qualified graduates who will have a productive work performance and create jobs for others, and secondly through university research findings which will add value to the Agriculture value chain. Agriculture education, shall be modernized by incorporates 21st century skill and entrepreneurship into technical subject, by understand the concept, practice the concept and apply the concept in real world”, shares Dr. Ngo Bunthan, Rector, RUA.
Course & other Offerings
Nearly 40 years after the university's reopening in 1984, RUA has an extensive experience in teaching agricultural courses. RUA offers a broad spectrum of courses to build expertise in agriculture and related industries. RUA offers programs in Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Plant Protection, Animal Science, Veterinary Medicine, Forestry, Fisheries, Food Science and Technology,
Post-Harvest Technology, Food and Nutrition, Land Management, Engineering to Agricultural Economics and Community Development. Additionally, RUA collaborates closely with lower and upper secondary schools for provision of agriculture skills to the schools for their project learning practices and helps them to get income from the activities, as well as laying the foundation and assisting in the identification of talent for future university study. Furthermore, best agriculture practice can be also disseminated to their parent and communities.
Additionally, RUA collaborates with a wide range of line departments, ministries, industrial partners, and research and higher education institutions both domestically and overseas. It has further enhanced its capacity to a more robust education and research program deriving help from an investment project from the World Bank. RUA is embracing an adaptive learning system and transitioning to project-based learning. RUA has a human resource system within its third 10-year (2021-2030) strategy that enables academics and professional employees to get ready for their respective career trajectories. Each faculty member has a professional development plan with these options. With that drive and ongoing pedagogical and technical capacity development, students will gain from updated instructional pedagogical methodologies that are suitable for the circumstances in Cambodia. Furthermore, several educational facilities have been renovated and constructed, and there are current ongoing large construction projects for teaching, research, and student services.
Beyond academic offerings, RUA actively promotes scientific network and community linkage. RUA founded the National Conference on Rural Development and Agriculture (NCARD) in 2014, the Conference are annually take place and rotate host by the society member. Moreover, RUA regularly organizes summer schools, job fairs, international internships, and international conferences in cooperation with regional and global partners. In addition, with continuation of the improvement of teaching methodologies, student investment project are motivated and supported. These possibilities give students greater job and scientific community experience as well as increasing confidence and preparing them to an agriculture entrepreneur. The university also offers scholarships to deserving students to aid their educational expenses.
RUA wants to offer students the best education and training opportunities, equip them with the information, skills, and morals they need to be successful in the workforce
For future RUA wants to offer students the best education and training opportunities, equip them with the information, skills, and morals they need to be successful in the workforce, and conduct research for creation the technologies the market demands. “RUA is focusing on educating students to ensure they have abilities to do expected tasks of the profession at the workplace with adaptability skills that could respond to current labor market needs and to create a market in the future. Focus on research which generates technology and products to enhance the agriculture value chain and add value”, further adds Dr. Ngo Bunthan. In order to guarantee that graduates possess 21st-century skills, RUA is maintaining curriculum improvement and implementing the adaptive learning system.
Dr. Ngo Bunthan, Rector, RUA
Dr. Ngo Bunthan, Rector of RUA, has background in Agriculture Machinery, got his MS degree from Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) Thailand and PhD from RUA with joint program with Tokyo University of Agriculture (TUA) Japan. He started his career as an engineer, trainer, facilitator and researcher of the university and NGOs. He served as Cambodia representative to SEAMEO-SEARCA Council member and President of Rector Council of Cambodia (RCC). He is currently Deputy President of International Society of Environmental and Rural Development (ISERD).
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