PHNOM PENH: De Montfort, a leading British university, has opened its first-ever campus in Cambodia to contribute to enhancing the Kingdom’s human resources.

The grand opening ceremony of De Montfort University Cambodia was held here this morning under the presidency of Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, who had his education background in the UK, expressed his warm welcome to the presence of this university in Cambodia.

“I am so proud that De Montfort has decided to choose Cambodia as its first campus in South East Asia,” he underlined.

The Premier also shared some of his experience during his study in the UK, and highlighted the progress of the education sector in Cambodia.

Moreover, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet expressed the Royal Government’s commitment for the education development.

“I think that De Montfort’s decision to open its campus in Cambodia reflects the strong trust on investment in Cambodia and the purchase power of the education sector in the country,” he said.

The presence of De Montfort will be a catalyst for the higher education competition in Cambodia. This will add high value on the higher education in Cambodia.

According to Samdech Thipadei, when De Montfort University chose Cambodia as the place for its next branch campus, it did so recognising the value that Cambodia places on education and higher education. De Montfort University saw the impact education is making to the Kingdom’s development and the Royal Government’s continued focus on improving quality, increasing access, and promoting internationalisation. It also saw that we have a dynamic and engaged youth population. A youth population that is actively focused on their own development and importantly engaged with the communities they live in and broader society.

H.E. Dominic Williams, UK Ambassador to Cambodia said this university will play a role in providing skills that will power next stage of Cambodia’s development and build ties between UK Higher Education sector and be part of the world driving global growth and which will increasingly be at cutting edge of innovation – mutual benefit.