By Song Sophoat
The Academic Foundation Department (AFD) of the University of Cambodia (UC) cordially hosted its Graduation Ceremony and Outstanding Awards’ Conferment for students in promotion eleven, term one of the academic year 2012-2013, on Saturday, 11 January 2014, at UC Conference Center. H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn (Minister Delegate Attached to Prime Minister, and the President of the University of Cambodia) and Dr. Y Ratana (Dean of Undergraduate Studies Division and AFD Director) presided over the ceremony.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Y Ratana gave a brief history of AFD and its objectives. Since its establishment in 2005, the AFD program has worked to provide the highest quality education for Cambodian students. The Academic Foundation Year courses aim to provide students with fundamental knowledge of different fields of studies. At the same time students from different colleges and backgrounds are given the opportunity to interact with one another, exchange experiences and knowledge to help diversify and enrich the learning experience for every student.
This year a total of 260 students graduated from AFD. Of these students 31 students received B+ grade, and received certificates of recognition for their outstanding performance along with certificates of completion of the Foundation Year Program. 18 out of 31 B+ students are female. Female students continue to do well during the academic foundation year when compared to male students. As for the rest of the students, 93 received Bs, 90 received C+s, 46 received Cs.
This is a big achievement, and thanks to UC’s academic leadership development of interesting curriculums and having dynamic instructors facilitating learning. Results from students’ evaluations showed that students were more than satisfied with the courses being offered. They could easily comprehend the materials being taught in the curriculum and found them to be useful and practical.
Dr. Y encouraged students to continue to work hard in order to get a better Grade Point Average (GPA).
But also to be actively involved in student life too, in order to be well-round society members. The University grading system is one of the toughest in the country to achieve an outstanding level.
“Learning is an endless process. One never
gets scientifi c knowledge within a single day.
Even if you have found knowledge within a
period of time, it does not mean you have
reached and found the ultimate. Learning
through sharing and giving to one another,
learning through discussion, experiment and
writing are seen as good methods for achieving
an end in the academic life. Therefore,
learning is not silent,” said Dr. Y.
H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn congratulated all AFD graduates on successfully passing one of the major milestones in their academic life. He mentioned that the first year of the Bachelor’s Degree program is a most difficult, when UC students at Academic Foundation Year Program have to overcome. UC students have to overcome many challenges to be successful. First, students have to study in a foreign language, not of their own mother tongue. Second, students have to learn or understand a vigorous academic program: the university system is unlike that of high school. And third, students have to learn to be young adults, responsible for time management, problem solving, and many other tasks. He encouraged all AFD graduates to learn as much as they can in order to achieve their Bachelor’s degrees.
He added that UC students have more opportunities to do well by the second or third year of their undergraduate program, because by then students have figured out the education system and work towards mastering the material being taught. The University helps students become proficient in English and provide ICT skills. With these tools different doors to the world can be opened. He advised all students that no matter what life’s challenges come your way,
to always have a positive frame of mind. Having good friends and family is essential. And, learning is a process that continues until the last days of your life. Students must take the opportunity to learn from many different kinds of great thinkers, leaders, scholars and educators here Cambodia and around the world.
Miss Long Davy (International Relations major in the College of Social Sciences) used four techniques be successful, which included planning, taking action, self-motivation, and self-assessment. She added that students need to understand who they are and what their goals are, put together a plan of action and putting their action plan into practice, be selfmotivated, be kind and share knowledge and experience, and be open-minded to learning from others. Miss Long spoke for all the students in thanking His Excellency Dr. Kao Kim Hourn (Minister Delegate Attached to Prime Minister and the President of the University of Cambodia) for his relentless search for scholarships for student educarion.
A successful academic life cannot be achieved alone. takes a combination of student’s effort, lecturers’ guidance, staff assistance, and family and friends encouragement to make it through UC’s rigorous academic program. In the end, we can say that we have done it.
