On November 9, 2017, Hiroshima University, welcoming 8 rectors/directors of royal universities in Cambodia to its Higashi-Hiroshima Campus, hosted an international symposium that combined an introduction of the 8 royal universities with a consideration of their current initiatives and future role within the ASEAN community.

The symposium, which was held as part of “PEACE” and titled “New Strategies and Challenges of ASEAN Community: Proposals from 8 Rectors of Royal Universities in Cambodia,” was convened at the Higashi-Hiroshima Campus, Hiroshima University. The event opened with a welcome address by Dr. Yasushi Maruyama, Vice President, Hiroshima University, followed by addresses by Mr. Hiroki Taura, Director for International Analysis, Higher Education Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology-Japan (MEXT) and by Dr. Takuya Baba, Dean, Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University.

The symposium continued with the keynote speeches by 8 rectors of royal universities in Cambodia as follows:

Dr. Bong Sovath, Rector, Royal University of Fine Arts

Dr. Chet Chealy, Rector, Royal University of Phnom Penh

Dr. Hor Peng, Rector, National University of Management

Dr. Luy Channa, Rector, Royal University of Law and Economics

Dr. Ngo Bunthan, Rector, Royal University of Agriculture

Dr. Om Romny, Director, Institute of Technology of Cambodia

Dr. Saphonn Vonthanak, Rector, University of Health Sciences

Dr. Thun Vathana, Director, Prek Leap National College of Agriculture

After the keynote speeches by the rectors, we had an open floor discussion, with Dr. Nith Bulay, Deputy Director General, Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Cambodia, as an invited discussant.

We hope that academic exchange as well as student exchange between HU and universities in Cambodia will continue to develop even more from this point forward.