The UK’s Oxford University Press, a department of the University of Oxford, has launched a ‘whole-school approach’ curriculum designed for future readiness, aiming to shape tomorrow’s leaders among students in Cambodia aged two to 19. 

The initiative encompasses the Oxford International Curriculum and OxfordAQA International Qualifications.

Luke Sweetman, head of global partnerships at Oxford, explained that education for the future is far beyond just the acquisition of knowledge, saying that students need to build resilience, be equipped with the right skills and be adaptable to navigate the demands and requirements of future job markets. 

“We are excited to bring the Oxford International Curriculum and OxfordAQA International Qualifications here to Cambodia. With this whole-school approach, I am confident students will reach their full potential with a fully comprehensive curriculum, world-class resources, quality professional development and internationally recognised qualifications,” he said at the launching ceremony on August 6. 

British ambassador to Cambodia Dominic Williams highlighted his support for the programme, saying that education is a top priority for the UK in Cambodia. 

“We believe the UK has a lot to offer, especially through educational institutions like Oxford which help young Cambodians develop the skills they need to secure good jobs and support the country’s remarkable development. 

“I have no doubt that students, and more broadly education in Cambodia, will benefit greatly from the strength of Oxford’s commitment to working here, in partnership with schools. I am excited to see the progress of this new initiative,” he said at the event.   

Khuon Vichheka, provisional general director of teacher education at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, highlighted Oxford’s approach, noting that it sparks curiosity and propels students beyond the “what” and into the “why”.

“Through project-based learning, it empowers students to tinker, experiment and create. This is crucial as Cambodia moves towards becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050. 

“Oxford seamlessly integrates well-being and sustainability into core subjects and equips them with more than knowledge; it gives them adaptability, empathy and global citizenship. Our students are not just learners; they are stewards of our shared humanity,” she said.

Vichheka emphasised the ministry’s support for the collaboration.

The initiative comes at a time when Cambodia is undergoing rapid transformation and the demand for high-quality international education is on the rise, said the British embassy in Cambodia in an August 6 press release. 

It said the programme aims to meet this demand and contribute to the ongoing improvement of education standards in the country. 

According to the release, the curriculum was first introduced in 2021 and is being used by over 100 educational institutions worldwide and is now available for schools in Cambodia.  

It is designed to develop global skills and attitudes through all core subjects such as English, science, maths, computing, global skills projects, well-being and sustainability from early years to lower secondary. 

The curriculum’s year-on-year progression is designed to prepare learners for international General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSEs), Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and Advanced levels (A-levels), as per the release.

It said these exams, benchmarked to UK standards, are designed specifically to meet the unique needs of international students and build future-facing skills. 

“These examinations also prioritise subject-specific skills over cultural knowledge and language proficiency, aligning with OxfordAQA's unique fair assessment principles which emphasise internationally relevant content and design. 

“This means that students outside the UK, and for whom English is an additional language, can be confident they can understand what is being asked of them,” it added.