ABSTRACT
This chapter documents how internationalization in Cambodia, particularly its membership in an economic alliance, has caused a demand for English language proficiency, as shown in national policy documents and university-level job and scholarship notices. It tracks the impact of choices related to the medium of instruction at the university, particularly in light of limitations in resources and the desire to support the Khmer language. After 1993, Cambodia began to see a growing influence of the English language, particularly in its education system. In 1999, Cambodia joined Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an alliance currently comprising 10 countries. In 2015, Cambodia was integrated into the ASEAN Economic Community, where goods and labor are allowed to flow freely among member states. The chapter discusses three important contexts for the policy decisions on the medium of instruction in Cambodian higher education: the development scholarships provided to Cambodian students, the economic integration of the ASEAN nations, and the internationalization of the university.
