Mardy Serey, Sereyrath Em, Rany Sam, Ganda Febri Kurniawan
This chapter analyzes the status of Cambodian higher education in global university ranking systems. This analysis specifically investigates the impact of ranking systems on governmental goals, institutional strategies, and the broader discourse surrounding quality and competition. The global emphasis on academic excellence, research output, and international prominence is reshaping goals for higher education in Cambodia. Despite Cambodian institutions’ absence from worldwide rankings like QS, THE, or ARWU, this lack of visibility does not deter the nation from advancing its higher education initiatives. This chapter critically examines the interaction between global measurements, often generated by Western organizations, and local reality in a post-conflict, low-income society. Furthermore, it examines how Cambodian institutions are initiating responses through policy reforms, capacity building, and engagement with regional organizations. © 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved.
Svay Rieng University, Cambodia; National University of Cheasim Kamchaymear, Cambodia; National University of Battambang, Cambodia; Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia
