Local Community Engagement as a Pathway toward Sustainable Development through Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Cambodia

Abstract

Beyond teaching students sustainability concepts, HEIs can promote sustainable development by fostering the engagement of students with local communities in Cambodia. In this study, interviews with fifteen university leaders, and a survey of 720 students from 24 HEIs in Cambodia were conducted after the document analysis. They were used to inform a discussion about how HEIs engaged their students in social activities and local volunteer programs related to sustainability to this end. It was found that many HEIs engage students in sporadic environmental awareness campaigns, such as clean-up days; however, few engage students in long-term programs. Between 40% and 70% of students suggest that the low involvement in these programs is mostly dependent on their level of exposure to sustainability topics. The social development aspect of sustainable development was found to be the most interesting to students, followed by environmental, then economic sustainability. This implies that student involvement in engaging local communities may be maximized through university initiatives and policies designed to promote student volunteerism. Thus, HEIs should consider the development of a clear student supporting framework, which includes student engagement in service learning, the promotion of sustainability literacy, and incentives for students to volunteer.