Background
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) is the national agency responsible for assessing and approving the academic recognition of foreign foundation-year programs in Cambodia.
Program recognition requires formal evaluation and approval through MoEYS procedures before foreign curricula can be treated as equivalent to domestic Foundation Year/Year 1 qualifications.
On 27 August 2026 MoEYS leadership received a delegation from Study International Cambodia and Kings Education UK to review the Kings Foundation Programme and discuss cooperation modalities. The delegation presented the Kings Foundation Programme framework, quality assurance mechanisms, progression pathways to UK and other international universities, and a proposal to teach the programme at NUM International Campus beginning September 2026.
Scope of Application
The review and potential recognition apply to the Kings Foundation Programme as proposed for delivery at NUM International Campus and will be considered under MoEYS evaluation and approval channels for equivalence to Foundation Year/Year 1 qualifications in Cambodia. MoEYS also discussed the possibility of a limited pilot implementation at the National University of Management (NUM) and exploratory trials at selected New Generation Schools (NGS), pending further planning and approvals.
Key Provisions or Decisions
Meeting participants introduced the Kings Foundation Programme curriculum, institutional experience since 1957, and quality assurance processes. Delegates and MoEYS discussed the prospect of recognizing the programme as equivalent to Cambodian Foundation Year/Year 1 status, subject to MoEYS assessment and formal approval. MoEYS recommended launching a pilot project at NUM to test delivery, monitoring, and learning outcomes before any broader recognition or scale-up.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
Foreign education providers seeking to offer foundation-year programs in Cambodia must submit documentation for MoEYS evaluation and may be required to participate in pilot arrangements before receiving formal equivalence recognition. Universities and private partners intending to host such programmes should prepare for MoEYS-led oversight, data collection for evaluation, and alignment with national quality assurance expectations.
Official Source
MoEYS social media post: https://www.facebook.com/moeys.gov.kh/posts/pfbid0RWS1T41M46NfgAqsrwwHy4MUrXJVq73ZRKvRdgig1sDgyXdH4MKQVpTjg7xgLEKul
