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Readjustment of Returning Scholars: Experiences of Cambodian Researchers

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Abstract

Many developing countries prioritize sponsoring graduate students to study abroad to bring expertise and knowledge to their home country. However, the success of knowledge transfer depends on the extent to which returning graduates can utilize their potential at home. This study explores challenges faced by Cambodian scholars who obtained their Ph.D. degrees abroad and describes strategies they used to overcome them. In a home country environment with limited funding, over-bureaucratization, and low priority of university research, graduates see the value of their foreign Ph.D. degrees in teaching and consultation. It requires motivation and significant efforts to transition as researchers in such an environment. Returning scholars rely on networks with their peers abroad and supervisors, form local research societies, engage with graduate students at their universities to keep themselves active as researchers.

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Acknowledgments

Authors thank all participants of the study for sharing their experiences. This study was funded by Nazarbayev University Faculty Development Competitive Research Grant Program FDCRGP 2020-2022. The project title is: A comparative study of the transition of returning scholars to domestic research environments in Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Cambodia [240919FD3907].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan

    Aliya Kuzhabekova & Altyn Baigazina

  2. University of Calgary, Calagary, Canada

    Aliya Kuzhabekova

  3. Suleyman Demirel University, Kaskelen, Kazakhstan

    Kairat Moldashev

  4. Paragon International University, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

    Kairat Moldashev & Vichny Chanchem

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  1. Aliya Kuzhabekova
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  2. Kairat Moldashev
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  3. Altyn Baigazina
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Correspondence to Kairat Moldashev.

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Kuzhabekova, A., Moldashev, K., Baigazina, A. et al. Readjustment of Returning Scholars: Experiences of Cambodian Researchers. Minerva (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11024-024-09522-6

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