Learning and Teaching Methods for Self-Development

Saturday should be a free day! My mum said:)

Though, I decided to join a meeting organized by Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) of Cambodia. It was a gathering of International Academy for Leadership in Germany’s Alumni and other interested guests from governmental and non-governmental organizations, especially, the academic institutions. Thanks FNF for proposing this meeting.

Between that, I appreciated Dr. Yang Saign Koma’s presentation on “Learning and Teaching Methods for Self-Development”. He provided 7 inspiring concepts:

1. “Learn for yourself, not for others”

2. “No one can teach you unless you are willing to”

3. “Do not only try to learn by heart”

4. “Do not only focus on a specific skill, but other social skills”

5. “Try to work and learn in team”

6. “Learn from others, especially the experienced and inspirable figure”

7. “Teach other of what you have learnt”

Dr. Yang Saign Koma

President of CEDAC

Former FNF PHD Scholarship holder

What are the concepts about? What have I had learn?

1. The more we learn, the more we know. It is a way to improve ourselves through learning. Do not wait other to order or ask you to read or study hard. Be proactive!

2. Grammatically, “Learn” is a verb. So we need to do an action. Unless we commit ourselves to learn, it is useless for others to push us. Only when we are willing to do so, we can achieve it.

3. There are three learning style: learning by heart, learning by practice, and learning by analytical thinking. Currently, our education system is adjusted to learning by heart. Therefore, it is necessary that we should change our attitude to be more proactive and critical thinkers.

4. Try to read more and be aware of general knowledge rather than sticking to a point of view.

5. “Many heads are better than one”. Our plan is kept improving by sharing with others. Also we can build our social communication and characters. Competency without Character, we fail. But Competency with Character, we will achieve our goal.

6. A model or a public figure can help to inspire our life. For example, there are two inspiring models of mine. One is the King Javaraman VII who had high leadership and spiritual commitment to his own people. Another one is Gandhi. His concept of “Non-Violence” and struggling character impressed me the most.

7. Try to build leaders surrounding you. Do not afraid that others will be better than you. It will not decrease your ability, but it even help to improve your knowledge and capacity. We will create a multiplied impact.

Question of thoughts from the training:

- What do you see differences between (8+2 = 10) & (10 = 8+2)?

- What have your teachers teach you? And what have you had learnt from them?

- Asked yourself what do you want to see yourself in the next 10 years?

Will building more universities help?

Way to help for Job prospect:

Improve Educational System and Set up Internship Programs

I was skeptical to what the educational official claiming to avoid social problems resulting from youth unemployment was to open more private universities (Cambodia Daily, Friday Sep 07 2007, “Recent Graduates Find Job Prospects Are Bleak”). It means that we only focus on physical infrastructure rather than systems that help improving the students’ ability and morality. Even though we have million universities, it would not help to rectify the social problems and reduce unemployment rate if the systems of ignorance and poor quality of education still exists within the universities. The system of teacher-centered is still practiced and there is no mechanism to help envision these students. Most of graduated students even do not know what their specialization is, job market, and their future plan.

Setting up Internship program in university curriculum will help students to experience social works. The Education Department should attempt to cooperate with all universities to improve educational system and provide sufficient vocational training through internship program, so that students are capable to work effectively and efficiently after their completion. Ultimately, the end result is attributing to reduce unemployment and bring economic and social development.

Recent Graduates Find Job Prospects Are Bleak

This article is reprinted with the permission from The Cambodia Daily. No part of this periodical may be reproduced in print or electronically, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without written permission from the publisher of the Cambodia Daily. Copyright 2007 by The Cambodia Daily.