欧美视频

Dr. Chea San Chanthan, chancellor in charge of Pannasastra University of Siem Reap and overseeing international affairs, left,
and UCM President Roger Best complete a memorandum of understanding between UCM and Pannasastra University.

 

At first glance, a public university from west-central Missouri might seem an unlikely host for a well-attended educational networking reception in Phnom Penh. But in March, the 欧美视频 (UCM) brought together Cambodian government officials, U.S. Embassy representatives and leaders from some of the country鈥檚 most respected universities for a conversation about global partnerships and student opportunity.

 

The event was a highlight of UCM President Roger Best鈥檚 recent trip to Southeast Asia 鈥� a mission that combined new initiatives in Cambodia with renewed partnerships in South Korea. For Best, the trip wasn鈥檛 just about expanding UCM鈥檚 global footprint. It was a chance to explore how higher education, at its best, still builds bridges across borders.

 

鈥淲e know Cambodian students work hard, are motivated to learn and are curious, making them ideal candidates for study at UCM,鈥� Best said in remarks to The Phnom Penh Post. 鈥淲e also desire to partner with these wonderful institutions through dual degree and exchange programs so that we can provide opportunities for Cambodian students to study in the U.S., while sharing our resources and ensuring our partnership is beneficial to Cambodia.鈥�

 

That mix of openness, humility and purpose would define the trip 鈥� and offer a timely reflection on where UCM fits in a rapidly changing global higher education landscape.

 

Two countries, two missions

鈥淲e visited two countries on the same trip,鈥� Best said in a follow-up interview. 鈥淏ut we had very different reasons for going to each.鈥�

 

Joined by a university delegation that included Jeff W. Robertson, dean of the College of Health, Science and Technology; Phil Hull, director of International Student Services; Laura Searcy, coordinator of Exchange and Sponsored Programs; Kenneth Bias, chair of the Department of Early, Elementary, Middle and Physical Education; Sandy Cruz, director of Dual Credit for Online and Learning Engagement; Ryan Kim, program coordinator and assistant professor of Sport Management; and Greg Holz, international recruitment officer and former NGO leader who lived in Cambodia for 16 years, Best saw both need and opportunity in a country where the university already has longstanding ties.

 

Cambodia鈥檚 higher education system, Best explained, is relatively young, shaped in part by educators who returned from the United States to build American-style institutions in the aftermath of the Khmer Rouge era.

 

鈥淚t鈥檚 an emerging market when it comes to American-style education,鈥� Best said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a strong affinity for the United States. Many university leaders there were educated here.鈥�

He added that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet was the first person in his country to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

 

That Cambodian affinity for U.S.-style higher education translated into action. During this trip, UCM signed new memorandums of understanding with the Institute of Technology of Cambodia and Pannasastra University, and renewed a dual credit agreement with Pannasastra International School, which operates 27 K-12 campuses nationwide. Those agreements open the door to future student exchange, teacher development and dual degree pathways.

 

UCM鈥檚 model includes helping local high school teachers earn credentials to deliver UCM courses to students in secondary school.

 

鈥淚t鈥檚 professional development for their teachers, it鈥檚 an opportunity for education for their students,鈥� Best said. 鈥淚f they鈥檙e not yet qualified to teach college-level classes, we can help them get there.鈥�

 

The Cambodian leg of the trip included a visit to the Cambodian Children鈥檚 Fund, a school system built on the edge of Phnom Penh鈥檚 former city dump. The facility, founded by a former Hollywood producer, now offers housing and education to families emerging from extreme poverty.

 

鈥淭hey鈥檝e created a model that鈥檚 about dignity and structure,鈥� Best said. 鈥淲hen the producer first talked to the kids in that area, they weren鈥檛 asking for food or money 鈥� they were asking for education. There鈥檚 a hunger there for learning.鈥�

 

South Korea: A different kind of conversation

In South Korea, the agenda was more familiar. UCM has had partnerships with several institutions in Seoul for more than 15 years. These relationships have focused largely on exchange programs 鈥� students from South Korea coming to UCM for a semester or academic year 鈥� but Best saw room for growth.

 

鈥淲e reaffirmed those partnerships and also discussed faculty collaboration and dual degree programs,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ne of our partners even suggested creating a tri-national research conference that rotates between UCM, a South Korean university and one in Japan.鈥�

But what left the strongest impression was the scope of government investment in university research. South Korean institutions, Best noted, aren鈥檛 focused on revisiting old studies. They鈥檙e moving into the heart of what is known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution 鈥� artificial intelligence, health care innovation, advanced manufacturing 鈥� with significant national backing.

 

鈥淭his is stuff that is at our capability or beyond,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 came away from South Korea very impressed, and also a little concerned. Are we doing enough in the United States to sustain leadership in innovation? Other countries aren鈥檛 waiting around for us to figure it out. They鈥檙e moving forward.鈥�

 

Best wasn鈥檛 just speaking as a university president 鈥� he was reflecting as a citizen and educator. 鈥淚f I came away with any concerns from my international travel,鈥� he said, 鈥渋t was that.鈥�

 

A culture of quiet excellence

While international visits often come with press releases and enrollment goals, Best was quick to position UCM鈥檚 global work as an extension of its mission, not a publicity stunt. He鈥檚 also aware that UCM doesn鈥檛 have the size or marketing machine of a flagship university.

 

That hasn鈥檛 stopped international partners from taking notice.

 

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of respect for the research and applied learning we do,鈥� he said. 鈥淢any of these institutions know that our faculty are well-trained and active in their fields. They鈥檙e interested in collaborating because we bring something to the table 鈥� and we listen.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檙e historically a regional comprehensive university,鈥� Best said. 鈥淏ut we鈥檙e really good at what we do. The quality of education, the research, the faculty commitment, it鈥檚 there. We just don鈥檛 always tell the story.鈥� Best recalled learning about a major faculty achievement at UCM from a third party, not from the professor involved.

 

鈥淭hat鈥檚 part of our culture,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 always talk about the great things we do because we assume, well, that鈥檚 just the job.鈥�

 

It鈥檚 a culture that has earned UCM quiet respect abroad, and inspired internal reflection, too.

 

Global engagement, local impact

For Best, the value of these partnerships isn鈥檛 just outbound. Bringing the world to Warrensburg matters just as much.

 

鈥淲hen I first came to UCM in the 1990s, I was very impressed that we had so many students from other countries,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey brought a richness into the classroom that helped all of us think differently.鈥�

 

That impact is especially meaningful in Missouri, where many students haven鈥檛 had the chance to travel internationally.

 

鈥淏y having international students on campus, they experience new cultures without leaving home,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey make friendships across borders and expand their sense of the world.鈥�

 

Currently, UCM is Missouri鈥檚 top destination for international enrollment, with students from 58 countries. Rather than a headline statistic, it鈥檚 seen as part of the university鈥檚 broader commitment to global learning.

 

鈥淲hen students come to us, we want their time here to redefine what they believed was possible,鈥� Best said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen it happen over and over. Students find careers they never imagined. They discover new strengths. And they become leaders not just here, but in their communities around the world.鈥�

A Midwestern posture, a global perspective

After more than a week of visits, meetings and cultural exchanges, Best returned home reflective.

 

鈥淲e鈥檙e not a perfect country,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut we have a standard of living with a level of access to resources and support that鈥檚 often taken for granted. In countries where people have less, they鈥檙e often working harder just for a chance and they鈥檙e grateful for the opportunity when it comes.鈥�

 

That observation stuck with him and it shapes how UCM thinks about its role abroad. Not as a savior. Not as a brand. But as a partner.

 

鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to be complacent if you鈥檝e been in a leadership role for a long time,鈥� Best said. 鈥淏ut other nations aren鈥檛 waiting. They鈥檙e moving forward. And we need to be part of that, not just for our own students, but to help shape a better, more connected future.鈥�