Open House

A brand new university which is ambitiously trying to elevate the standard of university education in Cambodia has welcomed its first Cambodian visitors to its state-of-the-art building on Saturday for the occasion of Zaman University Open House 2010.

Zaman University has had received its official license signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen on 18 May 2010.

 

The university has the vision of becoming a prominent university in Cambodia, the region, and the world and being known for its academic excellence and producing quality human resources.

 

The Rector of Zaman University, Dr Erkan Polatdemir, has outstanding academic background. He obtained his PhD from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, specializing in Quantum Mechanics. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from Bogazici University, which is known as the top university in Turkey. He held various positions at Nanyang Technological University and Republic Polytechnic, both in Singapore, before joining Zaman University. His leadership will help bring about a highly intellectual environment at Zaman University through his sound selection of all the supporting faculty and administration members.

 

During the Open House event, visitors were toured in the building. Its cleanliness, tidiness and simple yet conducive environment seem to be the pulling factors for students and staff to join in.

 

The university has a great conference hall which can take up to 250 people.

 

Large and small classrooms and lecture theatres are designed for effective teaching and learning.

 

Writing boards are customized. The university also put smart boards in the classrooms for the benefits of students.

 

The university has an impressive computer and language lab. The computers are latest models “All-in-One” and according to the supplier, Zaman University is the first to purchase such computers in Cambodia.

 

The library has more than 3,000 titles and the number will reach to 5,000 before the university starts on 12 October. There are a number of All-in-One computers located in the library which will serve as e-library resources.

 

Every classroom has a projector but “network projector” which allows lecturers to use it over the network. They are ordered from Singapore and again according to the supplier, Zaman University is the first to use such projectors in Cambodia.

 

Canteen has a large area and in fact during the event, it was used as an enquiring and socializing place by the visitors.

 

Zaman University will accept students into 7 different departments in the academic year 2010-11: Civil Engineering, Banking and Finance, Business Administration, Computer Science, Graphic Design and Multimedia, Management of Information Systems, and English Language with a minor in teaching, business or IT.

 

However, students will go through a challenging and intensive English program in this academic year only. According to the Rector, in order for students to understand the lessons and resources well, to communicate well with their lecturers (mainly from overseas) and to write decent reports in English, their English language skills must be excellent.

 

Native English speaking lecturers who have years of experience and/or Masters in Teaching English as a second language are going to teach at the English Prep School. “Having qualified staff to improve and sharpen our students’ English language skills is just a beginning in elevating the quality of university education in Cambodia” said the Rector.

 

To help support students further, Zaman University will offer a number of merit-based scholarships to outstanding students who demonstrate high intellectual performance in the Scholarship Examination of Zaman University, which will be administered on 11 September 2010 at 10 am at Zaman University campus. For those who need financial aids are strongly encouraged to sit for the examination which is for free.