Norton University

HISTORY

Norton University is the first private university in Cambodia, established on December 2, 1996 by Professor Chan Sok Khieng. It started to offer classes in December 1996 and was recognized as a university by sub-decree on September 18, 1997. The institution was formally inaugurated in a ceremony on February 28, 1997 attended by Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Royal Kingdom of Cambodia. 

A further sub-decree, No. 47 by the Royal Government of Cambodia, dated of July 25, 2000 approved its reformation, giving it the “rights and privileges” to “open faculties, departments, and conduct postgraduate degree courses or any professional courses as required for the society and the country”. The Graduate School started in 2001 in affiliation with the Ateneo de Zamboanga University of the Philippines. The diplomas for the first two MBA classes were signed by the President of Norton University and the Ateneo de Zamboanga University respectively. In 2001 NU awarded its first Bachelor's Degrees to 453 graduates of Business, Economics, Law and Computer Science.

VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT

Vision 

Norton University aspires to be an internationally respected university producing competitive

professionals, who will contrib­ute to the social and economic well-being of Cambodia and to the international communities. Norton niversity aims to produce qualified and professional human resources for Cambodia, which will preserve the Country's heritage and values while fostering a spirit of inquiry and the advancement of knowledge and understanding. 

Mission 

Norton University seeks to produce graduates who are: 

1. Entrepreneurial 

2. Competitive profes­sionals who are ready to face the challenges of the future: 

   ● computer literate    

  ● outstanding commu­nicator (especially using the English language) 

   ● skilled in their chosen area of major studies, and 

   ● able to establish and maintain good interpersonal .relationships 

3. Highly employable professional, whose skills are relevant to the labor market. 

4. Adaptable to apply their skills in new or emerging areas. 

5. Creative and independent thinker, who are able to engage in research. 

6. Persons that value higher learning and possess a spirit of inquiry. 

7. Propagator of peace, justice and development. In order to produce such graduates, Norton University commits itself to: 

The Students - by continuously providing high quality academic services that complemented with research-based pedagogy, facilitat­ing and managing independent learning, preserving traditional Khmer values and culture, and inculcating and developing national pride 

The Staff - by pursuing personal and academic development for both academic and non-academic staff and; 

The Nation - by promoting peace, justice and development and reinforcing mutually beneficial links to the local and international community.

GOAL AND OBJECTIVE OF NORTON UNIVERSITY

In order to be a university as set out in the mission statement, NU has identified a series of high level goals and objectives that form the basis for its internal strategic planning as well as indicating to the government and the community how the university intends to meet and sustains its profile and exceeds the minimum requirements for accreditation as a university. 

Accordingly, the University is making it a priority to build its strength and resources. To this end, it can already demonstrate that it has the capability to teach and to lead students in learning at the level of higher education. This capability is constantly being honed. 

The University is firmly focused on increasing the diversity of its programs at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. A clear intent is to increase the proportion of its postgraduate to undergradu­ate students.

INTERNATIONALIZATION

A long-term goal of NU is to be accepted in the international community of universities. It actively pursues international contacts with overseas universities, government bodies, international agencies and non-governmental organizations for collaborative purposes, including students and faculties exchange, joint research and training programs, and other types of academic cooperation. 

NU has signed MOUs with oversea universities like Bangkok University (Thailand), Ateneo de Zamboanga University (Philippines), Monash University (Australia), and University of Northumbria (England) and has cooperation with Auckland University of Technology (Newzeland), Malaya University (Malaysia) , AIM (Philippines) , Assumption University (Thailand), George Washington (USA), ECU (Australia), and the School of Economics of London University (England). The links with these foreign universities were formed to promote human resource develop­ment, exchange information and resources, joint projects, quality assurance, research, and students and staffs exchange. A vital part of Norton University's policy of internationalization is student exchange, and NU wel­comes international students from all backgrounds. Moreover, its teaching staff includes many members from a good number of countries, whose combined professional make a vital contribution to the vibrant international atmosphere in the university. The lecturers, most of whom have gone through higher education leading to Master's or Doctoral degrees, share their vast knowledge and techniques to their students and facilitate their learning to become future leaders or even pioneers in their own field. 

NU is also committed to contribute to the advancement of knowledge through research and scholarship which encourage its teaching and learning, and in this regard the faculty is encouraged to actively engage in research and publish their research outputs.

Finally, in line with its goal to join the international community of universities, NU is commit­ted to becoming a repository of knowledge and expertise, a defender of academic freedom, and to assuming the role of critic and conscience of Cambodian society. 

Courses provided by NU are designed to provide students a broad knowledge in each field of study, operational, analytical, management and leadership skills, thus strengthen students' abilities to compete in the labor market and cope with the development of technology. 

The academic programs focus on both the local language and English. The first and second year students' classes are conducted bilingually while classes for the third and fourth year students are conducted in English. Aside from increasing students'

Self-development and capability, this helps students who like to pursue their degrees abroad.

GOVERNMENT RECOGNITION

Norton University was formally founded as a university by sub-decree on September 18, 1997 and a further sub-decree of July 25, 2000 approved its reformation, giving it the “right and privileges” to open faculties, departments, and conduct postgraduate and doctoral degree courses or any professional courses as required by the society and the country. On July 25, 2000, the Norton University diplomas (degrees) were also accredited by the Ministry of Education. 

On August 31, 2007 our Foundation Year Course received full accredita­tion from ACC, allowing NU to issue certificates to students who successfully completed Foundation Year Course in 2006-2007, 2007­-2008, 2008-2009, and the following academic years. The ACC is a governmental institution under the authority of the Council of Ministers. The main objective of

 this institution is to promote the quality of higher education in Cambodia.