Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Phnom Penh (Agenzia Fides) - Thanks to an agreement signed between the Royal Agricultural University and the Catholic Church in Cambodia, a new Institute for University Studies named after Saint Francis of Assisi has begun in the province of Takeo.
As members of the local Church recently reported to Agenzia Fides, an area of close to five acres of land that was purchased by the Catholic Church in 2006, has been the site for a cornerstone laying ceremony for the new Institute, performed in the presence of Cambodia’s Minister of Agriculture and the Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, Bishop Emile Destombes.
A university campus will be built on the site, including classrooms, library, nutritional research laboratory, and buildings for housing 100 students.
The Institute has already signed an agreement with the University of Singapore and will be able to offer a Licentiate Degree in “Science and Information Technologies.”
The Minister thanked the Church for its work in the education and formation of the younger generations. “However, our presence in this area is still minimal,” pointed out the project’s founder, Fr. Olivier Schmitthaeusler (MEP).
The Institute will be open to the youth of the provinces of Takeo, Kampot, Kep, and Kompong Speu and shows the contribution of the Church in offering the Cambodian nation a quality education, encouraging creativity and spirit of initiative, always with great respect for values and the dignity of the human person. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 29/4/2008; righe 20, parole 234)
