Returning for Cambodia’s Development – Tes Rathnira

I return to Cambodia as an Australia Awards Scholarships alumna, filled with gratitude and excitement after completing my Master’s degree. This journey has been fundamentally transformative—both academically and personally. And I’m proud of the knowledge and confidence I’ve gained.

I was especially impressed by Australia’s holistic, child-centred approach to early learning. Seeing how play-based, nurturing environments boosted my daughter’s curiosity, confidence, and love of learning was inspiring and gave me practical ideas to support young learners back home.

My Master’s program strengthened my skills in research, policy analysis, and evidence-based decision-making. The emphasis on critical thinking and real-world application has prepared me to design rigorous research, evaluate policy options, and produce actionable recommendations on human rights and education.

I am committed to applying and sharing these learnings with my organisation and community in Cambodia. By promoting participatory, evidence-based approaches and mentoring others, I hope to contribute to stronger institutions and substantial improvements in education and human rights across the country.

Tes Rathnira

Master of Public Policy

Australian National University

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