On 7 October 2019 ASCI Cambodia Satellite Campus, Nagoya University, held its entrance ceremony for the Transnational Doctoral Programs for Leading Professionals in Asian Countries. This program was established in 2014 with the purpose to contribute to human resource development in developing Asian countries. It is unique in a sense that the students who already hold Master degrees can pursue their PhD studies in their home countries without leaving their jobs. In Cambodia, since its inception we have so far received 21 PhD students and five of them have already graduated. Upon their graduation, many of them got promotion to more responsible positions in the government.
This year marked the sixth-year anniversary of our doctoral degree program in Cambodia. Four students were admitted to three graduate schools. Among them, two are admitted to the Graduate School of Bio-agricultural Sciences, one to the Graduate School of Law, and one to the Graduate School of International Development.

1. Mr. MAM Somony, Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Production of the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, is admitted to the Graduate School of Bio-Agricultural Sciences.
2. Mr. UCH Chanthol, Senior Manager at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Cambodia Office, is admitted to the Graduate School of Bio-Agricultural Sciences.
3. Mr. SOY Kimsan, Director of the Center for Study of Humanitarian Law at the Royal University of Law and Economics, is admitted to the Graduate School of Law.
4. Mr. HEANG Soyaro, Senior Specialist for Public Financial Management Reform Program of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, is admitted to the Graduate School of International Development.

The Entrance Ceremony started with the Opening Remarks from Professor ISODA Fumio, Director of Asian Satellite Campuses Institute, Nagoya University. He explained the importance of the program and how it can contribute to the development of human resources development in Cambodia. It later followed by the greetings from Mr. SUZUKI Hironori, Counselor of the Embassy of Japan to Cambodia and Dr. NGO Bunthan, Rector of the Royal University of Agriculture.
 
Representing each graduate school to deliver the welcome remarks, Dr. AIKYO Yuji from the Graduate School of Law, Dr. TSUCHIKAWA Satoru from the Graduate School of Bio-Agricultural Sciences, and Dr. SOMEYA Masakazu from the Graduate School of International Development, expressed their warm welcome to the new students and offer some tips on how to successfully finish their study within the designated timeframe.
 
Taking this opportunity, superiors of the new students were also invited to the entrance ceremony. As working students holding responsible positions in each respective affiliation, this PhD study is never easy without the understandings and supports from their superiors. During the speeches by new students, they expressed their excitement with this new journey but also commitment to the new challenges facing them ahead. Witnessing this event, we reaffirm our confidence that this Transnational Doctoral Programs for Leading Professionals in Asian Countries of Nagoya University will contribute to human resource development of Cambodia and help strengthen the tie between the two countries.