Phnom penh: Universit© Paris-Panth©on-Assas, in partnership with the Universit© Francophone d'Asie (UFA), has announced the launch of a bachelor's degree in Management and Business Administration in Phnom Penh, set to begin in September 2026, marking a significant step in expanding francophone higher education in Southeast Asia.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the programme is designed to meet the growing demand for high-quality French-language education in the region and will be open to French-speaking students from across Southeast Asia. UFA, a newly established institution backed by Cambodian group OCIC and supported by the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), brings together academic excellence, strong local foundations, and an extensive global network of francophone universities to ensure high standards of education.
Fully aligned with the academic standards of its Paris campus, the three-year programme will offer a comprehensive curriculum in management and business administration. Graduates will receive a degree awarded by Universit© Paris-Panth©on-Assas, recognised internationally. Courses will be delivered by a mix of visiting professors from France and resident lecturers in Phnom Penh. The programme will be taught in both French and English to support diverse student backgrounds, with a possible foundation year for those needing to strengthen their French language skills.
Admissions will be based on application dossiers and are primarily aimed at students from French or francophone secondary schools who hold a baccalaureate or equivalent qualification. Speaking on the initiative, Professor Jean-Baptiste Welt©, Co-director of the Bachelor programme in Phnom Penh, said the partnership would offer students in Asia access to high-quality French higher education while opening pathways to careers in the regional job market or further studies in France.
Echoing this view, Mr. Amaury de Saint Blanquat, Co-founder of UFA, highlighted the practical benefits for families, noting that the programme allows students to begin their higher education in Asia under strong academic conditions while remaining close to home and maintaining opportunities to pursue Master's degrees abroad. The launch comes at a time of rising demand for higher education in Southeast Asia, alongside the continued expansion of francophone school networks in the region.
It also coincides with Cambodia's hosting of the Francophonie Summit in 2026, giving the initiative added symbolic significance for the promotion of French-language education and cooperation in the region.