Language-in-education policy formation through a consultation-based system: The case of multilingual curricula in Cambodian universities

In the face of ASEAN regionalisation, foreign language education (FLE) in Cambodian universities has become a battlefield of different stakeholders representing varied interests. With languages playing significant roles in economic and political competition among ASEAN countries, scholars (e.g., Andy Kirkpatrick) called for research to investigate the negotiation process of language-in-education policies (LEP). With little prescription on its content except for gaining a consensus among different stakeholders, Cambodian FLE in tertiary education makes a unique case for investigating such LEP formation. This study captures the negotiation process, identifying the multiple stakeholders and their roles, and how key contextual features have contributed to it. This presentation draws on document research and on in-depth interviews with decision makers at a focal university at multiple levels of senior management (e.g., vice rectors), mid-leaders (e.g., heads of departments), and individual lecturers. By highlighting how the attempt to incorporate the demands of numerous stakeholders marginalises the needs of those taken for granted (i.e., students and university staff), it sheds light on the issues arising from a rare consultative system, an often-hoped-for approach, for developing LEP. Copyright © 2018 The 18th AsiaTEFL International Conference.