A chronology of activities to date includes ( 2009,2008,2007,
2006, 2004, 2003,
2002, 2001, 2000,
1999, 1998 ):
2009
October
2009 - Welcome Back Function for Australian Scholarship
graduates. The function was held at the Australian Embassy to
welcome back graduates who recently completed scholarships in
Australia as part of the Australian Government’s overseas aid
program. The function was sponsored by AusAID and hosted by the
Australian Ambassador, HE Margaret Adamson. The Welcome Back
Function aimed to highlight the accomplishments of the graduates
while in Australia and to raise awareness of their return to
respective workplaces in Cambodia, including reintegration into the
various Ministries. With their supervisors present, each graduate
gave a short introduction of themselves; and four
representative graduates gave a presentation on their experiences,
skills and knowledge gained while studying in Australia. Graduates
also spoke of the contribution they had made and hope to make
through their workplaces in the development of Cambodia.
August 2009 - Annual General Meeting (AGM).
At the AGM, the AAA-C Committee provided updates to members on
membership and the current financial position of the association.
The AGM also provided an opportunity for the Committee to hear from
members any suggestions and comments on the future direction of the
AAA-C.
July 2009 - Presentation on
“Leadership for Change” by the Honourable Geoff Gallop. This was an
IDP supported cocktail function. The Honourable Geoff Gallop is the
Professor and Director of the Graduate School of Government at the
University of Sydney. Prof. Geoff Gallop is also the former Premier
of State for Western Australia. The presentation was attended by
the Australian Ambassador, HE Margaret Adamson, Australian alumni,
and honourable guests from various Ministries and
organisations.
July 2009 - Presentation on
“ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA)” by Mr
Matthew Duckworth. This was an AAA-C function where Mr Matthew
Duckworth from DFAT (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade) of the Australian Embassy led discussions on the AANZFTA and
its implications for Cambodian and Australian businesses.
May 2009 - Buffet
dinner function. AusAID sponsored this function to launch the
Tracer Study for the Australian Scholarships. Alumni were informed
about the details of the Tracer Study and they were requested to
participate in the Tracer Study process.
April 2009 - Australian
Scholarships Launch. An evening function was hosted by the
Australian Ambassador, HE Margaret Adamson, at her residence on 02
April 2009 to launch “Australian Scholarships” for the 2009
selection round. Australian Scholarships include “Australian
Development Scholarships (ADS)", “Australian Leadership Awards
(ALA)" and “Endeavour Awards”.
January 2009 - Buffet
dinner function. The function was supported by IDP. This
function informed alumni about the stronger focus on
Monitoring and Evaluation in the new phase of the Australian
Scholarships program.
2008
December 2008 -
Christmas and Farewell function. This
AusAID-sponsored function was held on 11 Dec 2008 at the
Sunway Hotel. This function was to farewell Australian Scholarships
students who were departing to study in Australia in early 2009.
Australian Embassy and Ministry representatives were also
present.
October 2008 - Annual
General Meeting (AGM). The AAA-C committee election was held in the
ACE auditorium. Nine committee members were elected in total and Dr
Kieng Rotana was elected as AAA-C President to serve for the
period 2008-2010.
August 2008 - Buffet
dinner function. Two speakers shared their insights on Cambodia's
economic development and poverty. Mr Neak Samsen from the World
Bank (Cambodia) spoke on “The Cambodian National Poverty Line” and
Mr Chea Huot, an Australian alumnus, spoke on “Recent Economic
Development of Cambodia”.
2007
August 2007 - Informal buffet dinner. General
Sanderson (former UNTAC Commander and now Austcare Ambassador to
Cambodia) addressed alumni “Perspectives on Changes in Cambodia
since UNTAC”. Dr Sok Touch also gave a briefing on the dengue fever
situation in Cambodia at the function.
June 2007 - Farewell dinner function. IDP
hosted this function for students in the Peace Scholarship program.
Four students from RUPP were farewelled. Three students were
sponsored by IELTS Australia to study for two semesters each at
either the University of Tasmania or Macquarie University. The
fourth student was sponsored by the University of Newcastle to
study at that university.
June 2007 - Buffet dinner. This Australian
Scholarships function was hosted by the new Australian Ambassador,
HE Ms Margaret Adamson, at the Ambassador’s residence with a public
presentation given by Prof Geoff Gallop, Director of the Graduate
School of Government, University of Sydney “Strategic Planning in
Government.”
2006
November 2006 - Buffet dinner. Sponsored by
AusAID, the dinner was to promote the new concept of the Australian
Scholarships “ Investing in Australia ’s Future ”. The function was
attended by HE Ms Lisa Filipetto, Australian Ambassador, AAA-C
Committee members, HE Por Try, Secretary of State, Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, HE Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister
of Women's Affairs, and many other representatives from embassies
and IO/INGOs.
September 2006 - Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The AAA-C committee election was held in the ACE auditorium. There
were nine committee members elected in total and Dr Sok Touch was
elected as AAA-C President for a second term.
August 2006 - Buffet dinner function. Several
people spoke. Dr Sok Touch, AAA-C President and Dr Sorn San, Head
of NAPIC, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries presented
“The Bird flu risk in Cambodia”. Dr Kieng Rotana provided
information on the upcoming AGM for the AAA-C. Ms Kathryn Elliott,
2nd Secretary, Development Cooperation, Australian Embassy
presented “Key Features of the Australian Leadership Awards
(ALA)”.
July 2006 - Farewell dinner function. IDP
hosted this function for students in the Peace Scholarship program.
Three students from RUPP and one from RUA were farewelled. Three
students were co-sponsored by IELTS Australia and IDP Education to
study for two semesters at the University of Tasmania and Edith
Cowan University. One student was sponsored by the University of
Newcastle to study at the University of Newcastle.
February 2006 - Informal buffet dinner. Joined
by representatives from South Australian universities including the
University of Adelaide, Flinders University and the University of
South Australia. The three Adelaide area universities profiled
studying in Adelaide. The function was sponsored by the three
universities and IDP.
2004
November 2004 - Dinner. This function had three
purposes. The association welcomed HE Ms Lisa Filipetto, Australian
Ambassador as its new patron. The AAA-C also welcomed back to
Cambodia the ADS graduates who had returned to Cambodia in 2003 and
2004. Finally, Dr Stephen FitzGerald, Australia’s first
Ambassador to China, presented "The relationship between
strong public administration and successful reform and
development".
October 2004 - Annual General Meeting. Election
for the third committee to represent the AAA-C. Ms Boua Chanthou
retired, after two terms as President. Dr Sok Touch was elected as
President.
May 2004 - Informal buffet dinner. Presentation
by Dr Kieng Rotana (MPH, UNSW)"Higher Education in Cambodia".
Presentation by Mr Chea Huot (MBA, UOW) "Issues in WTO entrance for
Cambodia".
March 2004 - Dinner. A ‘welcome back’
function for ADS graduates who undertook pre-departure
training in Cambodia in 2000 and 2001. 2004 pre-departure students
were invited to this function. Informal networking.
February 2004 - Informal buffet dinner.
Presentation by Dr Vin McNamara, consultant to the World Bank
"Education at the coal face; the Education Quality Improvement
Project (EQIP"). Presentation by Mr Mike Ratcliffe, consultant to
the Asian Development Bank "Education policy and overview; the
Education Sector Support Program (ESSP)".
2003
September 2003 - "Recognition Ceremony" at the
Royal University of Phnom Penh. 73 Cambodian alumni of Australian
universities were presented with certificates of acknowledgement
by HE Ms Annabel Anderson, Australian Ambassador. This
function was attended by HE Keat Chhon, Senior Minister and
Minister for Economy and Finance and several other high-ranking
Ministry Officials and representatives of the Royal Government of
Cambodia.
August 2003 - Annual General Meeting. Members
voted to introduce a membership fee in 2004.
July 2003 - Informal buffet dinner at the home
of Mr Ian Kidd. A welcome to Ms Kate McMahon and Ms Judith
Fairburn, being employed by IDP to assist alumni with CV writing,
to organise a second alumni recognition ceremony and to continue
documenting contributions to development by alumni.
June 2003 - Informal buffet dinner. A joint
function with the Australian Business Association of Cambodia
(ABAC) . Presentation by Mr David Howes, Secondary Curriculum
Specialist "Developing the Secondary Education Sector in
Cambodia".
April 2003 - Dinner. Function sponsored by
AusAID. Celebration of contributions to development by alumni in
the field of agriculture (results of IDP-commissioned research).
The function was attended by HE Ms Louise Hand, Australian
Ambassador, HE Ly Thuch, Minister of Rural Development, HE Teng
Lao, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Agiculture, Forestry and
Fisheries and Dr Peter Core, Director of the Australian Centre for
International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
2002
December 2002 - Dinner. Presentation by Mr Mak
Ngoy (MEd, UNE), Deputy Director of Higher Education, Ministry of
Education, Youth and Sport "Issues in regulating higher education".
Presentation by Mr Hang Chhaya (MSc, VUT), Natural Resource
Planner, Mekong River Commission "The new environmentalism; Can
Cambodia adapt?".
October 2002 - Annual General Meeting. Election
for the second committee to represent the AAA-C. Ms Boua Chanthou
was re-elected as President.
September 2002 - Australian Universities
International Alumni Convention in Melbourne, Australia. IDP
sponsored HE Uch Kim An, Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and International Cooperation and three AAA-C members to
attend. HE Uch Kim An spoke about Cambodia’s re-integration into
the international community in a panel with the Malaysian Minister
for Agriculture entitled "Communities in the Asia Pacific".
September 2002 - BBQ at Australian Embassy
Residence Compound. This function was sponsored by the Australian
Ambassador.
July 2002 - Dinner. Presentation by Mr. Bou
Chanphirou (MBA, UTS), Chief of the ASEAN Office, Ministry of
Commerce "Cambodia's progress in ASEAN". Presentation by Mr. Ke
Sovann (MBA, Deakin), Chief of WTO Office, Ministry of Commerce
"The case for Cambodia joining the WTO".
April 2002 - Family BBQ at Australian Embassy
Residence Compound. This function was sponsored by AusAID. Members
of the Australian Business Association of Cambodia (ABAC) were
invited. Informal networking.
February 2002 - Dinner. Official Launch of
AAA-C and celebration of contributions to development by alumni in
the field of health. The function celebrated the signing of a
letter acknowledging the AAA-C by the Co-Ministers of the Ministry
of Interior. It also celebrated work carried out by Cambodian
graduates from Australian universities in the health sector
(results of IDP-commissioned research). IDP sponsored a visit by
members of the Malaysian chapters of two institution-specific
alumni associations - of ANU and UniSA. Informal exchange of views
with AAA-C committee on organisational aspects of an alumni
association.
2001
December 2001 - Dinner. Presentation by Dr Tia
Phalla (MPH, UNSW), Secretary-General, National AIDS Authority
"AIDS in Cambodia".
October 2001 - Dinner. Presentation by Mr Ngin
Chhay (MBA, UQ) "Integrated Pest Management in Cambodia".
June 2001 - Dinner. Presentation by HE Sok
Siphana (PhD candidate, USQ), Secretary of State, Ministry of
Commerce "Children's Rights in Cambodia and how they relate to the
Garment Industry". Presentation by Dr Tan Try (MPH, UNSW) "UN
activities in the area of Children's Rights".
March 2001 - Dinner. After an earlier
competition, the AAA-C logo was voted upon and selected.
2000
December 2000 - Dinner. Christmas function to
celebrate a successful year.
September 2000 - First meeting of the alumni
group to elect the first formal committee to a two-year term. Mrs
Boua Chanthou was elected as President.
August 2000 - Australian Universities
International Alumni Convention in Kuching, Malaysia. IDP sponsored
the President of the Interim Committee to attend and represent
Cambodian alumni.
July 2000 - Dinner. Representatives of the
International Business Club (IBC) and the Australian Business
Association of Cambodia (ABAC) were invited. Informal networking.
Presentation by HE Sok Siphana (PhD candidate, USQ), Secretary of
State, Ministry of Commerce "The business climate in Cambodia in
the year 2000".
June 2000 - Informal buffet dinner.
Presentation by Dr Elizabeth Evatt and Professor Hilary
Charlesworth "Understanding Human Rights".
May 2000 - Dinner. Representatives of
prominent, international NGOs in Cambodia were invited.
Presentations by various representatives about the role of their
particular NGO in Cambodia. Informal networking.
March 2000 - Informal buffet dinner at the home
of Dr Vin and Mrs Avis McNamara. Pre-departure (ADS) students were
invited. Informal networking.
January 2000 - The interim committee met
several times to draft a charter for the intended association.
1999
December 1999 - Two informal meetings were held
to discuss how to formalise the group. In the second meeting, an
interim committee was elected.
November 1999 - Reception at the Residence of
the Australian Ambassador. IDP hosted a visit by the President and
a committee member of IKAMA (Indonesian Alumni Association). Dr
Hanafi Sofyan (IKAMA President) and Ms Tina Sutanto (IKAMA
Committee Member) worked with interested Cambodian alumni
exchanging ideas on how to establish a meaningful alumni
association in Cambodia.
September 1999 - Dinner. Australian Youth
Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) were invited. Youth Ambassadors
explained their jobs in Cambodia. An evening of information
exchange.
July 1999 - Dinner. Presentation by Mr Roland
Rich, Director, Centre for Democratic Institutions (CDI) "The Case
for Democracy".
March 1999 - "Recognition Ceremony" at the
Royal University of Phnom Penh. 50 Cambodian alumni of Australian
universities were presented with certificates of acknowledgement by
Professor Di Yerbury, President of the Board of IDP Education
Australia. Officiating at the ceremony were HE Malcolm Leader,
Australian Ambassador and HE Im Sethy, Secretary of State, Ministry
of Education, Youth and Sport. IDP hosted a cocktail party at the
Hotel Inter-Continental later that evening.
1998
December 1998 - Dinner. Pre-departure class of
Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) awardees were invited. An
evening of information exchange.
October 1998 - Dinner. Presentation by Mr Bill
Costello, First Secretary (Development Cooperation), Australian
Embassy "Australian Aid to Cambodia and the Process of Formulation
and Implementation".
August 1998 - First gathering of alumni.
Inaugural Dinner at the Residence of the Australian Ambassador, HE
Malcolm Leader. Around 35 alumni attended.