Cambodian students can now study the humanities abroad through a joint “3 + 1” partnership

[July 20, 2026] — St. John’s College, the third-oldest college in America, with campuses in Annapolis, Maryland, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the Cambodia University of Technology and Science (CamTech), located in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, have partnered to offer a pathway for CamTech undergraduates to earn a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts degree through the St. John’s College Graduate Institute.

With a uniquely structured curriculum, classes at CamTech are offered full-time and year-round, allowing undergraduates to complete a bachelor’s degree in just three years. These students are then encouraged to spend their fourth and final year of university interning, studying abroad, or completing an entrepreneurial project. Through this “3 + 1” agreement, eligible CamTech students can now spend their fourth year at St. John’s College taking part in its distinctive, discussion-based Great Books program. Pending their successful application and admission to the St. John’s Graduate Institute, participants will complete four semesters of study in the liberal arts across distinct academic disciplines over the course of a single year (consecutive fall, winter, spring, and summer terms) while being eligible for a tuition discount.

“Amid a rapidly evolving educational landscape, we at St. John’s College believe that AI and emerging digital technologies are designed first and foremost for humans, by humans. Consequently, studying what makes us human through engaging in face-to-face conversation, reading the Great Books, and encountering ideas transmitted across cultures and generations is more important than ever,” says St. John’s College President J. Walter Sterling. “The Graduate Institute’s ‘3 + 1’ partnership with CamTech will provide a new generation of STEM students in Cambodia with the chance to experience our distinctive program of study while gaining a timeless global perspective through the liberal arts.”

CamTech offers a curriculum with a strong emphasis on STEM, artificial intelligence, robotics, data science, and emerging technologies. It balances these emerging—and continuously evolving—areas of study with a strong foundation in the liberal arts: all students at CamTech are required to study in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and the school’s institutional motto, “Knowledge, Reason, Character,” conveys the ethos that rational human thought and leadership should serve as guiding principles for Cambodia’s ever-expanding technological sphere.

“With an ever-changing world and increasingly complex problems, STEM education must be enriched by the liberal arts. Ethics for Engineers is a must because engineers do not just build or fix stuffs but deal with humans. CamTech’s Center for Buddhist AI Ethics was established to instill in our students with transferable skills and values to deal ethically with the inevitable uncertainty, ambiguity, and adversity in life. Education for jobs is necessary but more importantly for life and planet!” says Dr. Sothy Khieng, founding president of CamTech University.

The two institutions began discussing the prospect of a joint graduate exchange program in 2024 following a visit by President Khieng to the Annapolis campus, during which a Memorandum of Understanding was signed agreeing to explore potential academic partnerships and collaborations. In spring 2026, St. John’s College President Sterling, along with Annapolis tutor Emily Langston; Brendan Boyle, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs in Annapolis; and David Carl, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs in Santa Fe; signed a Memorandum of Agreement with CamTech University President Khieng; Dr. Phirom Leng, Vice President; and Dr. Chhem Kieth Rethy, Distinguished Professor of AI and Humanities; formally establishing the schools’ “3 + 1” Graduate Institute pathway. The partnership between St. John’s College and CamTech will launch in fall 2026, and the first students are expected in 2027.

The St. John’s College Graduate Institute offers three Master of Arts degrees: the Liberal Arts, exploring the classic texts of the West; Eastern Classics focused on texts of India, China, and Japan; and Middle Eastern Classics, exploring texts of Jewish and Islamic civilization. Typically, coursework for these degrees may be completed over the summer or during convenient evening hours in the fall and spring, in person at the college’s Annapolis or Santa Fe campuses or online through the low-residency program. Applications are currently being accepted for the fall term in 2026. For more details and to apply, visit sjc.edu/academic-programs/graduate.

ABOUT ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE

In an age of political division and digital distraction, St. John’s College offers the education America needs. Through close reading of 200 great books across 3,000 years—from Plato to Toni Morrison, Augustine to Charles Darwin, Euclid to Albert Einstein—students wrestle with the deepest questions of law, justice, freedom, and human good. At a time when many institutions chase trends, St. John’s returns to first principles. The third-oldest college in America, with campuses in Annapolis, Maryland, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, St. John’s is a refuge for civic renewal, civil discourse, and intellectual courage. Learn more about our undergraduate, graduate, and lifelong learning programs at sjc.edu.

ABOUT THE CAMBODIA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE (CAMTECH)

The Cambodia University of Technology and Science (CamTech University) is a private, not-for-profit, research-intensive university committed to advancing science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Cambodia. Through industry-driven education, applied research, and global partnerships, CamTech equips students with the knowledge, skills, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to address real-world challenges. The university offers multidisciplinary programs in engineering, technology, business, architecture, and applied sciences, while fostering innovation through research, industry engagement, startup incubation, and international collaboration. CamTech is dedicated to developing future-ready leaders who contribute to sustainable national and global development. Learn more at camtech.edu.kh.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Sara Luell, Senior Director of Communications and Operations, St. John’s College, sara.luell(at)sjc.edu

Ms. Kanika Krang, Head of student recruitment and PR, CamTech University, kanika.krang(at)camtech.edu.kh