Since 2022, I’ve been researching the causes of school dropouts in rural Cambodia. After reading Professor Taku Yamaguchi’s paper about Cambodian educational policies, I contacted him and he agreed to mentor me in my research endeavors. He guided me in formulating research questions, refining hypotheses, and structuring my first research paper. He also helped me with data collection from governmental files and interviews with lawyers as I began to produce qualitative literature reviews. I learned that Cambodian government policy plays a significant factor in student dropout, and yearly grade advancement exams lead 70% of students to drop out before finishing compulsory education; this inspired me to become interested in a career in policy.
Research Title: SCHOOL DROPOUT RATES IN RURAL CAMBODIA: POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIERS TO EDUCATION POLICY REFORM
8th International Young Researchers Conference Presentation
Presented my research at the University of Tokyo in December 2023
Research Paper: https://past.the-iyrc.org/annatakaif23.html
37th Annual Council on the UN Systems
Presented my research at the University of Tokyo and the UN University in June 2024
ACUNS 2024 Website: https://acuns.org/events/acuns-annual-meeting-2024/
2024 Program: https://mcusercontent.com/15eedde91a76e82b3f3b55931/files/e5c09458-9d91-164b-9098-471e5665a235/Final_Program_AM_2024_3.03.pdf
