Norton University has developed a creative innovation to ensure its thousands of students can enjoy education with peace of mind when it reopens its doors.

As education institutions, students and parents grapple with the fallout of the unprecedented Covid-19 outbreak which has shaken the learning sector, the university has introduced the “NU Mixed Model Teaching and Learning” so its students are taught safely.

The concept was developed Dr Ung Vannthoeun, vice rector and the dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Norton University, which is located in Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changvar district.

The teaching components include realtime and offline communication between tutors and students.

Realtime teaching will be instructed through applications like Zoom, Google Meet, Youtube and Facebook, which will allow students to fulfil the requirements of their scheduled classes.

Learning will also take place via the Google Classroom, Schoology, Wiki School and Class Dojo digital platforms, which have become vital teaching tools in Norton University’s distant learning programme.

While the main components of education will remain heavily reliant on textbooks, this form of home study will play an important part in teaching and research for both students and tutors.

The university’s management has a tailored scoring system in place to aid the strengthening of class attendance and students’ interactional activities.

All tutors have restructured their teaching plans to avoid close contact with students to prevent the spread of the virus, while measures have been taken to avoid crowding on campus.

After every virtual lesson, lecturers will assess students to ensure they have complete comprehension, as well as to guarantee full attendance.

Staff at the university will be responsible for ensuring all classes are conducted according to schedule, while remaining alert to fixing any technical glitches encountered by students and lecturers.

The education system in the Kingdom is one of many facing this unprecedented situation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the midst of plans towards entering the “new normal”, Cambodia’s education system will have to transform from the traditional system to one embracing distant learning, which will rely heavily on digital technologies.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport announced the reopening of schools, with a controlled number of students and on a staggered basis.

It has widely reported in the media that the government has identified 15 private institutions in Phnom Penh to be the first to reopen.