EPIC Summit 2025

Enhancing Pedagogy in Cambodia

Join Us in Siem Reap for EPIC 2025

The EPIC Summit 2025 invites educators, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to share insights, ideas, and innovations that enhance education globally, with a special focus on Cambodia’s unique context. Rooted in the success of the Professional Identity for Khmer Teachers (PIKT) Project, this summit aims to build bridges between cultures, highlight impactful practices, and celebrate the resilience and creativity of teachers worldwide.

Cambodian education today is like the ‘perfect storm’ of challenges. In addition to the under-developed, largely agrarian economy, Cambodia has a unique and terrible history of oppression that specifically targeted educators and intellectuals. In recent years the country has made good progress in developing public education; however, it has come from a very low starting point and the legacy of poor school attainment, inadequate resources, and constrained teacher professional development, remains. Yet, when given access to well-designed workshops and support, such as demonstrated by the PIKT Project, Cambodian teachers redefine their professional identities and become agents of positive change in the classroom. This summit amplifies these efforts, offering a platform for global dialogue in the culturally rich city of Siem Reap, a symbol of resilience and renewal.

Summit Themes

We welcome submissions addressing the following themes:

  • Classroom Practice and Pedagogical Innovation: Examples of what works particularly in primary classrooms and developing country contexts.
  • Teacher Professional Development: Strategies for empowering teachers as leaders of learning in the classroom.
  • Global Education Development: Sharing lessons from diverse international contexts on meeting the challenges of SDG4 to Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
  • Educational Leadership: Fostering effective and empathetic school leadership.

Subthemes include:

  • Technology in schools
  • Education assessment and evaluation
  • Teacher Professional Identity
  • Education policy for initial teacher education and teacher professional development
  • Collaborative and inclusive learning spaces
  • The voice of the child

What We’re Looking For

We are eager to receive diverse and engaging proposals, reflecting the varied ways education can be transformed. Some examples include:

  • Practice-Based Presentations: Share an innovative teaching technique, resource, or strategy that has proven effective.
  • Research Findings: Present the results of studies or ongoing research in an accessible, practitioner-friendly format.
  • Workshops and Seminars: Interactive sessions that inspire discussion, creativity, and action.
  • Pecha Kucha Sessions: Short, vibrant presentations (20 slides, 20 seconds each) that spark new ideas and energy.
  • Roundtable Discussions: Collaborative formats to explore challenges and co-develop solutions.

We encourage group submissions and are particularly keen to include short-form practice sharing sessions led by practitioners and research students. Proposals from Khmer teachers and other non-native English speakers are warmly encouraged—translation support will be provided during the event to ensure inclusive and meaningful dialogue.

Why Siem Reap?

Siem Reap, with its rich cultural and historical significance, embodies the transformative spirit of education. As the home of Angkor Wat, it serves as a reminder of what humanity can achieve when creativity, resilience, and collaboration come together. The city is also central to the success of the PIKT Project, making it the ideal location to share lessons learned and chart new paths forward.

Support for Participants

Understanding the diverse backgrounds of our participants, we are committed to making this event inclusive:

  • Language Support: Translation services will be available throughout the event for Khmer and other non-English-speaking participants.
  • Interactive Formats: All sessions will be designed to promote participation, including workshops, panels, and lively Pecha Kucha sessions.
  • Support for international visitors: A parallel programme of field visits to schools and local sites of interest including the Temples of Angkor Wat is being arranged. 

Key Dates

  • Deadline for Proposals: February 2, 2025
  • Notification of Acceptance: February 28, 2025
  • Final Submission of Materials: April 4, 2025