Cambodia Warns Against Fake Degrees, Expert Cautions Against Empty Titles

Dr. Kin Phia, a political science expert and President of the Institute of International Relations of Cambodia at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, stated on September 8, 2026, that some universities are issuing degrees that may constitute "fake degree scams." He urged the public to be cautious. Dr. Phia mentioned that in addition to "Podeh University" and other institutions with lengthy names, there are numerous other "scam universities," and he intends to disclose their names sequentially. While acknowledging that some individuals who have obtained doctoral degrees from these institutions possess the knowledge and capabilities commensurate with their qualifications, Dr. Phia expressed concern over Cambodians who spend significant amounts of money on certificates for the sole purpose of acquiring artificial titles such as "Doctor" or "Professor Doctor," despite lacking the requisite knowledge and competence. He deemed such pursuits as a wasteful expenditure. Furthermore, Dr. Phia pointed out that many of these so-called "flying horse universities" (a metaphorical term) claim to be from the United States of America, yet the individuals who sign the doctoral or professor doctoral certificates are often Thai or Indian nationals. He characterized this as a scam within the education sector. Dr. Phia strongly urged the Cambodian people to cease being deceived by fakes and to understand themselves accurately. He asserted that individuals themselves are best aware of whether they have genuinely studied before obtaining such high-level degrees. In conclusion, Dr. Phia warned of the ruinous consequences of ostentatious titles, quoting the adage: "Pretending to be wealthy or an 'Uknhar' (Cambodian title) will eventually lead to losing the land of one's mother's grave, and pretending to be a scholar, doctor, or poet will ultimately lead to being buried under excrement." He underscored the destructive outcome of pursuing hollow accolades.