Cambodia Investment Review
Rising Giants host Dominic and Max sat down with Dominic Sharpe, the Country Director of Liger Leadership Academy, to explore the academy’s distinctive educational approach and its significant impact on Cambodian students. Liger Leadership Academy provides an innovative learning experience that empowers students to become future leaders through experiential, project-based learning tailored to address real-life challenges and national needs. Sharpe’s commitment to developing and refining the program over the years has played a crucial role in its success, enabling graduates to secure full scholarships to renowned international universities.
The podcast began with Dominic and Max delving into Dominic’s journey to Cambodia during a two-year adoption process with his wife in the early 2000s. Dominic quickly realized the pressing need for educational reform to bolster Cambodia’s long-term economic prospects. In 2009, Dominic and his family founded a charity focused on various NGO projects, during which he met Trevor and Agnieszka Gile, the founders of Liger Leadership Academy. The academy was established in Cambodia in 2012.
103 Students Have Received a Comprehensive Education
Over the past decade, Liger has successfully graduated 103 students who have received a comprehensive education focused on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), entrepreneurship, and leadership. As part of their curriculum, students have actively contributed to their communities through various innovative projects. These projects include collaborating with a local NGO to reintroduce marine biodiversity via artificial reefs, partnering with the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports to develop low-power consumption computer labs for government schools, launching a bicycle tour business catering to local tourists, and developing a mobile app to connect rural artisans with urban vendors. Notably, this app was a finalist in the Technovation Challenge held in Silicon Valley.
The first cohort of 60 students graduated in August 2020, with many securing admissions to prestigious universities such as Princeton, Dartmouth, Northwestern, Syracuse, Bucknell, Richmond, and the University of Miami. The second cohort of 60 students graduated in June 2023, with acceptances to universities including Dartmouth, Vanderbilt, Bucknell, Trinity, Claremont McKenna, the University of Miami, and the University of Toronto.
Dominic emphasized that project-based learning is central to Liger’s educational philosophy. “While traditional textbook learning is essential, Liger prioritizes real-world projects and the value of learning from failures,” he explained. This approach shifts away from hypothetical scenarios, focusing instead on engaging students in tangible challenges that prepare them to become proactive change-makers.
The selection process for students at Liger is rigorous, involving comprehensive evaluations of leadership and collaboration skills, followed by one-on-one interviews. Dominic highlighted the initial challenge of persuading parents to enroll their children at the academy. To address this, Liger established a minimum viable product that ensured students could at least achieve a Cambodian university education, which parents found acceptable. “In the early years, gaining parental support was crucial,” Dominic said. “There were concerns about students’ grades not aligning with their peers in government schools, but we recognized that you can’t train someone for basketball and then expect them to excel in football.”
Common Criticism Has Been Post-Graduation & Scalability
The academy also places a strong emphasis on fostering a unique culture through its boarding experience. Dominic credited the support of Hang Chuon Naron, the Minister of Education, Youth, and Sport, for assisting in organizing the first recruitment process from various provinces. “Our recruitment process is conducted in Khmer to ensure inclusivity, and it includes project delivery tasks for each applicant,” he added.
Reflecting on the challenges and future steps for the academy, Dominic addressed criticisms regarding the post-graduation impact and the scalability of the project-based learning model. “Our results speak for themselves,” he asserted. Despite not being internationally accredited, Liger’s curriculum meets the Cambodian high school standard, requiring students to achieve high SAT scores for American university applications. The compelling personal narratives and projects undertaken by students, such as a global coastal cleanup in Kep, have been instrumental in securing university placements.
Dominic shared the story of a student who transitioned to a master’s program with the ambition to lead Cambodia’s agricultural sector. “At Liger, students learn not just to advance to the next grade, but to implement their knowledge meaningfully,” he emphasized. “It’s about understanding why they are learning, not just about moving to the next level.”
Part 2 will focus on the next phase of Liger Academy transferring into a fee paying private school.
