1. What kind of students can participate in MOEI?

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MOEI is open to students from all disciplines. While some previous teaching or tutoring experience is preferred, it’s not required. Volunteers receive full teacher training during the programme and are supported by the ELA team with lesson planning and classroom delivery. A local classroom teacher is always present to co-teach or assist as needed.

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By the second week of teaching, most volunteers are leading lessons confidently. Partner schools consistently note how well prepared and well resourced MOEI volunteers are compared to other teaching programmes in the region.

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2. What is the minimum level of study or age required?

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Students must be over 18 years old and typically have completed at least one year of university study before joining the MOEI programme.

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3. Credit-bearing option

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Some universities choose to integrate MOEI into a credit-bearing course. ELA can assist with assessment facilitation, documentation, and reporting to ensure the programme meets academic requirements while maintaining the in-country volunteer experience.

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4. What is the duration of the programme and what do volunteers do?

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​The programme is a 6-week in-country volunteer placement in Cambodia, consisting of:

• 1 week of training and orientation

• 5 weeks of classroom teaching

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Students are placed in classrooms, supported by the ELA team and local teachers, gradually taking on full teaching responsibilities for a fully immersive experience.

 

5. Travel

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Students organise and book their own flights. All in-country transport, including airport transfers on arrival, is organised by ELA.

 

6. How many places can a university have on the programme?

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There are two options for university participation:

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• Option 1: The university promotes MOEI as an open overseas opportunity, allowing students to apply directly to ELA (with no guaranteed number of participants).

• Option 2: The university reserves a set number of places (e.g., 5 or 10) and commits to sending that number of students. Recruitment can be managed in-house, with ELA assisting in interviews and selection if required. ELA encourages this model for its consistency and sustainability.

 

7. Who manages pre-departure preparation and administration?

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ELA handles all pre-departure arrangements, including visas, training, orientation, and safeguarding.
ELA also manages all administration during and after the programme, providing regular updates and a final report to the university.

 

8. What recruitment support does ELA provide?

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ELA works closely with universities to ensure a smooth recruitment process. We can:

• Provide promotional materials for advertising the MOEI programme.

• Host information and Q&A sessions with interested students.

• Conduct interviews and assist with the selection process.

• Offer as much recruitment support as requested by the university.

 

9. How are payments managed?

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ELA manages all student payments directly. Universities do not need to collect or process payments unless they choose to.

 

10. What is the capacity of the MOEI programme?

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The MOEI programme has the operational capacity for 120 volunteer teaching placements per cycle, across Cambodia and Thailand. This reflects ELA’s established infrastructure, staffing, and partner school network in both countries.

 

11. When does the programme take place each year?

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The MOEI programme runs on set summer and winter cycles each year. If a partner university wishes to organise a programme outside these periods, this can be arranged for a minimum of 15 participants.

 

12. How does ELA ensure volunteer and community safety?

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ELA prioritises safeguarding, risk management, and on-the-ground oversight throughout the programme. Measures include:

• Pre-departure training and online safeguarding certification

• 24/7 in-country support from the ELA team

• Collaboration with partner schools to ensure safe classroom environments

• Comprehensive risk assessments and safety protocols for all placements

 

13. Can staff or faculty join the programme?

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Yes. The ELA team manages and supports the programme throughout, ensuring volunteers have a high-quality experience. Universities may also choose to send a staff member or faculty leader to accompany students, and they are very welcome to do so.

 

14. How does ELA communicate with partner universities?

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ELA maintains regular contact with university partners, providing updates throughout the preparation and placement period, and a comprehensive final programme report upon completion.

 

15. Is ELA flexible with partnership models and requirements?

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Yes. ELA recognises that every university has its own structures, policies, and timelines. We are happy to work collaboratively and flexibly to develop a partnership model that suits both the university and its students.

 

16. What are ELA’s future programme plans?

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ELA is currently developing a 6-month teaching programme for Education students and trainee teachers, launching in 2027. This programme will include:

• Teaching English in government, NGO, and language schools

• One month of certified TOEFL training

• Comprehensive cultural immersion