Robin Davies, visiting professor at the Institute of Economics and Science since

January 1992, had long wanted to set up an income-generating project at the institute

before leaving Cambodia this September.

The opportunity presented itself when he was approached by two organizations, WHO

and a constultancy firm in Bangkok, and asked whether the Institute could carry out

market and behavioral research.

With the enthusiastic support of the director, Iv Thong, an intensive training course

was immediately set up. Luckily, financial support was soon forthcoming. Jules Thomas,

general manager of the International Management & Investment Consultants Ltd.

(I.M.I.C.), the only company licensed to carry out market research in Cambodia, was

prepared to fund the initial program and meet the start-up costs.

The three week crash course in theory has just been completed. Thirty nine senior

students sat the final exam of which 26 passed. They all received, at a special ceremony,

a joint diploma of IMIC and the Institute of Economics attesting to their success.

Iv Thong hoped, with the establishment of a Research Unit at the Institute, that

anyone wanting research carried out on attitudes or products in Cambodia, would use

this new service provided by theInstitute