In August 2023, students from the NUM International Program of Legal Studies (NUM iLAW) made history at the Asia Cup 2023 – International Law Moot Court Competition for Future International Lawyers in Asia, held in Tokyo, Japan, from 22 to 23 August 2023. In their first participation, the team successfully advanced to the final round and secured three awards: Runner-up, Best Applicant Oralist, and 3rd-ranked Applicant Oralist.
The competition brought together 55 teams from 18 countries in the written phase, with only 16 teams selected to compete in the oral rounds in Tokyo. The competition was co-hosted by the Japanese Society of International Law and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
The NUM iLAW team consisted of four students: YEN Sovannchanmony, DY Senghak, SRUN Julian, and LIM Theansun, under the guidance of Mr. SAU Sakda, Coach, and Mr. SUON Sokchea, Assistant Coach. In addition to the team’s Runner-up award, YEN Sovannchanmony received the Best Applicant Oralist Award, while DY Senghak was recognized as the 3rd-ranked Applicant Oralist.
This achievement marked an important milestone for NUM iLAW and Cambodian participation in international moot court competitions, demonstrating the potential of Cambodian law students to compete alongside talented students from around the world. It also reflected the students’ dedication and the program’s commitment to practical legal education through its learning-by-doing approach.
NUM iLAW extends our sincere appreciation to H.E. Prof. Hor Peng, Rector of the National University of Management, for his continued leadership and support, as well as to the coaches, students, families, friends, and everyone who contributed to this achievement.
Looking back, the Asia Cup 2023 remains one of NUM iLAW’s memorable international mooting achievements and continues to inspire the next generation of law students to develop their legal skills and gain international experience.
