Pioneering the MYP Design ePortfolio in Cambodia

This year marks a significant achievement for our school and for international education in Cambodia. Our Grade 10 students have become the first cohort in the country to complete and submit the IB MYP Design ePortfolio as a formally assessed component, establishing us as Cambodia’s first fully IB MYP eAssessment school.

This milestone reflects both the ambition of our students and the strength of our Design programme — one that prepares learners to think critically, create purposefully, and engage with real-world challenges.

What Is the IB MYP Design ePortfolio?

The MYP ePortfolio is an externally moderated assessment submitted directly to the International Baccalaureate (IB). Each year, the IB provides a broad design context, and students respond by identifying and exploring a real-world problem of personal relevance.

Students then work independently through the full MYP Design Cycle, documenting their thinking and process in a structured portfolio that meets IB submission standards. This includes:

• Investigating and analysing a problem

• Developing and refining ideas

• Creating a functional solution

• Evaluating outcomes and impact

The result is not just a final product, but a comprehensive demonstration of learning, thinking, and growth.

The Design Cycle: Making Thinking Visible

At the core of the MYP Design programme is the Design Cycle, a framework that makes students’ thinking explicit and intentional.

While it appears linear — inquiry, ideation, creation, and evaluation — in practice it is dynamic and iterative. Students revisit and refine their ideas as they deepen their understanding.

The ePortfolio requires learners to clearly articulate:

• Why they selected a specific problem

• Who their intended users are

• How their decisions are informed by research and evidence

• What they would improve if given further time

This process cultivates analytical, reflective, and adaptive thinkers — essential skills for the future.

Why the ePortfolio Matters

Unlike traditional examinations, the ePortfolio is a curated record of a student’s learning journey. It captures not only outcomes, but the process behind those outcomes.

Through this experience, students develop key transferable skills:

Reflective Thinking

• Students learn to evaluate their own work critically — a skill that supports success across subjects and beyond school.

Communication and Curation

• Selecting what to include and how to present it challenges students to communicate clearly and with purpose.

Interdisciplinary Learning

• Projects draw on research, writing, visual communication, and technical skills — reflecting the IB’s holistic approach to education.

Future Readiness

• Portfolio development mirrors professional practice in fields such as design, engineering, and technology, giving students a distinct advantage as they progress.

A Meaningful Challenge

The MYP Design ePortfolio is one of the most substantial independent projects students undertake. Over several months, they must:

• Manage their time and workflow

• Sustain motivation through complex stages

• Navigate setbacks and refine ideas

• Produce a cohesive and high-quality final submission

This experience builds resilience, independence, and confidence — qualities that define successful learners in any context.

Preparing for IB Diploma Programme (DP) Success

For students continuing into IB Diploma Programme (DP) Design Technology, the ePortfolio provides invaluable preparation.

The DP course includes a major Design Project, where students independently develop and document a solution in an extensive portfolio. Having completed the MYP ePortfolio, students already understand:

• How to structure a design portfolio

• Expectations for independent inquiry

• How to manage long-term projects effectively

This ensures a strong and confident transition into the next stage of their IB journey.

Looking Ahead

We are exceptionally proud of what our students have achieved. As pioneers of the IB MYP eAssessment in Cambodia, they have set a new benchmark for excellence.

Their work not only represents individual success, but also reinforces our commitment to innovative, future-focused education. We look forward to seeing how future cohorts build on this foundation and continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in Design learning.