In 1980, it was reopened with the new name of Institute of Agricultural Education (Khmer: វិទ្យាស្ថានអប់រំកសិកម្ម) to educate government staff to work in fields such as forestry, animal production, veterinary medicine, crop production, and agricultural machinery.

It offered bachelor's degrees in Agronomy, Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural Engineering, Forestry and Fishery.

Obtaining assistance from abroad, professors were from Soviet Union so all lectures were taught in Russian.

It is a leading contributor to Cambodia's human resources in the fields of agriculture and rural development.

The Royal University of Agriculture comprises nine faculties, a school, and four research centers: