Improving the quality and effectiveness of Vietnam - Laos cooperation in the field of education and human resources development

Overview of the conference. Photo: Ngan Hanh

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Mr. Sengphet HoungBungNuang - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao PDR to Vietnam expressed his deep gratitude to the Party, State and people of Vietnam for always giving great and valuable affection and support to Laos, including cooperation between the two countries in prioritizing the education sector, especially in training human resources for many important professions.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao PDR to Vietnam also highly appreciated the cooperation achievements in developing human resources for Laos by the Party, the Government of Vietnam as well as the Ministry of Education and Training, and Vietnamese educational institutions, which have always promoted initiative and paid attention to carrying out their noble political tasks with a high sense of responsibility. Accordingly, in the past two school years, many Lao students have graduated and returned to their country, applying their knowledge and abilities to contribute to the effective implementation of professional tasks in many fields.

Mr. Sengphet HoungBungNuang - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao PDR to Vietnam delivered the opening speech at the conference. Photo: Ngan Hanh

At the conference, Mr. KhamPhan KhamOne - Counselor for Culture and Education, Embassy of the Lao PDR in Vietnam presented a Summary Report on the training and management of Lao students in the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years. Accordingly, in the 2021-2022 school year, there were 14,050 Lao students studying in Vietnam, of which 11,884 were in the administrative sector and 2,166 were in the security and defense sector. 2,151 students graduated and returned home, of which 1,166 were in the Northern region (including 29 PhDs, 286 Masters, 659 Bachelors), 967 were in the Central region and 18 were in the Southern region.

Mr. KhamPhan KhamOne - Cultural and Educational Counselor, Embassy of the Lao PDR in Vietnam presented the Summary Report. Photo: Ngan Hanh

In addition, in 2022, 200 Laotian students received scholarships from the Vietnam Association for Promoting Education, which helped them study and practice with peace of mind, striving to overcome all difficulties and obstacles. In the past 2 school years, 143 students were ranked excellent, 224 students were ranked good, and received Certificates of Merit from the Lao Embassy. One female student won First Prize in the 14th National Physics Olympiad in 2022 and received a Certificate of Merit from the Organizing Committee of the competition.

Lao students with good achievements were awarded Certificates of Merit by the Lao Embassy. Photo: Ngan Hanh

In addition, during the complicated development of the Covid-19 pandemic, Lao students have received attention and support from schools, ministries, departments, branches, and authorities at all levels in creating conditions for students to return to study, organizing free accommodation and meals at quarantine areas, receiving daily health check-ups and essential food. All Lao students have also received at least 2 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Lao students studying in Vietnam under the Agreement have mostly achieved good results. However, non-agreement and self-funded students, although improved in many aspects, still have difficulties that need to be overcome. According to Mr. KhamPhan KhamOne - Cultural and Educational Counselor, Embassy of the Lao PDR in Vietnam, the learning and scientific research capacity of Lao students is still limited and does not meet the standards of training programs in Vietnam. In 2021-2022, 214 postgraduate students applied for an extension of their studies, including 13 PhDs, 121 masters, 80 undergraduates, and 30 people applied for a temporary suspension of their studies.

Delegates attending the conference. Photo: Ngan Hanh

The 2022-2023 school year is the third year of implementing the Project "Improving the quality and effectiveness of Vietnam - Laos cooperation in the field of education and human resource development for the period 2021-2030", therefore, the Lao Embassy needs to continue to coordinate regularly with the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports, the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and relevant ministries, departments and branches to effectively implement the project, coordinate with schools to inspect and urge the study and living situation of Lao students and promptly resolve arising issues; in addition, continue to train Lao students to have a sense of strict discipline and fight against negativity in study and living.

At the conference, representatives of a number of universities across the country also shared their experiences and proposed solutions to improve the quality of training and management of Laotian students. Representing Vinh University, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huy Bang shared the difficulties of Laotian students and proposed some recommendations to overcome those difficulties.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huy Bang - Rector of Vinh University shared the difficulties of Laotian students and proposed some solutions to overcome the difficulties. Photo: Ngan Hanh

After listening to the comments, Mr. Nguyen Hai Thanh - Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Education and Training, accepted the comments and suggestions, and at the same time clearly stated some orientations and tasks in the coming time, including strengthening training cooperation on many channels, evaluating the effectiveness of educational work, and orienting the construction of 3 Vietnamese language certificate testing centers in Laos,...

Mr. Nguyen Hai Thanh - Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Education and Training spoke at the conference. Photo: Ngan Hanh

Meanwhile, Ms. ThongMy DuanSackDa - Deputy Director of the Student Affairs Department, Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos said that the conference played a very important role for the two countries to exchange experiences and propose more solutions to improve the training and management of Lao students. She also expressed her belief that after the conference, educational cooperation between the two countries will develop further, attracting more Lao students to study in Vietnam.

Summarizing the conference, Mr. Sengphet HoungBungNuang - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao PDR to Vietnam affirmed that the conference was very effective, recording many frank comments as well as practical proposals and solutions.

Although the task of training human resources is very heavy, with the experience and dedication of universities and educational institutions in Vietnam as well as the coordination between ministries, departments and branches, he expressed his belief that the training and management of Lao students will be increasingly high quality, while affirming the solidarity between Vietnam and Laos will be increasingly sustainable.