Cooperation in human resource training creates a bridge to promote Vietnam - Laos solidarity - Part 3
Over the past years, thousands of Lao students and officials have come to Nghe An to study, contributing to improving the quality of human resources for the neighboring country; many of them came to study under scholarship programs.
Over the past years, thousands of Lao students and officials have come to Nghe An to study, contributing to improving the quality of human resources for the neighboring country; many of them came to study under scholarship programs.
Actively enhance cooperation
Vinh University is one of the pioneers in training Lao students since the early years of the 21st century. Realizing the prospects for cooperation in the field of education, Vinh University has proactively cooperated with the National University of Laos and Lao educational institutions to train human resources and support the neighboring country in developing high-quality human resources. Every year, Vinh University sends a working group to the neighboring country to promote enrollment for the new school year.
In early June 2024, a delegation of Vinh University led by the Vice Rector of the school went to the provinces of Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay, Kham Muon... of Laos to carry out enrollment work. The trip lasted more than a week, passing through many remote provinces and cities, some thousands of kilometers away from Nghe An, but each member of the delegation was very happy to be welcomed by their former students wherever they went, calling them "teachers", shaking hands and recalling memories of their days studying abroad in Nghe An. Many students of Vinh University, after graduating and returning home, have found jobs in government agencies, organizations, and large enterprises in the neighboring country...
Phonevanh Onnida (born in 1976) - a former student of the Faculty of Political Education (now the Faculty of Politics - Journalism, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vinh University) is currently the Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs of Xieng Khouang province. Phonevanh Onnida expressed that he is very grateful for the years of studying at Vinh University, which helped him have a solid knowledge foundation to serve his work. Having obtained a master's degree in Politics and returned to Laos to work since 2019, Phonevanh Onnida still keeps in touch with teachers and friends in Nghe An.
“Recently, my fellow international students from Xieng Khouang province and I were welcomed and met again our teachers from the Faculty of Politics and Journalism (School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vinh University) who were on a business trip. We were very happy and moved,” Phonevanh Onnida said. He also said that his eldest son is currently studying Information Technology in Nghe An and for his family, Nghe An is like their second home.
Many Lao students who later went to Vinh University and other universities in Nghe An followed in the footsteps of their parents and siblings in the previous class. Like Southida - Head of the Lao student delegation at Vinh University, 4 years ago, Southida was on the list of 15 students with the best academic results in Khammouane province who were eligible to study in Nghe An under the scholarship program granted by Nghe An province. At that time, with excellent academic achievements, Southida received a scholarship to study at the National University of Laos. However, because his brother studied at Vinh University and is now studying for a master's degree, Southida confidently chose the Faculty of Information Technology - Vinh University to study abroad. After 4 years of studying at the school, overcoming difficulties and barriers in language, culture, and communication, Southida is now one of the typical Lao students studying at Vinh University.
Since before the year 2000, Vinh University has had a relationship in training, scientific research and staff development with the National University of Laos and a number of educational institutions in the Lao PDR. In September 2003, the Department of Education of Xieng Khouang Province (Laos) and Vinh University signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in training university-level staff for Laos, including Xieng Khouang Province - a province bordering Nghe An. In the same year, the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam issued an official dispatch agreeing to allow Vinh University to provide university-level training for self-funded Lao and Thai students. This is considered a milestone opening a new training direction for the school: training international students.
Over the past 20 years, from the first 34 students from Vientiane, Xieng Khouang and Champasak provinces, the number of Lao students trained at the school has now reached thousands. At many times, Vinh University became one of the schools with the largest number of Lao students studying in the country.
Dr. Nguyen Hong Soa - Head of Student Affairs Department, Vinh University shared: "Before going to Vietnam to study, the school sent Vietnamese volunteer students and Laotian students studying at the school to Laos to volunteer to teach Vietnamese language and culture. Therefore, the students did not encounter much confusion and quickly learned Vietnamese. The school has also maintained the "friends helping friends" model for many years, on average, for every Laotian student, there are 2-3 Vietnamese students to help. Thanks to that, most of the students have overcome the initial difficulties in language and culture to access the school's advanced training program."
Implementing the training cooperation program between Nghe An province and provinces of Laos, each year hundreds of Lao students come to study at educational institutions in Nghe An province.
Vinh University of Technical Education, with the advantage of being a school training in technical fields, has attracted many Lao students to register for study in recent years. To improve the effectiveness of training coordination, the school has cooperated with many colleges in Laos to strengthen training links, including teacher training and student exchange training. In addition, the school also trains students under the scholarship policy of Nghe An province.
Sixiongxay from Xieng Khouang province is currently a second-year student in the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, majoring in industrial electricity, Vinh University of Technical Education. Choosing a difficult major, Sixiongxay shared that, compared to his classmates, he had to work 2 or 3 times harder to keep up with the program. Previously, like many other students who were sent to study on a scholarship, Sixiongxay had to have good academic results and each school could only select 2-3 of the most outstanding students. Despite his difficult circumstances, when he came to Vietnam to study, Sixiongxay always received support from the school and in addition to the province's scholarship, he also received scholarships and gifts from the school for students who overcame difficulties and studied well.
Master Phan Xuan Thach - Head of Student Affairs, Vinh University of Technical Education added: There are currently many scholarship programs for Lao students such as scholarships between the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam and the Ministry of Education, Welfare and Sports of Laos, scholarships granted by Nghe An province, scholarships from the school and students can also study on their own. The technical sector is also a sector that has not been trained by many universities in Laos, so students have many advantages after graduation and most of them have stable jobs.
Expand training objects
Implementing policies to expand training for high school students; from the 2023-2024 school year, Nghe An is the first province in the country to organize the reception of 31 Lao students from 6 Lao provinces (Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay, Vientiane, Kham Muon, and Savannakhet) to study Vietnamese language and supplement secondary school knowledge before studying the 2018 general education program at high school level.
On June 14, 2024, Nghe An Ethnic Minority High School No. 2 held a closing ceremony and awarded certificates to 31 Laotian students who had completed the basic Vietnamese language training course with the participation of Vietnamese language instructors from Nghe An Pedagogical College. In just over 2 months, these students will begin studying the general education program according to the Vietnamese education program. At this time, Nghe An Ethnic Minority High School No. 2 is also the first provincial school in the country to train Laotian students studying the general education program.
Speaking at the Vietnamese language certificate awarding ceremony, teacher Ho Quoc Viet - Principal of Nghe An Ethnic Minority High School No. 2 recalled the nearly 9-month journey accompanying Laotian students. From boys and girls who were only 15, 16 years old, still unfamiliar and confused when they were away from their families for the first time, after only a short time, the students have made remarkable progress. "In addition to being able to speak and use Vietnamese quite well, they have been able to be independent, get along well, and be close to their schoolmates, becoming excellent members of Boarding House No. 2", teacher Ho Duc Viet emotionally shared.
The policy of accepting Lao students to study in Nghe An has not only been implemented since this school year but has been prepared for a long time. Nearly 10 years ago, teacher Lo Thanh Binh - Vice Principal of Ethnic Minority Boarding High School No. 2, was the first teacher selected to go to Laos to study the language, access the Lao general education program and join the provincial delegation to participate in the promotion and enrollment process. This school year, he is the first person to act as a "bridge" to support and help students during their studies at school.
Telling more about this “special” mission, teacher Lo Thanh Binh shared: When we had a plan to bring Lao high school students to study at the school, we were very worried because students who had just graduated from secondary school and were preparing to go to high school were very different from students of university age. Therefore, to accompany them, we had to understand the language, customs, habits and personalities of each student. Fearing that the students would feel sad when they were far from home and their homeland, the school organized for them to celebrate major Lao holidays such as Lao National Day, Bunpimay New Year... right at school in a happy and warm way.
The 9 months of studying at the Ethnic Minority High School No. 2 is also a memorable journey for international students who decided to study in Nghe An right after completing the 9th grade program. Sulin Phumisun from Sa Van Na Khet province (Laos) expressed her joy when receiving a 4-level Vietnamese certificate and preparing to enter the high school program in Nghe An. Before coming to Vietnam, Sulin Phumisun had studied for many years at the Laos-Vietnam Friendship School, a school with many overseas Vietnamese and Lao students in Sa Van Na Khet province, so she quickly integrated into the new environment. I also expressed my gratitude because in addition to learning Vietnamese taught by teachers from Nghe An Pedagogical College, I and my friends were taken care of by teachers at Nghe An Ethnic Minority High School No. 2, organized activities to practice skills, get acquainted with the lifestyle and culture of the dormitory, and participate in culture, arts, physical education and sports. From there, young international students like Sulin were excited and assured when coming to study in a new environment.
According to the plan, after completing a 1-year Vietnamese preparatory course, students will continue to study the Vietnamese high school education program and an enhanced program according to international standards for 3 years. The course will help them to be confident to continue studying at a higher level.
Accepting high school students from Laos
Studying in Nghe An will further strengthen the cooperative relationship in the field of education and training. Thereby, it will promote the special and faithful relationship between Vietnam and Laos, and contribute to supporting the provinces of the neighboring country to build and develop a team of cadres, meeting the demand for high-quality human resources in the new situation.Prof. Dr. Thai Van Thanh
Director of Nghe An Department of Education and Training