Germany has financed the reconstruction and fitting out of the Vocational Teacher Education Department building at the Faculty of Engineering of the National University of Laos.

The building houses an electro-mechanical workshop, 30 IT-equipped work desks with high-speed internet connections, and offices for university staff and German experts.

The hand-over ceremony for the refurbished building was held on Friday, attended by Deputy Minister of Education and Sports Associate Prof. Dr Kongsy Sengmany, German Ambassador to Laos Mr Robert von Rimscha, Vice President of NUOL Associate Prof. Dr Phetsamone Khounsavath, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Associate Prof. Keoudome Sensavath, Head of the Vocational Teacher Education Department Dr Bounseng Khammounty, and Hea d of the GIZ Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) project Mr Eberhard Frey.

“This is a very significant step towards a more practical orientation of vocational teacher training in Laos. Students will now be able to apply the theoretical knowledge that they have acquired in class,” Mr von Rimscha said.

He said an experienced German instructor who will focus on teaching electronic and mechanical trades is expected to arrive this summer.

“We are happy to support the professionalization of training in Laos because a skilled workforce is the basis for the diversification of the economy and for taking advantage of the opportunities offered by World Trade Organization membership and the upcoming ASEAN Economic Community,” Mr von Rimscha said.

Associate Prof. Dr Kongsy thanked the German government for its long-standing support of vocational education in Laos. In addition to its support for vocational teacher training, Germany has financed the construction and fitting out of schools in northern and, more recently, southern provinces in Laos.

Most of the vocational teachers trained at the new facility at the NUOL will work in one of the 20 state run vocational schools. Of these 20 institutions, 11 are supported by Germany, the most prominent one being the Lao-German Technical School in Vientiane.

(updated April 08, 2013)