VIENTIANE: In a groundbreaking move to enhance educational and technological collaboration, Lao and Chinese education institutions have introduced two new courses in mechatronics and e-commerce.
The first set of classes begins this academic year, with 30 students registering take a mechatronics course at the Lao-German Technical College in Vientiane.
Mechatronics is a form of engineering and involves the design and analysis of mechanical systems, such as sensors, actuators, and mechanical structures.
This can include anything from robotic arms and automated machinery to consumer products like cameras with auto-focus mechanisms.
These innovative programmes are part of the CHUYI Academic programme, supported by China’s Changsha Social Work College, with the aim of enhancing the skills of young Lao professionals.
Their introduction is a significant milestone in the development of higher vocational education in Laos.
An opening ceremony for the new courses took place on Thursday, organised and supported by Changsha Social Work College, and Laos’ Vocational Education Development Institute, Lao-German Technical College, and Pakpasak Technical College.
The mechatronics course has been introduced to equip young people with the information and skills necessary to stay abreast of current technological advancements and provide a skilled workforce for businesses in Laos and abroad.
The e-commerce course will take place at Pakpasak Technical College.
The course developers believe that greater knowledge of e-commerce course will build a strong and competent online sales force that can respond to the needs of international markets and help spur Laos’ economic growth.
Wider use of e-commerce platforms will promote Lao products and services worldwide and serve to bolster international trade.
The two courses require students to study at either the Lao-German Technical College or Pakpasak Technical College for two years and then take a one-year course at Changsha Social Work College in China.
Graduates will receive a diploma certified by the Lao and Chinese colleges, through the Ministry of Education and Sports, and will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on training with Chinese companies doing business in Laos.
The ceremony to launch the two new courses also celebrated Lao National Teachers’ Day, when attendees heard a report on the achievements of the Vocational Education Development Institute in the 2023-24 academic year.
The Institute’s Director General, Associate Prof Dr Bounseng Khammounty, and Vice President of China’s Changsha Social Work College, Wang Qingguo, attended the ceremony together with representatives of other Lao and Chinese educational institutions. - Vientiane Times/ANN
