Lao Higher Education Lao Higher Education

By: Khamphone XaysomphouBy: Khamphone Xaysomphou Deputy Director General, MOE, Lao PDR Deputy Director General, MOE, Lao PDR

WHEC, Macao 2008WHEC, Macao 2008

Outline Outline

1.1. Introduction .Introduction .2.2. Context of Education Development in Lao PDR.Context of Education Development in Lao PDR.3.3. HE institutions. HE institutions. 4.4. Programs offered in higher Institution in Lao Programs offered in higher Institution in Lao

PDR.PDR.5.5. Path ways to HE.Path ways to HE.6.6. Developing Research.Developing Research.7.7. Accreditation & QA Accreditation & QA 8.8. Issues and Challenges.Issues and Challenges.

1.Introduction1.Introduction

Thailand

Vietnam

China

Myanmar

Cambodia

Lao PDR is bounded with:

Thailand: 1700 km

Vietnam: 1957 km

China: 416 km

Myanma: 230 km

Cambodia: 492 km

Total area: 236.800 sq.km

Total population: 5,218,000 pers

Density: 22 pers/sqkm

Ethnic Minority: 48.

2. Context of Education 2. Context of Education DevelopmentDevelopment

Education System of Lao PDREducation System of Lao PDR..

The Formal Education System of Lao PDRThe Formal Education System of Lao PDR is consisted of 5 Levels:is consisted of 5 Levels:

-Primary: 5 years-Primary: 5 years-Lower secondary education: 3(4) years-Lower secondary education: 3(4) years-Upper secondary education: 3 years-Upper secondary education: 3 years-Post - secondary education: 1-2 years-Post - secondary education: 1-2 years-Tertiary education: 3-7 years.-Tertiary education: 3-7 years.

3.3. Higher Education Development in Higher Education Development in Lao PDR from 1975 up to now. Lao PDR from 1975 up to now.

-1975-1996: 37 public institutions at post-secon-1975-1996: 37 public institutions at post-secon dary education, in this, 10 were dary education, in this, 10 were offering higher educations . These offering higher educations . These institutions belong to the different institutions belong to the different

Ministries. Ministries. - in 1996 The decree of Prime Minister one - in 1996 The decree of Prime Minister one

the Establishment of the National the Establishment of the National University by amalgamation of 10 University by amalgamation of 10 existing institutions to form NUOL. existing institutions to form NUOL.

Developing HE private sector

Start from Prime Minister’s Decree 64, in 1995 to increase the number of institution year by year, now have been registered 83 colleges,Mainly the programs used in the area of business; Languages; computing...etc,Graduated from Diplomas; Bachelor; and Master’s degrees;

3. Program offer in Higher 3. Program offer in Higher Institution, Lao PDRInstitution, Lao PDR

Public InstitutionPublic Institution.. Four Universities:Four Universities:- 42 Bs degree programs.- 42 Bs degree programs.- 10 H D programs- 10 H D programs

Five Teacher Training colleges offer Five Teacher Training colleges offer - H D degree programs which - H D degree programs which train teachers for train teachers for Lower Lower Secondary schools. Secondary schools.

Programs offer in Higher Institution Programs offer in Higher Institution (cont)(cont)

• Private Institutions Private Institutions 83 Colleges, offer83 Colleges, offerHD, Bs & M Programs mostly HD, Bs & M Programs mostly

in the field of Commerce, Business, in the field of Commerce, Business, Computer & Foreign language Computer & Foreign language

( English, …….)( English, …….)

The leavers from upper secondary school in period of the years 2001-2007.

Academic years Number of Leavers Number of Enrolment on Higher institutions

Total Female Total Female

2000-2001 20,452 8,337 4,415 1,596

2001-2002 25,929 10,409 5,710 1,950

2002-2003 29,771 13,027 6,028 2,999

2003-2004 33,194 13,949 6,429 2,982

2004-2005 37,496 15,243 7,972 3,026

2005-2006 43,675 17,897 17,875 6,809

2006-2007 44,762 19,020 18,809 7,588

Total number of students at the Higher Education level classified by the institution in charge during the academic

year 2000 to 2007.No Institutions Academic years

2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07

1 National University of Laos (NUOL)

15,372 17,820 18,366 20,230 22,984 25,879 29,188

2 Souphanouvong University (SU)

none none none 550 1,230 1,765 2,674

3 Champasack University (CU)

none none 395 845 1,530 2,612 3,460

4 University of Health Sciences(UHS)

none none none none none 846 1,441

5 5 Teacher Training Colleges

3,046 3,801 4,403 4,310 5,569 10,970 13,611

6 83 Private Colleges

4,187 5,391 4,745 7,368 14,371 19,725 25,958

Total 22,605 27,012 27,909 34,908 47,214 61,797 76,332

5.5. The Pathways to HE The Pathways to HE ((Admission System)Admission System)

System of admissionSystem of admission.. Two Systems:Two Systems:

•• Quota System.Quota System. •• Non-quota System.Non-quota System.

Admission ProcessAdmission Process..• • Institution’s Plan for New-IntakesInstitution’s Plan for New-Intakes• • Ministry’s Plan of DistributionMinistry’s Plan of Distribution• • Selection:Selection:

- Quota students- Quota students-Non-Quota students-Non-Quota students

a). Admission to Public Institutions a). Admission to Public Institutions

Selection of Quota-studentSelection of Quota-student.. From 1986-2004 The selection of Quota student is From 1986-2004 The selection of Quota student is carried out by (Local) Provincial authority, but forcarried out by (Local) Provincial authority, but for the next AY 2004-05 the selection will be carry outthe next AY 2004-05 the selection will be carry out the National committeethe National committee.. --CriteriaCriteria:: 1. Must be1. Must be completed completed upper secondary school. upper secondary school. 2. Must be Lao citizen ( by original or Nationality).2. Must be Lao citizen ( by original or Nationality).In case of equal average score, female and ethnic minorities haveIn case of equal average score, female and ethnic minorities havepriority to be selected. All Quota- Student receives Government priority to be selected. All Quota- Student receives Government ScholarshipScholarship

Admission to Public InstitutionsAdmission to Public Institutions (cont)(cont)

Method of SelectionMethod of Selection..By the rule, the selection must be carry out on theBy the rule, the selection must be carry out on theTop-down principle by using the ranking of an Top-down principle by using the ranking of an average score of graduation exam of the lastaverage score of graduation exam of the lastyear of upper secondary level according to theyear of upper secondary level according to thenumber distributed to concerned province.number distributed to concerned province.

Admission of Non-Quota studentAdmission of Non-Quota student

- Non-quota student is a student who was admitted- Non-quota student is a student who was admitted by National Entrance Examination (NEE).by National Entrance Examination (NEE).- The number of Non-Quota - students to each - The number of Non-Quota - students to each

institution is defined by MOE.institution is defined by MOE.- Each year, the NEE has been organized by Each year, the NEE has been organized by

National Examination Committee ( NUOL+HVED)National Examination Committee ( NUOL+HVED)

b). Admission for Private Institutionb). Admission for Private Institution

-Admission only by Entrance Examination organized-Admission only by Entrance Examination organized by concerned institution.by concerned institution.

-The program as approved by MoE and the same -The program as approved by MoE and the same type of Degree in the public institution.type of Degree in the public institution.

- The tuition fee a little bit higher than public institution - The tuition fee a little bit higher than public institution

7. Developing Research

The mission:- Encourage all teaching staff to have involvement with research,- To develop the deeper knowledge in both social sciences and natural sciences,- To respond to the social requirements,- To progress research toward regional and international recognition.

Developing Research ((CONTCONT))

Mostly carries out applied research, despite this, the rate of applied research is larger than that of basic, it would be equally in future if social needs were developed,According to the experience gained of academic staff and social need, the research activities are focusing on both natural and social aspects.

7. Accreditation and Quality Assurance

Year 2007, MoE has been setting up the Center of Accreditation and Quality Assurance by functioning with controlling and monitoring the teaching learning process on both Public and Private HE institutions, The cooperation with Regional and International exchanges in area of Accreditation & Quality Assurance

8. Challenges & Issues8. Challenges & IssuesA)A) OOn Policyn Policy::

- - Conflictive demands on Manpower structures.Conflictive demands on Manpower structures.- Limitation of Access to Technical and - Limitation of Access to Technical and

Vocational Vocational Education. Education.B) B) On Selection of Quota- studentOn Selection of Quota- student..

-Basic Knowledge of student from Province.-Basic Knowledge of student from Province.-Accountability & Equity of Selection.-Accountability & Equity of Selection.

C)C) On Organization of NEE.On Organization of NEE.-Confidence , Security and Accountability.-Confidence , Security and Accountability.- Budget, Staffs and Times.- Budget, Staffs and Times.