Lao and Chinese officials display signed agreements on plans to build a vocational college in Vientiane.

China gives boost to vocational education in Laos

Laos and China have taken a significant step towards broadening  education opportunities in Laos by jointly authorising a feasibility study on the establishment of a technical and vocational college in Vientiane.
If the study yields positive results, the college would be built in the Xaysettha Comprehensive Development Zone as part of a grant project funded by the Chinese government.
It is envisaged that graduates of the college would have qualifications that enable them to fill jobs in the Xaysettha Comprehensive Development Zone as well as in the wider community.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the feasibility study was signed in Vientiane on Tuesday between the Technical and Vocational Education Department of Laos’ Ministry of Education and Sports and China’s Institute of Architectural Design, based in Beijing.
Deputy Minister of Education and Sports Dr Daravone Kittiphanh was present at the signing ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Acting Director General of the ministry’s Technical and Vocational Education Department, Mr Vilayphone Phommahaxay, emphasised the importance of the project, noting that it aligns with Laos’ goals to provide more training opportunities and address skill gaps in the labour market.
The feasibility study will assess the location, infrastructure requirements, academic programmes, and long-term sustainability of the proposed college.
Through joint consultations, the two sides agreed on key aspects of the college including the level of education to be offered, the economic framework, target student demographic, fields of study, and the overall scale of the facility.
If the project is approved, the college will house classrooms, training facilities, teacher and student dormitories, a library, and a sports field.
China will provide the necessary educational equipment to support the effective operation of the college.
The signing of this agreement is the first step in the development of the college, with hopes that both sides will fulfill their responsibilities to secure approval from their respective governments.
Also speaking at the MOU signing ceremony, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports Dr Daravone Kittiphanh said Laos and China have a longstanding history of cooperation, especially through China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
One of the most significant projects undertaken by China in Laos is the construction of the Laos-China railway, which gave rise to the building of the Lao Railway Vocational Technical College to train personnel to operate the railway.
The grant project from the Chinese government to build a technical and vocational college in the Xaysettha Comprehensive Development Zone is also part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

by Times Reporters
 (Latest Update July 31, 2025)