WHEC, Macao 2008 Lao Higher Education By: Khamphone Xaysomphou Deputy Director General, MOE, Lao PDR

Outline Introduction . Context of Education Development in Lao PDR. HE institutions. Programs offered in higher Institution in Lao PDR. Path ways to HE. Developing Research. Accreditation & QA Issues and Challenges.

1.Introduction China Myanmar 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. Vietnam Thailand Cambodia

2. Context of Education Development Education System of Lao PDR. The Formal Education System of Lao PDR is consisted of 5 Levels: -Primary: 5 years -Lower secondary education: 3(4) years -Upper secondary education: 3 years -Post - secondary education: 1-2 years -Tertiary education: 3-7 years.

3. Higher Education Development in Lao PDR from 1975 up to now 3. Higher Education Development in Lao PDR from 1975 up to now. -1975-1996: 37 public institutions at post-secon dary education, in this, 10 were offering higher educations . These institutions belong to the different Ministries. - in 1996 The decree of Prime Minister one the Establishment of the National University by amalgamation of 10 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 Institution, Lao PDR Public Institution. Four Universities: - 42 Bs degree programs. - 10 H D programs Five Teacher Training colleges offer - H D degree programs which train teachers for Lower Secondary schools.

Programs offer in Higher Institution (cont) Private Institutions 83 Colleges, offer HD, Bs & M Programs mostly in the field of Commerce, Business, Computer & Foreign language ( English, …….)

Number of Enrolment on Higher institutions 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 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 550 1,230 1,765 2,674 3 Champasack University (CU) 395 845 1,530 2,612 3,460 4 University of Health Sciences (UHS) 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

The Pathways to HE (Admission System) System of admission. Two Systems: • Quota System. • Non-quota System. Admission Process. • Institution’s Plan for New-Intakes • Ministry’s Plan of Distribution • Selection: - Quota students -Non-Quota students

a). Admission to Public Institutions Selection of Quota-student. From 1986-2004 The selection of Quota student is carried out by (Local) Provincial authority, but for the next AY 2004-05 the selection will be carry out the National committee. -Criteria: 1. Must be completed upper secondary school. 2. Must be Lao citizen ( by original or Nationality). In case of equal average score, female and ethnic minorities have priority to be selected. All Quota- Student receives Government Scholarship

Admission to Public Institutions (cont) Method of Selection. By the rule, the selection must be carry out on the Top-down principle by using the ranking of an average score of graduation exam of the last year of upper secondary level according to the number distributed to concerned province.

Admission of Non-Quota student - Non-quota student is a student who was admitted by National Entrance Examination (NEE). - The number of Non-Quota - students to each institution is defined by MOE. Each year, the NEE has been organized by National Examination Committee ( NUOL+HVED)

b). Admission for Private Institution -Admission only by Entrance Examination organized by concerned institution. -The program as approved by MoE and the same type of Degree in the 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 (CONT) 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 & Issues On Policy: - Conflictive demands on Manpower structures. - Limitation of Access to Technical and Vocational Education. B) On Selection of Quota- student. -Basic Knowledge of student from Province. -Accountability & Equity of Selection. On Organization of NEE. -Confidence , Security and Accountability. - Budget, Staffs and Times.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTANTION