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Higher education system of Lao PDR Higher education institutions are public and are managed by the government directly. As mentioned above, there are no private institutions that can award the high degree level (at post-secondary level) in the country, except for a limited provision of vocational training by proprietary schools. Some post-secondary institutions, such as the former Pedagogical University which is now the Faculty of Education, NUOL, offer non-formal post-secondary education in various areas such as language training providing general English courses up to ESP (English for Specific Purposes) level.
All faculties/institutions which provide higher education are not formally equal in contact hours, for example, some subjects take more or less hours than the others.
In addition, the study programme of each institution/faculty varies in length as mentioned earlier.
The National University of Laos (NUOL) is a state-run university under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. Ten higher learning institutions (university-level institutions and higher technical institutions) located in Vientiane have been merged and reorganized into faculties in a multi-campus national university. Curriculum in NUOL combines a two-year programme of foundation studies followed by specialized studies of 3 to 5 years depending on the faculty. NUOL consists of eight faculties: 1. Faculty of Education;
2. Faculty of Humanities;
3. Faculty of Natural Sciences;
4. Faculty of Economics and Management;
5. Faculty of Political Science and Laws;
6. Faculty of Engineering and Architecture;
7. Faculty of Medical Science;
8. Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. NUOL intially has four campuses: Dongdok campus, Sokpaluang campus, Phiawat campus and Nabong campus. Dongdok is the headquarters of the NUOL. The establishment of the NUOL needed external assistance in terms of finance as well as expertise. The Loan Agreement between Lao PDR and the Asian Development Bank was signed on 25 September 1995 for the Postsecondary Education Rationalization Project. The process of establishment of NUOL has been carried out in an orderly and gradual manner and will last six years.
At the end of 1996, after the transfer of higher learning instituions to the National University, the higher institutions in Lao PDR are: - 1 National University located in the municipality of Vientiane offering Bachelor's Degree and Diploma Degree Courses;
- 1 College of Law offering Diploma Course located in the municipality of Vientiane. In the near future, according to the development of the Faculty of Law in NUOL, this college will be transformed into the college of Magistrate serving especially the Ministry of Justice.
- 4 Teachers Training Colleges offering Diploma in Pedagogy located in Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Savannakhet and Champassack for teachers in lower secondary schools. In the future, these colleges will be transformed into "Regional Colleges" to better serve the community and also NUOL. Coordination of higher education
The Ministry of Education (MOE) coordinates with the Board of Universities or Faculties, for example the curricula of teaching programmes for subjects are prepared in the university or faculty and sent for approval to the Ministry of Education. In addition, each faculty has a yearly conference, to review what they have taught and exchange ideas on how to adapt and improve, particularly the curriculum of each.
The Department of Higher Technical and Vocational Education or HTVED (within MOE) is responsible for management and coordination of the country's post-secondary sub-sector, including the overall supervision and monitoring.
Institutional governance The University or Faculties at which the study programme is successfully completed confers the bachelor's degrees. Students who perform satisfactorily in the final examination obtain a bachelor's degree of the university.
A ministerial decree delegates powers to the university's rector, or his delegate, to sign and to give the bachelor's degree to the graduates. Its name is always mentioned on the Bachelor's paper.
The dean of academic affairs of each faculty is also responsible for student selection and admission, student records, academic curriculum development, programme accreditation and quality control. From the Handbook on Degrees, Diplomas, and Other Certificates Granted by Higher Education Institutions in Asia and the Pacific |
