Vientiane, Lao PDR/ 9 November 2022: Mekong Institute (MI) and the National University of Laos (NUOL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on November 9, 2022 to facilitate mutual friendship and academic cooperation and use their joint expertise for the countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) through cooperative projects for inclusive and sustainable development in the region.
The MoU was signed by Mr. Suriyan Vichitletkarn, Executive Director of MI and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Somchanh Bounphanhmy, Vice Presiden of NUOL. Representatives from both sides witnessed the signing ceremony, among them Mr. Madhurjya Kumar Dutta, Program Manager, Trade & Investment Facilitation of MI, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bouadam Sengkhamkhoutlavong, Director of the NUOL Office, Dr. Khamlar Inkhavilay, Deputy Director of Research and Academic Services Office and Mr. Amkheng Phenglasy, Deputy Director of International Relations Office.
The MoU commits both NUOL and MI to cooperate in selected areas of capacity building for regional development, cooperation and integration. Acknowledging each other’s strengths and expertise, the two Parties may explore cooperation through, but will not be limited to, the following areas:
- Organization of joint training courses, conferences, meetings, workshops, and symposiums
- Undertaking of collaborative research projects
- Exchange of personnel as resource persons, scholars, on secondment, and visiting research fellows;
- Enhancement of professional experience of National University of Laos students
- Exchange of information and publications, including developing and sharing networks, contacts, databases, research studies and other forms of technical information to help strengthen the business environment in Lao PDR
- Other activities mutually agreed upon by the Parties
MI is an intergovernmental organization chartered to provide capacity building activities for government, private enterprises and civil society representatives involved in the development of the GMS. MI works closely with the governments of the six GMS countries (Cambodia, P.R. China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam) in designing and delivering high quality and relevant human resource development programs, as well as applied research studies identified by stakeholders. The mandate of MI includes serving GMS-focused Human Resource Development needs, promoting regional cooperation, facilitating networking, and building partnerships.
NUOL was established by merging the higher education institutes which were under the supervision of several ministries into one university under the Ministry of Education and Sports in accordance to the Decree Number 50/PM of the Prime Minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Laos dated 9 June 1995. NUOL is a multi-campus structure, with five campuses, namely Dongdok campus (Central), Sokpaluang campus (Faculty of Engineering), Nabong campus (Faculty of Agriculture), Donnokkhum campus (Faculty of Law and Political Science) and Tadthong campus (Faculty of Water Resource). It comprises 13 faculties, 2 institutes (Laos-Japan Human Resource Development Institute and Confucius Institute), a Central Library, six Centers and a University Hospital. NUOL has played a role in four areas: 1) providing higher education in areas required for the socio-economic development of Laos; 2) undertaking research in natural and social sciences; 3) preserving the arts, culture and traditions of the nation; and 4) providing academic services to society. It is known for its diversity of programs in Bachelor degrees; some Master degree programs are conducted in its academic disciplines, as are Doctoral degree programs.
