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LAOS - HRD in Vientiane paves the way for enhanced vocational training aligned with Labour Market Demands
On 22nd August, a workshop took place, marking an important step forward in addressing the persistent mismatch between vocational skills development and labour market demands in Vientiane Capital. Organised by the Vientiane Capital Human Resource Development (VCHRD) Committee, the primary body responsible for overseeing, supervising, planning, and leading HRD initiatives at the sub-national level, and supported by the Skills for Tourism, Agriculture, and Forestry (STAF) Programme, the workshop brought together about 40 key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MoLSW), public and private vocational education and training providers, and various representatives from the business sector in Vientiane Capital.
Recognising that vocational education and training (VET) courses often do not keep pace with the evolving needs of industry, the primary aim of the workshop was to enhance participants’ understanding of labour market-oriented VET course development processes and the critical requirement for effective collaboration in this regard between VET providers and industry. During the workshop, participants discussed the findings of a recent Enterprise Survey conducted by the VCHRD Committee in the Capital. The survey provided valuable insights into the skills needs and workforce expectations of businesses, highlighting the urgency of aligning vocational training with the demands of the labour market.
Presentations covered a range of topics, including the mechanisms for obtaining and integrating labour market information (LMI) and existing structures for public-private collaboration regarding vocational skills development. Participants engaged in group activities to identify the strengths and the shortcomings of the current system and brainstormed how to enhance collaboration between the education and enterprise sectors.
The workshop concluded with participants developing actionable plans and commitments to refine and sustain these collaborative mechanisms, the goal being to create a responsive and demand-driven vocational training ecosystem that not only meets the current needs of industries but also anticipates future skills requirements.
Ms. Daovieng Phongsavath, Deputy Director General of the Department of Planning, Ministry of Education and Sports and co-chair of the meeting described the importance of the workshop as follows. “Today, we've gathered so many key players from both the private and public sectors because they recognize the critical importance of aligning vocational training with market demands. This workshop is an excellent initiative, as it brings together diverse stakeholders at the provincial level to collaborate. We are confident that this programme (STAF) will help us strengthen the coordination between the public and private sectors, which is essential for ensuring that new graduates are equipped with the skills needed to secure meaningful employment. This collaboration is vital not just for Vientiane Capital, but for other provinces as well, as we work towards our shared goal of fostering a skilled and competitive workforce."
This workshop represented an important milestone in the development of a more labour market oriented VSD system. It activated an existing forum for regular dialogue on current and future human resource needs, knowledge sharing, and coordination.
The Skills for Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry programme is co-financed by Lao PDR, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Switzerland and the European Union, and jointly implemented by the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.
