Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – Last week, the National University of Laos held a formal handover ceremony for the K-LAB Vientiane project, marking the successful completion of the five-year South Korea-Laos Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education cooperation project. This project has played a crucial role in strengthening Laos' digital education system, cultivating professional talent, and enhancing the innovation capabilities of young people, providing strong support for Laos' long-term digital transformation goals.
His Excellency Chung Young-soo, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Laos, Professor Tesanura Senedhuongde, President of the National University of Laos, Mr. Chankhachon Sonammanivong, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the National University of Laos, Mr. Lee Kyung-hwan, Vice President of the Lao National Institute for Information Technology Promotion, as well as faculty, staff, student representatives, and other guests from both countries attended the ceremony.
In his welcoming remarks, Professor Tesanura Senedhuongde, President of the National University of Laos, hailed this handover as a historic milestone in Laos' digital development process. He stated, “The significance of this handover ceremony extends far beyond the transfer of ICT equipment; it opens up new opportunities for our faculty, staff, and students, helping them cultivate the core competencies needed for the digital economy and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”
Professor Desanula Senedouande also expressed his sincere gratitude to the Korean government, the National Institute of Information and Public Affairs (NIPA), and the Korea Wireless Internet Solutions Association (KWISA) for their continuous support throughout the project, and reiterated that the National University of Laos is committed to further developing Vientiane K-LAB into a national-level ICT talent training and innovation center.
In his address, Mr. Lee Kyung-hwan, Vice Director of the National Institute of Information and Public Affairs (NIPA), highlighted the significant achievements of the Vientiane K-LAB project over the past five years, including conducting 61 training programs, successfully cultivating 4,222 young talents, and donating 979 pieces of equipment (covering 69 types of digital devices and 159 types of electronic tools). He emphasized, “Today’s handover ceremony is not the end of the project, but the beginning of a new chapter in cooperation. In the future, K-LAB will continue to play a core role in supporting Laos’ digital transformation and capacity building.”
Following the handover ceremony, the National University of Laos will take full control of the independent operation and management of K-LAB Vientiane Branch, specifically covering facility and equipment maintenance, training program planning and implementation, and the development and expansion of new courses and initiatives.
This handover aligns with the Lao government’s priority development direction regarding digital transformation and ICT talent cultivation, making Vientiane K-LAB a long-term pillar of Laos’ human capital development strategy. Representatives from both Korea and Laos agreed that this handover is an important step in strengthening Laos’ future digital capabilities and deepens bilateral cooperation in the ICT field. The ceremony concluded successfully in an atmosphere of friendly cooperation and mutual trust, with both sides expressing their willingness to continue deepening cooperation in the future.
