The 17 REAL Programme Teams, accompanied by EU partner experts, had a three-day working meeting on March 31st-April 2nd, 2025. Hosted by NUOL, REAL First General Meeting focused on:
(1) Preparation of the Line 1 Consultation about the Desired Graduate Profiles,
(2) Learning Outcomes as essential element of Internal Quality Assurance efforts for effective OBE implementation, with the “Learning Outcomes: why and what for?” first Line 2 capacity building session, and
(3) Line 3 Topic 1: “How to engage students in learning & help them deal with failure?” (sharing and discussing the ASK Students findings, learning what research says, and planning for the next steps, including experimenting with new ways to engage students in learning even better).
The National REAL Task Force representatives from MOES, including
- Deputy Director General HE, MOES, Dr Ammany Norrinl;
- Acting Director General, Department of Education Quality Assurance, Mr. Panya CHANTHAVONG;
- Head of Academic Affairs Division, DHE, Mrs. Nilinthone Sacklokham;
- Deputy Head of the Education Qualifications Management Division, DEQA, Ms. Monica Thipphalangsy;
- Head of Inspection, Monitoring and Evaluation, DHE, Mr. Phoutthasone Phommalath,
- Officer of Academic Affairs Division, DHE, & Erasmus+ National Focal Point for Lao PDR, Dr. Viengdavong Luangsithideth, and
- Officer of Academic Affairs Division, DHE, Mr. Khamla Volady;
as well as the highest educational authorities of the four Lao public universities – NUOL, SU, CU & SKU (see below) – had a number of working sessions and joined the REAL Programme Teams during the Closing Plenary to hear about the progress achieved in the three project working lined: Ensuring Relevance of Higher Education Studies (Line 1), Ensuring Feasibility of Higher Education Programmes (Line 2) and Ensuring Effectiveness of Teaching (Line 3).
The REAL General Meeting 1 was opened by the NUOL Acting President, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dexanourath Seneduangdeth, and Director General Department of Higher Education, MOES, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lavanh Vongkhamsane. The Closing Plenary counted with presence and interventions from the NUOL Vice President for Academic Affairs, Assoc. Prof. Thongsouk Keomany; SU Vice President for Administration, Dr. Somchay Phaignavong; SKU President, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Khoune Sackbouavong; CU Acting President, Dr. Phonesavanh Thepphasoulithone; and Deputy Director General HE, MOES, Dr Ammany Norrinl. Delegation of the European Union to Lao PDR was represented by Mrs Saymano Sanoubane. REAL Institutional Coordinators – Dr. Soubin Sisavath (NUOL), Mr. Thavone Panmanivong (SU), Ms. Phetsavanh Somsivila (SKU) and Mrs. Nonghkane Phanthanalay (CU) – and REAL Dissemination Team members from the five Lao partner institutions also contributed to the success of the first project face-to-face meeting.
