On October 20, 2025, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on academic cooperation was signed between the College of Local Administration (COLA), Khon Kaen University (KKU), and the Department of Planning, Ministry of Education and Sports of the Lao PDR. The ceremony took place in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
The signing was presided over on the Laos side by Mr. Sithong Sikhao, Director-General of the Department of Planning, Ministry of Education and Sports, Lao PDR. Representing the Thai side was Asst. Prof. Sirirak Laochankham, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Local Administration. The objective is to jointly drive the development of executive leadership in educational policy and planning for Laos.
In the previous period, the two institutions have collaborated on executive development and personnel training programs for the Ministry of Education and Sports of the Lao PDR. This collaboration specifically focused on the design, crafting, and implementation of educational policies; strategic planning and execution in the education sector; the application of AI in organizational management and strategy formulation; and educational executive development in partnership with the Faculty of Education, Khon Kaen University. These initiatives were supported by the Ministry of Education and Sports of the Lao PDR, the World Bank, and various international organizations.
This latest signing reflects the shared commitment to developing both executive-level and operational personnel, empowering them to respond effectively to modern changes. This aligns with Khon Kaen University’s crucial policy of supporting development collaborations with neighboring countries and nations in the Mekong sub-region.
The specific goals for implementing this MOU collaboration include:
- Developing executives and personnel on an on-demand basis.
- Exchanging specialized executives and personnel through on-the-job training.
- Offering Master’s and Doctoral scholarships to high-performing personnel from the department to study at COLA, to cultivate future organizational leaders.
- Conducting research on the educational policy reform of the Lao PDR.
Furthermore, COLA KKU will serve as a node to coordinate and facilitate cooperation with specialized units across Khon Kaen University.
Stay tuned to this page for updates and continuous projects!
