The Second National Round Table served to prepare the Drafting of the “Policy Roadmap for the implementation of strategies on the internationalisation of Laos HE” (T. 2.4.). It took place on the 27th of April 2022 and was hosted by Champasack University Lao PDR.

There were 41 people participating in the Round-Table. 5 attendees from each Partner University (5 from the National University of Laos (NUoL), 5 from Souphanouvong University, 5 from Savannakhet University, and 5 from the University of Health Sciences), except from the host university, Champasak University, that accounted for 17 participants.

The Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) was also present, with 5 people participating, among them, the General Director Dr. Saykhong Saynasine and the General Director Dr. Silinthone Sacklokham, and also the Deputy Director of Multilateral Cooperation and International Relations Department, Ms. Nittaya Visonnavong.

The Round Table was structured as follows: (1) first there was a more theoretical part (around one-hour duration), with a  short presentation of the Policy Roadmap, with its Objective, Background, Different Scenarios, and Challenges, as well as its Content and Structure; (2) after that, there was a more practical part (around two hours duration) for which Working Groups were established. These three groups had to discuss and later on, expose their conclusions to the rest of the attendees.

At the end of the round table, a wrap-up session collected all these conclusions, and some closing remarks were highlighted. 

The tangible result from this round-table was that of starting to establish the policy roadmap for implementing the internationalisation strategies, which will support OPEN partners’ policy reform to help reach the objectives set in the MoES policy reform. However, there were also intangible results, it served to strengthen national dialogue and to exchange informal and formal information and thoughts. As well as to do networking between the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) and the different Partner Universities.