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Laos Australia Institute is managed by Coffey on behalf of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

LAOS AUSTRALIA INSTITUTE NEWSLETTER ISSUE 1 | OCTOBER 2014MITTAPHAP

No12 Message from the Australian Ambassador

4 Message from the Institute Director

8 50 Lao citizens to study in Australia under Australian scholarships

12 Australian mindset leads to business success

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LAI NEWSLETTER

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Message from the Australian Ambassador

“There is no better investment we can make in Laos’ economic development than continuing

to support the next generation of leaders through scholarships and exchanges.”

I am delighted to be contributing my first message to the Laos Australia Institute newsletter. I have enjoyed meeting a large number of Australian alumni in my first six months as Ambassador to the Lao PDR – including at our very enjoyable annual alumni dinner last March. Our talented alumni network continues to grow and diversify, and achieve remarkable new heights in your careers. I congratulate, in part icular, Thipphakone Chanthavongsa (Un ivers i ty of Canberra) and Saleumxay Kommasith (Monash University) on their recent appointments as Vice Ministers for Finance and Foreign Affairs respectively. I wish them well in these challenging roles. As you know, the Australian Government continues to manage an extensive development cooperation program in the Lao PDR, taking in education and human resource development, rural development, UXO clearance and victim support, trade reform and natural resource management. My strong view, reinforced by my contact with alumni across the country, is that there is no better investment we can make in Laos’ economic development than continuing to support the next generation of leaders through scholarships and exchanges. This will remain a big part of our program going forward.

Message

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Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meeting Lao school students earlier this year

It’s been a busy and productive six months in Lao-Australia relations. We celebrated the 20th anniversary of the first friendship bridge back in April. And Foreign Minister the Hon Julie Bishop MP visited Vientiane in July, launching Australia’s new basic education program with her Lao counterpart, H.E. Dr Phankham Viphavanh. Ms Bishop also invited H.E. Thongsing Thammavong to visit Australia next year – the first ever visit by an incumbent Lao Prime Minister. The Australian Minister for Education, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, also visited Laos in September for regional and bilateral meetings, and awarded certificates to the latest group of Australia Awards scholars. While in Vientiane, Ministers Bishop and Pyne also discussed the potential arrival in Laos in 2015 of the first Australian students under the New Colombo Plan - a program designed to give young Australians first-hand knowledge and experience of countries in our region. I look forward to working closely with you over the next few years to support alumni initiatives, whether social, networking or professional deve lopment oppor tun i t i es , or philanthropic or volunteer initiatives. We look forward to your ideas and to staying in contact through the Lao Australia Alumni Club website (www.laac.la). John Williams

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop meeting with Lao Prime Minister Thongsing

Thammavong

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Message from the Institute Director

The Laos Australia Institute (LAI) commenced in January 2014 and is a partnership between the Governments of Laos and Australia. The aim of LAI is to help Laos to meet the country’s most critical human resource development needs over the next four years and beyond.

LAI works with the National Human Resource Development Committee, as well as strengthening public sector capability in key agencies such as the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Ministry of Home Affairs as well as the Lao National Commission for

the Advancement of Women and the Lao Disabled Persons Association. LAI also manages the Australia Awards scholarships in partnership with Vientiane College. Scholarships such as the Australia Awards are a key mechanism for addressing human resource gaps in Laos.

Part of managing Australian scholarships program includes working closely with alumni. We have developed an Alumni Engagement Strategy that aims to support and strengthen the Australian Alumni Network in Laos,

provide opportunities for professional development and social events, and support Australia’s public diplomacy. Later in 2014 we will be launching a small grants scheme, whereby eligible projects proposed by alumni can be supported and funded. Details of this scheme will be announced shortly.

As alumni of Australian universities and colleges, LAI understands and appreciates that you are making a significant contribution to the development of Laos, as individuals and in your workplaces. We hope this newsletter will keep you informed of the work of LAI and other Australian development programs in Laos, as well as other alumni events and news. For more details, or if you are an Australian alumnus and wish to contribute your thoughts on how we work, please contact us here at LAI.

Bill Pennington

Message

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Laos Australia Institute Team

David CraigHRD Manager

Keovina KingvongsaSocial Inclusion Associate (Gender)

Sengsuly PhimmasoneSocial Inclusion Associate (Disability)

Nouandam KommanaMonitoring and Evaluation Officer

Latdavone Khounthalangsy Awards Assistant

Soraya NhouyvanisvongAwards Associate

Alounny Keosouvanh Alumni Associate

Amanda RobertsAwards Manager

Chanthida Phomdouangdy Receptionist and Admin Assistant

Thipphasone OnpanhAdministration and Finance Assistant

Aaron RosadaOperations Manager

Anmany BoualaphornLogistics Coordinator

Soutsnow SensomphoneIT/MIS Officer

Denley PikeAdviser

Simmavanh VayuphakLANS Assistant

Vannaphone SitthirathPR Coordinator

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Introducingthe New First Secretary

Ms Clemency Oliphant is the Austral ian Embassy’s new First Secretary, Development Cooperation. She is responsible for Australia’s education and human resource development programs.

Clemency has worked for the Australian aid program for seven years, with previous assignments in Kenya, Egypt and most recently, Timor-Leste.

She has managed programs in humanitarian assistance, rural development, education, scholarships and community-driven development. She brings with her a passion for development, strong knowledge of the Australian aid program and a desire to learn.

Clemency hopes to support the successful implementation of Australia’s human resource development and education programs, build strong relationships with her Lao colleagues and counterparts, and will try very hard to learn Lao.

Message

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From left to right, Dalavieng Thiladej, Senior Program Officer, Clemency Oliphant, First Secretary,Pathana Siphandone, Program Officer,Manithda Sithimolada, Program Manager, Dave Vosen, Deputy Head of Mission

DFAT HRD Team

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At a Ceremony in Vientiane on 12 September 2014, Australia’s Minister for Education, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP presented 50 Lao students with Australia Awards Scholarships.

The 50 recipients will join a select group of over 1,100 Lao citizens who have studied in Australia under the Australia Awards scholarship programme and returned to Laos with world-leading tertiary qualifications.

Mr Pyne said the Australia Awards are invaluable in providing professional development opportunities for future leaders in developing countries.

“This programme is an important part of Australia’s overseas development work, in the Lao PDR and across the Asia-Pacific region. Australia Awards alumni are already well represented in senior government roles in the Lao PDR,” Mr Pyne said.The Australian Government confers up to 50 Australia Awards Scholarships for Lao citizens each year to complete undergraduate or postgraduate degrees, or technical and vocational training courses, in Australia. At least half the awards are conferred on Lao women.

50 Lao citizens to study in Australia under Australian scholarships

“Learning through the Australia Awards will open up professional development opportunities and provide an excellent platform for the recipient’s

future careers.”

The scholarships are a central and long-standing part of Australia’s $60 million annual aid programme in the Lao PDR, which focuses on education and human resource development, rural development, unexploded ordinance (UXO) clearance, trade and investment, and natural resource management.

Mr Pyne said through study and research, the Australia Awards recipients would develop the skills and knowledge to drive change and help build enduring people-to-people links with Australia.

“Learning through the Australia Awards will open up professional development opportunities and provide an excellent platform for the recipient’s future careers. These scholarships will also help

develop professional networks of contact and greater two-way understanding between Australia and the Lao PDR,” Mr Pyne said.

Each of the 50 Lao awardees demonstrated academic excellence and has undergone a highly competitive and rigorous selection process to earn a scholarship.

Globally, more than 4,500 scholars and fellows from over 140 countries each year undertake study, research and professional development through the Australia Awards, with around half studying at Australian universities.

News Feature

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Vientiane, 6 June —Almost 100 people including Australian scholarships Alumni and leaders in the trade and business sectors gathered to have a frank and open discussion on the challenges and issues around a changing trade environment as Laos prepares for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. The Workshop on “Managing for a Changing Trade Environment” was held by the Australian Alumni group, with support from the Australian Embassy and the Laos Australia Institute. The Workshop not only allowed participants to learn about the current situation affecting their businesses and the market in Laos but also to connect and network with each other and other leaders in the trade sector. Workshop speakers included Dr. Leeber Leebouapao, Director General of the National Economic Research Institute as well as Mr. Konesawang Nghardsaysone from the World Bank and Mr. Keovisouk Dalasane from 108 Job Magazine. They were joined by Mr. Sean Reilly from the Australian Government’s trade promotion organisation, Austrade.

Ms. Katheryn Bennett, First Secretary, Development Cooperation at the Australian Embassy praised the alumni in Laos for taking the initiative to hold this forum. “It is wonderful to see so many of our returned alumni interested in trade and regional

Australian Alumni Discuss Trade and ASEAN Integration

integration, which are important for the development of Laos. Australia is a longstanding development partner in Laos, and our aid program supports a number of initiatives that strengthen the policy environment to help prepare Laos for 2015” she continued. The speaker covered topics including the readiness of Laos to enter the AEC, the views of business operators, especially support and assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and issues of human resources, skills and employment.

The speakers were followed by a lively question and answer session, where the main concerns also related to ensuring labour market readiness, including being able to find workers with the right skills. Mr. Keovisouk Dalasane from 108 Job Magazine saw opportunities for local businesses, but warned that they needed to be ready. He said “Most people worry about more competition in the market once the AEC opens in Laos. It’s impossible to stop it so we business owners have to improve ourselves and find out how to take benefits from it instead and what we have to prepare to handle it.”

“Most people worry about more competition in the market once the AEC opens in Laos.

It’s impossible to stop it so we business

owners have to improve ourselves and find out how to take benefits

from it instead and what we have to prepare to

handle it.”

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Starting in June 2014, key people from Government of Laos ministries have attended a series of workshops on the principles and practices of human resource development (HRD) at the Laos Australia Institute. The workshops are designed to increase their skills in human

The Australian Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar, recently invited an Australia alumna in Laos to help them in establishing an Alumni group in that country. Ms Vilayphone Chounlamany ran a Project Planning Workshop for the Myanmar alumni group on 28 June 2014, as part of a professional development initiative.

Eighteen alumni from various fields such as hotel management, project management and government attended the Workshop. “It’s my great privilege to run this workshop for our alumni friends in Myanmar. They really eager to learn and interested in new knowledge. I would really like to go back,” Ms Vilayphone Chounlamany said.

Australia helps train government leaders

Lao Alumni Conducts Training in Myanmar

resource development planning.The workshops included representatives and HRD focal points from the national HRD Secretariat and from 28 government agencies including the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Lao Women’s Union and the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration. The Laos Australia Institute provides training and support in human resource development in order to help Laos meet current and future development challenges such as sustained economic growth, and the delivery of services and integration within the region through the ASEAN Economic Community.

Vilayphone did not just train the participants but she also learned a lot from them. “I was really impressed by a participant who shared his experience about the development and management of zoos. I would like to invite him to put a good system in place to improve our own zoos!” she added.

Vilayphone is a freelance consultant working on project evaluation, project design, social research, facilitation and training. She is the first Lao Australia Awards alumni to instruct a training for the alumni in other countries through the alumni network.

News Update

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The Laos Australia Institute incorporates Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS), Laos Australia National Scholarships (LANS) and Alumni into a broader human resource development framework. The Awards team, responsible for the management and administration of the scholarship programs has relocated to the

Australia Awards Team Update

Alumni donate books

Laos Australia Institute building on ASEAN Road, Nongbone Village.

The Awards team comprises Amanda Roberts (Awards Manager), Soraya Nhouyvanisvong (Awards Associate), Latdavone Khounthalangsy (Awards Assistant) and Alounny Keosouvanh (Alumni Associate). At Vientiane College, Denley Pike and his

team continue to manage the implementation of the LANS program and delivery of the preparation and pre-departure training for Australia Awards and GOLPET (Government of Laos Professional English Training). Denley is supported by Simmavanh Vayuphak (LANS Assistant) and, of course, the teachers at Vientiane College and NUOL (for LANS). How does this impact on you? We are (quietly) confident that we will continue to deliver the outstanding results the scholarship programs have achieved in the past. We look forward to the challenges ahead as we embrace a stronger human resource development outcome for the scholarship programs. We also look forward to further development opportunities for alumni and building on the achievements of the alumni association.

Australian alumni continue to work on their book donation project which promotes reading among school children in Laos. The alumni recently gave a number of books to children at Nam Yone primary school, in Maet district of Vientiane province. Maet district is one of the poorest districts in Laos, and road access is almost impossible in the rainy season. Nam Yone School is also quite poor, with bamboo walls, some of which are broken and the school has no proper water system or sanitation.

The alumni have also been working with the Lao-International Women’s Boat Racing Team in Xaifong Neua village in Vientiane Capital. The boat racing team helped the

village’s own team in maintaining the boat racing tradition as well as helping develop the village. The team was able to fund a library for the village’s new primary school while the alumni provided books.

In 2012, the alumni supplied books to other primary schools in remote areas of Vientiane Capital and Savannaket province. Alumni are encouraged to participate in these sorts of activities and give back to their communities in Laos. For more information on the book donation program, please contact Viboon Sithimolada at [email protected]

See more photos on page 19.

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Australian mindset leads to business success

“What I gained from Australia would be my confidence, my problem solving, never stop working; a kind of

responsibility mindset that I learnt from my Australian studies,”

Thepphasone Xaisana (Touk)Bachelor of International Business under Australia Awards, 2000

Alumni Story

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With the life experiences and knowledge gained while studying Bachelor degree of International Business at Swinburne University in Melbourne under an Australia Awards Scholarship from 1997 to 2000, Thepphasone Xaixana (Touk), a successful woman entrepreneur, runs New Link Lao, distributing Revlon, Vitamilk (soy milk) and Glico Pocky. Her three businesses employ more than 70 people in Laos, including many young ones who do not have opportunity to continue to higher education.

Her business in Laos started 11 years ago and has not only helped a number of young people–especially women–improve their incomes but also build their self-esteem and enhance their social skills. Phet A Ly is just one of them. 10 years ago, Phet was unable to further her education at university due to a lack of budget. With a passion for cosmetics, she decided to join Touk’s company 10 years ago and now is a Revlon Counter Supervisor. “I am so happy

to work with Touk and Revlon here. My work has given me a lot of skills and knowledge related to makeup, sales, marketing, customer service and communication. I have become a more independent, confident and responsible person,” Phet said. With this job, she can also help her siblings take care of their parents. Touk’s Revlon business is also open to anyone who is passionate about cosmetics, including lady-boys who are not commonly accepted in Lao society but welcomed by Touk, who believes they should not be excluded. “Here we have employed some lady-boys and gay men. I believe there are no other places that could offer them a proper job like us unless they have higher education,” Touk said.

While studying in Australia, Touk worked part time for a skate shop in Melbourne. This allowed her to interact with Australian and Asian customers and now uses these techniques in her current business. “I have applied the service mentality

that ‘the ‘customer is always right’ and transferred the team work spirit from the roller blade shop directly into what I am doing now,” Touk said.

As a distributor, Touk works non-stop to keep things going all the time. She has now expanded her business by joining Maikham, a Lao silk weaving factory, as a business partner. She aims to see Maikham expand internationally and make Lao silk well-known worldwide because she believes in Lao craftsmanship. “It’s a big dream and it’s a dream that we have been executing day-by-day with my business partner who has the plan laid out while I am going to help expanding and promoting it.” “What I gained from Australia would be my confidence, my problem solving, never stop working; a kind of responsibility mindset that I learnt from my Australian studies,” Touk added.

Touk checking a list of new products with Phet A Ly

(right)

Phet a Ly, Revlon Counter Supervisor arranging the

products (bottom)

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World Class Economic Research in Laos Vanthana Nolintha (Tee)

Bachelor of Business and Commerce under Australia Awards, 2003

Alumni Story

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“I work as an economic researcher hence the analytical skills, self-

discipline learning and academic honesty that I gained from studying in Australia helped me to advance my career,”

Vanthana Nolintha is one of the leading economists and economic researchers in Laos. He is currently Acting Director of the Macroeconomic Research Division at the National Economic Research Institute (NERI). Vanthana developed his strong interest in economics through his undergraduate study in business and commerce at Monash University, Melbourne, under an Australia Awards Scholarship.

At NERI, Vanthana’s work has helped both the Lao government and the private sector. He conducts research on macroeconomic issues to support the formation of the country’s long term development strategies, and trains government officials in macroeconomic analysis at central and provincial level.

“Our research and our monitoring report go directly to the government

and support their decision making in several important economic matters. During the time of external shocks, our research has supported the government by providing policy recommendations on how to minimize the impacts,” Vanthana says. For the private sector, his research findings also provide evidence based information so they can make more informed decisions.

Vanthana also helped develop the country’s new Macroeconomic Model and short term Macroeconomic Indexes. “With these tools, our national socioeconomic development plan and our long-term development strategy become more scientific based” he continued.

Vanthana acknowledges that experiences and skills gained from study in Australia have helped a lot. “I work as an economic researcher hence

the analytical skills, self-discipline learning and academic honesty that I gained from studying in Australia helped me to advance my career,” he said. “Very importantly, I have built a strong network with friends from Laos and overseas which become important asset for my future career and life-long friendship,” he added.

Following his undergraduate study, Vanthana returned to Australia to complete a Masters degree in Development and International Economics at the Australian National University, Canberra, under an Australia-IMF Scholarship. But Vanthana has still not stopped learning – he is currently studying for a PhD in economics in Japan.

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QUT Lao students gain University Recognition and Support

The QUT Lao Student Club (QUTLSC) is the first Lao student club to receive recognition from their University as a Special Purpose Project Team (SPPT). It will become an official club once it gets enough members.

QUTLSC was established by three Lao students - Nalongded Luanglath as the president, Sisavath Douangsavanh as vice-president and treasurer and Luckanong Souliyavong as the marketing coordinator. These students are all Australia Awards recipients at QUT. Currently the club has more than 30 members from different universities in Brisbane.

The main purpose of QUTLSC is to offer itself as a means for Lao students to gather and share the beauties of their traditions, culture, food, art and native land with both Australian and other international students. Through a number of activities throughout the year, the club contributes to the development of a more positive and vibrant student community.

Club president Nalongded Luanglath saw the need to establish the club to promote Lao culture and to find a “meeting place” for other Lao students to get together. “Our club allows us to represent our country, societies and cultures to others. I also felt a bit homesick and believed that many other Lao students felt the same,” Nalongded said.

So far, the club has organised an orientation week stall at QUT Gardens Point and co-hosted the very first international water festival (Pi May Lao) with the QUT Thai, Burmese, Cambodian and Sri Lankan student clubs.

“We believe that the presence of QUTLSC is beneficial for Lao students in Brisbane in many ways regardless of what university they attend. Lao students can come and celebrate some Lao cultural festivals together. They can also showcase their tradition and culture to others”, Nalongded added.

QUTLSC encourages Lao students to be involved in many other campus activities. This helps the students to learn more about other cultures and at the same time enjoy their time at university. You are welcome to visit the club through its facebook page: www.facebook.com/qutlsc

“Our club allows us to represent our country, societies and cultures to others.”

Feature

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Education is vitally important for lifting people out of poverty, and this is especially the case for young women. The Australian government, through the Laos Australia Institute, provides scholarships to over 280 young men and women from disadvantaged rural areas in Laos to attend university. Half of these scholarships, known as LANS, are reserved for young women. Young women such as Thatsanee Huksaphone.

Thatsanee received a LANS award in 2012 and is now in her third year of study towards a Bachelor of Chemistry Education at the National University

Breaking the Poverty Cycle

of Laos. “Without LANS, I would not have come this far,” Thatsanee says.

And Thatsanee has come a long way from her village in Houn District in Oudomxay Province. Throughout her primary and secondary education, she struggled to attend school because her family needed her labour to earn income. At the age of eight, Thatsanee helped her mother sell food in neighbouring villages, walking all the way on foot, while at other times she worked on a maize farm. “When we finished our rice, I had to work. I had to. I can do anything to make sure we have food for my family”.

Amongst the seven children in her family, three had to drop out from school. But Thatsanee was determined. “My parents never told me to stop school but I could tell that they had no money. Many times, they asked to postpone the school fees”, she recalls. However, as one of the brightest students in her school, her family and teacher strongly encouraged her to finish high school. “Somehow, I thought if I quit, our family would still end up in poverty. Therefore I had to study”. After finishing high school, Thatsanee’s family did something they had never done before. They borrowed money from relatives to send one of their children to sit the entrance examination at the National University in Vientiane.

“Without LANS, I would not have come this far,”

Thatsanee Huksaphone, LANS Awardee 2012

Feature

Thatsanee’s story represents the impact that educating girls and young women can have for poor communities. She believes that her degree can make a huge difference in improving the family’s situation and also help her village. “After I graduate, I will go back home and teach at my school because we do not have enough chemistry teachers. I want to make my teachers and my family proud of me.” But her story does not end there. Because of her scholarship, her family is now able to keep her younger brother at high school. Thatsanee is living proof that If you educate a girl, you educate a nation.

Baci ceremony for Thatsanee before going to

study in Vientiane

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Alumni donate books Alumni donating books and stationery

to Xaifong Neua Primary School

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www.laosaustraliainstitute.org

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Contact us

Unit 18, Asean Road, Nongbone Village, Xaysettha District Vientiane, Lao PDR

T +856 21 265721 E [email protected]