OPEN-ing Laos Higher Education System to internationalisation strategies – OPEN

OPEN is a project that started in 2020 and will run until 2023 and involves European and Laotian universities. It meets an important need of Laotian universities to set up structures and harmonise internationalisation practises, as well as ensure the quality of the study programmes through international cooperation, as proposed by the Ministry of Sport and Education.

In today globalised world Higher Education is considered as a public good that has a potential to contribute to the country development agenda and promote an economic growth through upgrading skills and boosting research. The harmonisation of the international actions should include the sharing of basic and current practices, long established already in countries belonging to the European Higher Education Area, which could facilitate the exchange of students and academic staff, the development of joint projects or other international activities. 

OPEN’s general objective is therefore to increase the academic quality and research activities of universities in the PDR of Laos through the development of internationalisation capacities.

The main expected outputs will be: 

1. Increased cooperation and sharing of good practices via the needs analysis and Institutional Building. 
2. Strengthening of Internationalisation of higher education system through the promotion of HEIS governance reforms. 
3. Enhancement of managerial and administrative staff capacities in dealing with internationalisation issues. 
4. Establishment of a National Network. 

5. Increase public awareness and understanding of Internationalisation.