Delegates in Laos (left) and China attend the online unveiling ceremony for the China-Laos Silk Road College.

New medical training facility opens in Champasak

The newly-opened China-Laos Silk Road College aims to upgrade healthcare in Laos by training medical staff in advanced Chinese professional standards and use of the Mandarin language.
Linxia Modern Vocational College, Champasak College of Health and Hygiene, and Champasak Hospital hosted an online ceremony to mark the opening of the new facility.
The college will function as a cooperative training programme under a partnership framework. It will deliver skills training, but does not have a physical campus or classroom block at Champasak Hospital.
The partnership marks a breakthrough for the Chinese-run college in extending overseas vocational education programmes. The training provided will share strengths and integrate training with medical practice.
Prior to the opening of the facility, the Institute of Vocational Education Development under Laos’ Ministry of Education and Sports approved three standards formulated by the School of Health at Champasak Hospital.
These are the Initial Vocational Education and Training Level 4 standard for medical and nursing staff, the smart healthcare service and management standard, and the professional nursing standard.
A college representative said compliance with these high-quality educational standards in Laos will create a strong foundation for cross-border training.
The training framework facilitates the sharing of educational standards and resources, along with joint efforts to produce talented healthcare personnel and advance the medical industry, he added.
The college will benefit from high-quality educational resources, advanced teaching models and mature practical experience, he said. This will deepen vocational education cooperation with other Lancang-Mekong countries and train skilled workers for China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The first course offered is the online "Chinese plus Vocational Skills" module, which integrates language learning, professional skills, and industry norms.
It covers key areas including nursing, elderly care services and management, to meet the growing needs of the Lao health sector.

By Times reporters
 (Latest Update May 28, 2026)