President Thongloun Sisoulith addresses a gathering marking the 30th anniversary of the National University of Laos.

President urges National University of Laos to raise education standards, strengthen research

Party Secretary General and President Thongloun Sisoulith has called on the National University of Laos (NUOL) to improve the quality of higher education, strengthen scientific research and produce highly skilled graduates capable of meeting the country's growing development needs.
The President outlined these priorities in his address at a ceremony held at the university in Vientiane on Friday to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its founding.
He urged the university to modernise its curricula, improve teaching standards, expand international cooperation and strengthen its role as a leading centre of higher education and scientific research in Laos.

President Thongloun said the anniversary should not simply be an occasion to celebrate past achievements, but also an opportunity to assess weaknesses, and set new priorities for the university's future development.
"Education is the foundation of the nation's future and development," he said, stressing the importance of producing qualified professionals with the knowledge, technical skills and abilities required to support national progress.
The President emphasised the need to regularly update academic programmes in response to advances in science and technology, changing labour market requirements and the country's development priorities.
He called for teaching methods to move beyond the traditional transmission of knowledge towards developing students' analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, creativity and capacity to apply knowledge in practical situations.
Another key priority was strengthening the university's scientific research capacity and ensuring that research findings contribute directly to national development.
"The National University of Laos should not be only a place that passes on knowledge. It must be a source of new knowledge, a gathering place of intellectual treasure, and an important force for solving society's problems," the President said.
He encouraged greater research in agriculture, industry, energy, environmental protection, public health, the digital economy and public administration.
Research findings should generate practical solutions, improve productivity, add value to products and provide scientific evidence to support government policymaking, he added.

President Thongloun also called for greater investment in lecturer development, including improvements in academic qualifications, teaching methods, foreign language proficiency, digital skills and research capabilities.
He urged the university to establish effective mechanisms to attract and retain qualified academic staff while improving classrooms, laboratories, libraries, student accommodation and other learning facilities.

Looking ahead, the President stressed the importance of developing a clear long-term strategy, supported by measurable targets, investment plans and effective monitoring mechanisms.
He emphasised that the university’s success should be measured by the quality of its graduates and academic staff, as well as the practical contributions of its research to society.

The President also raised concerns about declining enrolment in higher education institutions and weakening interest in learning among young people, calling for an examination of the underlying causes and measures to address these challenges.
During his address, President Thongloun congratulated the university's leadership, lecturers, researchers, staff and students on three decades of achievements in developing the country's human resources.

Established on November 5, 1996, NUOL has produced 142,910 graduates over the past 30 years.
The university currently operates 13 faculties offering 265 academic programmes and employs 1,383 teaching staff, including five professors, 76 associate professors and 208 doctorate holders.

Its research achievements include 690 internally funded projects over the past three decades, involving more than 3,000 researchers.
NUOL has also strengthened its international engagement, with 795 students from 13 countries enrolled during the 2025–2026 academic year.

Looking ahead to the next 30 years, under its long-term development strategy for 2026–2055, the university aims to improve academic quality, expand research and innovation, and strengthen its position among Asia’s leading universities.

Calling on the university to make its 30th anniversary a new milestone for development, President Thongloun said "Our beloved country can develop and prosper only by relying on education as the force that builds quality human resources, driving our country forward steadily toward the goals the Party and State have set."

By Lamphone Pasanthong
 (Latest Update November 7, 2026)