Hanoi (VNA) – A workshop and hands-on training on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Robotics education was held in Kaysone Phomvihane city in Savannakhet province of Laos from September 26-27, attracting a large number of officials and teachers from both Vietnam and Laos.
The event was co-organised by the Consulate General of Vietnam in Savannakhet, the Vietnam STEM Alliance, and the Department of Education and Training of Lang Son province.
Speaking at the workshop, Consul General of Vietnam in Savannakhet Dang Thi Hai Tam said the programme was not only a forum for professional exchange but also vivid testimony to the close Vietnam–Laos friendship. She stressed that STEM and Robotics education are vital tools for the younger generation to master technology, nurture creativity, and link science and engineering with socio-economic development.
Tam expressed her hope that, following the workshop, teachers and students in Central Laos would organise a STEM Robotics competition in late 2025 to mark the 50th anniversary of Laos's National Day (December 2, 1975 – 2025). She affirmed that the Consulate General stands ready to support the initiative should local schools wish to participate.
At the event, Hoang Van Thao, head of the delegation from Lang Son’s Department of Education and Training, emphasised that Vietnam and Laos are close neighbours bound by a special friendship. In the context of globalisation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, cooperation in education – particularly in STEM, Robotics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) – is essential for preparing high-quality human resources for the future, he said.
Thao noted that in recent years, Lang Son has taken comprehensive measures to promote STEM education, including adopting a 2025-2030 development plan, enhancing teacher training, establishing STEM and Robotics clubs in schools, organising robotics competitions, and working with the Vietnam STEM Alliance and international educational organisations. These efforts have helped students achieve notable results at national and international levels. He affirmed that Lang Son is ready to share experience and support Lao provinces in developing STEM education, thereby nurturing the young generation – the future of both nations.
During the two-day workshop, 20 teachers from Lang Son province provided practical training for their Lao counterparts in robotics to help them apply the knowledge in classrooms. The event offered teachers and students in Laos valuable hands-on experience and new approaches to implementing STEM education, while also opening up opportunities for bilateral cooperation between the education sectors of the two countries.
This practical initiative is expected to help develop a skilled workforce to meet the requirements of the new era, while further consolidating the enduring special friendship between Vietnam and Laos./.
VNA
