Vientiane Times April 30, 2018
Nam Theun 2 Power Company (NTPC), Theun Hinboun Power Company (THPC), and Faculty of Engineering, National University of Laos conducted a seminar for Lao German Technical College (LGTC) students to raise awareness about hydropower and enhance capacity building in the sector.
The Hydropower Day took place at the vocational college and was attended by NTPC representative, Mr Anouphone Bouthavong, College Deputy Director, Mr Koukeo Phommavongsa and around 200 LGTC students.
Deputy Director General of the Department of Technical and Vocational Education, Ministry of Education and Sports, Mr Somlith Virivong told the seminar that the college needed to collaborate with the private sector including hydropower companies. He said the seminar was part of long-term cooperation in vocational training and economic development between the Lao-German Technical College in Vientiane and NTPC and THPC.
“This includes training courses for electronic technicians and on electrical and procedural components. Both sides value the equality of male and female students and want to integrate both into the courses,” he said.The seminar also sought to strengthen cooperation and the partnership between the hydropower companies and the leading vocational institutions in Laos as well as raising students’ interest in the hydropower sector and the employment opportunities it can offer at the end of their studies, he added.
Students had the opportunity to learn about hydropower and its high potential in Laos; the case study of the Nam Theun 2 and Theun Hinboun projects was also presented by professionals from both leading hydropower companies.
The seminar will be also carried out for students of Khammuan Technical-Vocational College early next month. Since the LGTC is closely connected with Germany and its (unique) dual training system, their objective is to include more and more companies in the training courses on offer, in order to provide a practice-oriented vocational education. Compared to the German system, in which vocational training is split up between vocational schools (theory) and the companies (practice), the LGTC developed a system whereby both parts are (partly) combined in the College.
Companies use the variety of machines and training devices in the College to offer training courses they cannot provide in their own workshop due to the lack of machines or personnel. Whenever possible, companies offer in-company training in their own workshops. The LGTC cooperates with many different local and international companies such as Toyota and RMA Ford in the automotive section, Phu Bia Mining in the metal and electrical sections, Kubota in the agro-machinery section, Endress Hauser and Nam Theun 2 Power Company in the electrics section, and BHS Corrugated in the electric and mechanic section.