First Students from Laos

One of the most recent partners from the South-East Asian region is the National University of Laos. In September 2009 the first graduates arrived in Leuven to begin the master’s programs. They share their experience:

­Mienga Phommainh, Sunita Sayadeth, Daosadeth Soysouvanh, and Xaysamone Dittaphong, the first students from Laos.  (Photo: Filip Van Loock)

Unique opportunity
Miengma has a bachelor in Electronics Engineering and is connected to the Electronics Department at NUOL as an assistant teacher. He takes care of seminars and labs in electronic circuits. “Group T offered us an opportunity to obtain a master’s degree and gain international experience”, he recounts. " It’s not an easy decision to make to leave your country, family, and friends for two years and throw yourself into an unknown adventure. Luckily, Group T took very good care of us. Even though at the moment we are the only students from Loas, we still felt at home pretty quickly.”

“Living in Leuven took a lot of getting used to”, Miengma continues. “Everything here is so different. I was impressed by the beautiful buildings in the city and the willingness of people to help.”

After he completes his master’s studies in Electromechanical Engineering with an option in Intelligent Mechanics, Miengma wants to go home. “I’m going to teach again”, he affirms. “And everything that I’ll have learned at Group T, I’ll offer to the benefit of my students there.”

Back to teaching
Sunita obtained her bachelor in Civil Engineering this year. At Group T, she is also enrolled in the Electromechanical Engineering master’s program, but her option is Intelligent Manufacturing.

Sunita and her friends are sharing an apartment with four Cambodian students who arrived at Group T last year. “They’ve been through everything that we are now experiencing and know how you feel the first days and weeks. So we can count on them for a lot of understanding and support.”

Sunita also wants to go back to NUOL after she’s finished. There she hopes to be able to get a teaching position. “Laos urgently needs Electromechanical engineers to develop further”, she explains. “I’d like to do my bit there.”

Twice the advantage
Like Sunita, Daosadeth has a bachelor in Civil Engineering and is also enrolled in the Electromechanical Engineering program with an option in Intelligent Manufacturing. “To be honest, I’d imagined it would be stranger and more exotic”, he laughs. “Everything depends on how prepared you are and what your expectations are. It’s all in the mind.”

Daosadeth also knows what he wants to do after Group T. First work as a teacher for a few years at his home university and then travel abroad again to obtain a PhD. “It doesn’t matter where, as long as I become more competent in my specialty.”

Finally, Xaysamone has a bachelor in Electronics Engineering and has already been teaching in the Electronics Department for four years. “Getting a master’s has been my dream for a long time already,” he remarks. “And if you can also do it abroad, that’s twice the advantage.”

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