(KPL) The Government of Savannakhet province, the Foreign Affairs and Trade Department of the Government of Australia, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) jointly launched a new mobile application ‘Kaysone Self-Learning’ on July 20 at the Lao Chalern Square in Savannakhet.

With the application, students in three education institutes in Kaysone Phomvihane City and across the Lao PDR can build through smart phones soft skills required to start their first jobs.

“Soft skills like negotiation, interpersonal, and problem solving are not taught in tertiary schools in Savannakhet province. Students need these skills to improve their work competence and ethics to prepare for entering the workforce. We thank the ADB and the Government of Australia for their supports to develop this application,” said Mr. Prasongsin Chaleunsouk, Mayor of Kaysone Phomvihane City, Savannakhet province.

The ‘Kaysone Self-Leaning’ is developed under the Technical Assistance: Enhancement of Soft Skills for Youth Employment in Kasyone Phomvihane, financed by the ASEAN Australia Smart City Trust Fund.

The technical assistance aims to improve soft skills on preparing for employment preparedness of students in Savannakhet University, Savannakhet Technical and Vocational College, and Xaisombat Technical Institute in Savannakhet province. Youth, job seekers, graduates from other schools will also benefit from using the application. Companies and manufacturers including those from the Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone provided suggestions to the design of the e-learning materials.

Youth not in employment, education, or training was estimated at 42% for females and 36% for males in 2022 according to the Lao Bureau of Statistics. Tool such as ‘Kaysone Self-Learning’ is needed to support the school-to-work transition process to reduce youth unemployment and help employers fill their vacancies.

The application provides materials, e-learning videos, and role play videos that demonstrate, including how to prepare a good resume and be well prepared for a job interview. The users of the application will easily access and learn those soft skills on their smart phones.

“The uniqueness of the ‘Kasyone Self-Learning’ app is that the modules have been developed with extensive participation by students, teaching staff, and the employers in the communities,” says Ms. Sonomi Tanaka, ADB Country Director for the Lao PDR. “But the experience of Kaysone Phomvihane City is applicable to students across the country who feel nervous to jump-start their first work”.

The application launch today is attended also by Ms. Lingthong Sentavanh, Vice Governor of Savannakhet Province, Mr. Pasongsin Chaleunsouk, Mayor of Kaysone Phomvihane City, Savannakhet province; Mr. Robin Flint, First Secretary of Australian Embassy and Mr. Renadi Budiman, Head of Project Administration Unit, Asian Development Bank-Lao PDR Resident Mission.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

Source:
courtesy of KPL NEWS AGENCY

by KPL Lao News Agency

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