Building a Centre of Excellence in Population Research & Training

Establish Population and Development Studies and the Population Studies Centre at the National University of Laos (LAO/02/P06)

The Context

When the National University of Laos (NUOL) was established in 1995, it was constrained by limited human resource capacities in many areas including population studies. UNFPA started its support to NOUL under the second Country Programme (1997-2001) which helped create the capacity by training graduates in social sciences in applying basic techniques of population analysis to evaluate social and economic problems. During this period, a few faculty members were sent to attend overseas studies in population and development as well. The Population Studies Centre (PSC) became operational in 2000 to promote incorporation of population studies in the existing faculties, especially in social sciences and education, and research in population and development issues. It introduced a population and development module in the two-year foundation course as well as research studies on rural development, education of young girls and youth migration. In order to make PSC a centre of excellence, continued support from UNFPA was considered necessary.

The Project

The project aims at contributing to the increased awareness of policy makers and planners about population and gender issues by strengthening the capacity of PSC/NOUL and increasing the availability of research findings and their use in policy formulation and advocacy work. Expected project outputs are:

•  Strengthened capacity of NUOL/PSC staff in research and training through training needs assessment, development of curriculum, teaching modules and materials, study tours, workshops, overseas training and conducing research;

•  Wider dissemination of research results among government officials and development partners. PSC will also set up a website to publicize research reports as well as activities and courses developed by the centre. It will also establish a library/documentation centre;

•  Strengthened capacity of government officials and academic staff in research methodologies through the annual one-month methodology course including practical field work; and

Update on Achievements

•  Population curricula were newly developed/revised for the faculties of social sciences and education and for the foundation course to update population information and include RH information in 2003.

•  Research findings on attitudes towards girls education and youth migration were disseminated to government officials and faculty staff in 2003. Research findings on girls education and poverty were also disseminated in 2004 through newsletters.

•  PSC conducted RH sessions for students together with the Vientiane youth Centre in 2003-4.

•  33 teachers from the faculty of social sciences, Champassak and Luang Prabang campuses and PSC staff were trained in the use of the population studies manual and the ‘Lao Study 1' manual. Through them, more than 5,000 students benefited in 2004.

•  A research methodology course is conducted annually to train NUOL staff and government researchers in research design, data collection tools and data analysis.

•  A PSC website was created and updated in 2004.

•  A reference book ‘Reproductive Health Education' was printed.

•  A Lao-language glossary on population, gender and RH was drafted and is being finalized.

•  A Bachelor of Arts degree course in population was developed to start from September 2005.

Official Facts

Site: NOUL in Vientiane , Luang Prabang and Champassack

Duration: 2002-2006

Implementing Agency: PSC, NOUL

Financial Facts

UNFPA: US$ 250,000

Government: US$ 25,000