Internationalizing STEM education in Laos
Institutional responses to global higher education
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32674/h03cyn34Keywords:
STEM education, internationalization, motivations, benefits, challenges, academics, university leadersAbstract
As science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education becomes increasingly important for national development and global competitiveness, higher education institutions are under growing pressure to equip graduates with both technical expertise and international competencies. This qualitative study examines how universities in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) are responding to the internationalization of STEM education. The research draws on an analysis of institutional policy documents and semi-structured interviews with 29 administrators and academic staff from four public universities. The findings indicate that universities have adopted an “open-door” approach to internationalization through four primary strategies: student and academic mobility, international research collaboration, internationalization at home, and strategic institutional partnerships.
References
Almukhambetova, A., & Kuzhabekova, A. (2022). COVID-19 and the changes in STEM students’ intentions to pursue international mobility: What do the students say? European Education, 54 (1-2), 47-62.
Avolio, B., & Benzaquen, J. (2024). Internationalization strategies for non-Western higher educational institutions: A systematic literature review and conceptual framework. International Journal of Educational Management 25 June 2024; 38 (4): 1079–1099.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3, 77–101.
Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches. Sage.
de la Garza, A. (2021). Internationalizing the Curriculum for STEAM (STEM + Arts and Humanities): From Intercultural Competence to Cultural Humility. Journal of Studies in International Education, 25(2), 123-135.
de Wit, H., Gacel-Ávila, J., & Jones, E. (2017). Voices and perspectives on internationalization from the emerging and developing world: Where are we heading? In H. de Wit, J. Gacel-Ávila, E. Jones & N. Jooste (Eds.), The globalization of internationalization: emerging voices and perspectives (pp. 221–232). Routledge.
de Wit, H., Hunter, F., Howard, L., & Egron-Polak, E. (2015). Internationalization of higher education. European Parliament, Brussels, EU.
Dickerson, J., Kubasko, D. S., & Winslow, J. (2018). Online and International Field Experiences in STEM Education: Frameworks for Program Globalization and Growth. In V. Wang (Ed.), Handbook of Research on Positive Scholarship for Global K-20 Education (pp. 49-61). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
Doerry, E., & Charles, H. (2013). Global science and engineering program: A model for uniform, institution-wide STEM internationalization. ASEE International Forum, June 22, 2013, New Orlean, LA.
Freeman, B., Marginson, S., & Russell, T. (2019) An international view of STEM education. In A. Sahin & and M. Mohr-Schroeder. (Eds.), STEM education 2.0: Myths and truths--what has K-12 STEM education research taught us? (pp. 350 – 365), Brill, Leiden.
Fukami, T. (2024). Pave the way for a digital future in Lao PDR’s education sector: UNICEF and Lao government pave the way for a digital future in Lao PDR’s education sector. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/laos/stories/pave-way-digital-future-lao-pdrs-education-sector
Hardiman, B., Reynolds, J., Pizzica, J., & Renshaw, A. (2022). Re-orientating experiences: Considerations for student development through virtual mobility in STEM. Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching, 5(1), 52 – 59.
Hill, C., Hell, S., & Cauter, K. V. (2019). Internationalising higher education in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam: Challenges and approaches. Studies in Higher Education, 46(7), 1477–1491.
Hoang, L., Tran, L. T., & Pham, H.-H. (2018). Vietnamese government policies and practices in internationalisation of higher education. In L. T. Tran & S. Marginson (Eds.), Internationalisation in Vietnamese higher education (pp. 19–42). Springer.
Jung, J., & Caffarella, R. S. (2010). Advancing cultural knowledge: Experiential learning international graduate study training Programs in the Health and STEM Disciplines. Adult Education Research Conference. 229 – 235.
Knight, J. (2004). Internationalization remodeled: Definition, approaches, and rationales. Journal of Studies in International Education, 8(1), 5–31.
Knight, J. (2012). Student mobility and internationalization: Trends and Tribulations. Research in Comparative and International Education, 7(1), 20-33.
Knight, J. (2013). Strengthening higher education in Laos. International Higher Education, 73, 24–26.
Lantada, A. D., & Sevillano, J.J. M. (2017). Toward global engineers: Challenges and strategies for promoting international mobility in engineering education. International Journal of Engineering Education, 33 (6B), 1995 – 2007.
Lum, C., Gardner, S., Jordan, C., & Dunbabin, M. (2016). Expanding diversity in STEM: Developing international education and research partnerships in a global society. ASEE 123rd Annual Conference & Exposition, June 26-29, 2016, New Orlean, LA.
Marginson, S. (2023). Limitations of the leading definition of “internationalisation” of higher education: Is the idea wrong or is the fault in reality? Globalisation, Societies and Education, 1–20.
Marginson, S., Tytler, R., Freeman, B., & Roberts, K. (2013). STEM: Country comparisons: International comparisons of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Final report. Melbourne: Australian Council of Learned Academies.
McCormark, K., Togunde, D., Leggon, C. B., Galvao, C. B., Clay, K. E., & Burnett, M. (2017). Enhancing global research and education (G-STEM) at Spelman College. In C. Leggon & G. Michael (Eds.), STEM and social justice: Teaching and learning in diverse settings – a global perspective (pp. 53 – 74), Springer.
Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES). (2011). Report on implementation of the 6th five-year education sector development plan (2006–2010), and the 7th five-year education sector development plan (2011–2015). MOES, Vientiane (in Lao).
Ministry of Education and Sports. (2018). ESDP 2016–2020: Mid-term review report.
Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES). (2020). Education and sports sector development plan 2021-2025. MOES, Vientiane.
Nowell, L., Norris, J., White, D., & Moules, N. (2017). Thematic analysis: Striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16, 1–13.
Sisavath, S. (2021). Benefits of studying abroad for graduate employability: Perspectives of exchange students from Lao universities. Journal of International Students, 11(3), 547-566.
Sisavath, S. (2021). Internationalization of higher education in Laos: Rationales and strategies of public universities. Internationalisation of Higher Education: Policy and Practice, 3, 35–59.
Sisavath, S. (2024). Internationalization of higher education in Laos: Perspectives of university staff on rationales, challenges and strategies for the post-COVID-19. Higher Education Forum, 21, 161-180.
Souvannasane, T. (2025). Laos urges STEM focus amid growing education crisis. The Laotian Times.
Srivastava, P., & Hopwood, N. (2009). A practical iterative framework for qualitative data analysis. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 8(1), 76–84.
Szyszlo, P., & Kimpolo, C. L. M. (2023). Internationalization Disrupted: Advancing STEM Training in Africa Beyond COVID-19. In A. W. Wiseman, C. Matherly., & M. Crumley-Effinger (Eds.), Internationalization and imprints of the pandemic on higher education, Emerald Publishing Limited.
Tran, L. T., Marginson, S., Do, H., Do, Q., Le, T., Nguyen, N., Vu, T., Pham, T., & Nguyen, H. (2014). Higher education in Vietnam: Flexibility, mobility and practicality in the global knowledge economy. Palgrave Macmillan.
World Economic Forum (2023). Which countries’ students are getting most involved in STEM? Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/stories/2023/03/which-countries-students-are-getting-most-involved-in-stem/
Yun, K. (2014). Internationalization of higher education in Cambodia: Perception, practices, and challenges at the Royal University of Phnom Penh [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Waseda University.
Additional Files
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) [year] [author]
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Call for Special Issue Proposals 
