Lao teachers gain e-commerce and social marketing skills to empower youth entrepreneurs

VIENTIANE, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (ILO News) – Teachers in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic have acquired advanced skills in electronic commerce and social marketing to better prepare vocational students to launch their own businesses.

Supported by the ILO-China Partnership Programme, educators from the Vientiane-Hanoi Friendship Technical-Vocational College participated in a specialized training programme led by experts from China’s Guangxi Business & Trade Technician College. Held in Vientiane from 21 to 23 May 2025, the training covered a range of practical topics including business-oriented video production, product selection analysis, point-of-sale screening, and live sales strategies.

In addition to technical skills, the workshop introduced innovative approaches to classroom management, integration of hands-on learning, and enhanced teaching methodologies, equipping teachers with tools to deliver more effective vocational education. Of the 15 Lao teachers trained, 13 are women.

“The initiative aims to boost employability, support business start-ups, and promote gender equality. Of the 15 Lao teachers trained, 13 are women. These educators will now cascade their knowledge to groups of young people, both women and men, helping to bridge the skills gap and create pathways to stable, decent employment,” said Tian Feng, Project Manager and Coordinator of the ILO/China Partnership Programme.

Both the Vientiane-Hanoi Friendship Technical-Vocational College and Guangxi Business & Trade Technician College are members of the South-South Cooperation Skills Development Network. This network, launched in 2021 under the ILO-China Partnership Programme, includes 41 technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions across China, Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Myanmar. To date, it has strengthened institutional capacity and provided over 577 teachers and students with practical skills through targeted vocational training and capacity-building efforts.