1. Home
  2. News
  3. Closing Event of Training on Coaches Batch 4

Closing Event of Training on Coaches Batch 4 

Laos
Initial vocational education and training
LAOS Khamliew Vongpajan23.02.2026
VIENTIANE CAPITAL – The Vocational Training and Employment Support Services (VTESS) project marked a significant milestone with the closing ceremony of the Training of Coaches (ToC). Held from 23–24 February 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Vientiane Capital, the event brought together 39 dedicated coaches across six target provinces: Vientiane Capital, Oudomxay, Xiengkhuang, Xayaboury, Khammouan, and Saravan.
Closing Event of Training on Coaches Batch 4 

Strengthening the Coaching Framework

The primary objectives of the two-day intensive session were: 

  • Knowledge Exchange: To share experiences and lessons learned from the implementation of the nine-month Coaching Cycle. 
  • Strategic Overview: To review the Coaching Cycle for Employment framework. 
  • Professional Pathways: To introduce Modules 6 and 7, focusing on preparing youth for their professional career paths. 
  • Evaluation & Planning: To evaluate the current batch’s outcomes and strategise for upcoming implementations. 
A training, at the Closing Event of Training on Coaches Batch 4 
A training, at the Closing Event of Training on Coaches Batch 4 

The training concluded with a prestigious certification ceremony. 23 coaches from Batch 4 were honoured for successfully completing their training in Coaching for Employment and Entrepreneurship (C4EE). Furthermore, 10 coaches from Batch 3 received their Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) from the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), Switzerland, endorsed by DTVET (MoES) marking a high level of professional accreditation.

Certification ceremony for coaches from Batch 4

Leadership Perspectives on Success

Mr Vilayphone Phommahaxay, Director General of the Department of TVET, Ministry of Education and Sports, chaired the event and highlighted the project's resilience: 

"Regular progress reports indicate that VTESS Phase 2 has achieved significant results across its key sectors. Despite a challenging economic environment, close collaboration with stakeholders has enabled the project to reach its primary milestones. These efforts have successfully provided disadvantaged youth with access to employment, helping them secure a stable income for their households."
Mr Vilayphone Phommahaxay, Director General of the Department of TVET, Ministry of Education and Sports
A training, at the Closing Event of Training on Coaches Batch 4 

A Leap Toward Sustainability

Mr. Mike Loose, VTESS Team Leader and Meeting Co-Chair, delivered an encouraging closing remark, noting a historic shift in the project’s delivery:

"For the first time, a group of new coaches was trained not by master trainers from Switzerland, but by Lao trainers whose capacities have been developed alongside the roll-out of previous coaching cycles. This is a crucial step for the sustainability of coaching in Laos."
Mr. Mike Loose, VTESS Team Leader
Lao Local Trainer, during the training on coaches 
CAS Certification ceremony for coaches from Batch 3
"We are aware that the road to further localisation will not always be easy. However, as we prepare to start a new batch, we trust that you are well-equipped to maintain this high level of quality"
Mr. Mike Loose added a note of confidence for the future
Mr. Mike Loose, VTESS Team Leader at the Closing Event of Training on Coaches Batch 4 
2019 - 2027
Laos
Initial vocational education and training
Vocational Training and Employment Support Services in Laos
The VTESS project aims at vocational training and labour market insertion or re-entering of schooling of the main project beneficiaries, who are people between 15 and 35 years of age, have completed primary and/ or lower secondary education only (early school leavers), and are subjected to income poverty. The main objective of the project is to improve the income and, ultimately, the livelihood of its beneficiaries.
Learn more