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The final batch of the Coaching Cycle for Employment and Entrepreneurship marked a significant launch in Vientiane Capital

Laos
Initial vocational education and training
LAOS Khamliew Vongpajan31.03.2026
“The Coaching Cycle for Employment and Entrepreneurship – Batch 5 Kick-off Meeting, under the Employment Support Services (ESS) component of the VTESS project, marked a significant launch with coaches from 6 provinces. Batch 5 is the final batch of the project.”

Vientiane Capital - The kick-off meeting of The Coaching Cycle for Employment and Entrepreneurship batch 5, held over three days from 31 March-2 April 2026 at Holiday Inn Hotel, provided an opportunity for 51 coaches from 5 different batches across 6 target provinces to get to know each other, exchange experiences and prepare work plan for implement the final batch of Coaching Cycle.

The Coaching Cycle for Employment and Entrepreneurship – Batch 5 Kick-off Meeting, under the Employment Support Services (ESS).

The primary objectives:

  • Ensure all coaches from 5 different batches get to know each other. 
  • Ensure all coaches understand the full Coaching Cycle structure and help them see the “big picture” including how learning connects across the full cycle. 
  • Align expectations at two levels: Today’s Kick-off learning and the full 9-month implementation journey. 
  • Strengthen a shared mindset and commitment, while ensuring coaches are ready and motivated for implementation. 
  • Encourage collaboration between New coaches, Experienced coaches, Trainers and provincial project coordinators. 
  • To learn and exchange knowledge on awareness-raising modules such as HIV and drug abuse 
The Coaching Cycle for Employment and Entrepreneurship – Batch 5 Kick-off Meeting, under the Employment Support Services (ESS)
The Coaching Cycle for Employment and Entrepreneurship – Batch 5 Kick-off Meeting, under the Employment Support Services (ESS)
Exchange knowledge on awareness-raising modules on HIV.
exchange knowledge on awareness-raising modules on drug abuse.

Marked the significant Launch:

Mr. Tingkham Soulintha, Deputy Director General of the Department of TVET, MoES, Meeting Chair, emphasized the importance of the meeting:

"This meeting marks the first step in launching the 2026 Coaching Cycle. It is closely linked to the upcoming Training of Coaches (TOC), which consists of five blocks throughout the cycle, forming a continuous capacity-building initiative covering the recruitment of target participants, working and learning in the group, exploring the labor market, Work exposure, Action plan, Professional training, and getting into employment."
Mr. Tingkham Soulintha, Deputy Director General of the Department of TVET, MoES
The Coaching Cycle for Employment and Entrepreneurship – Batch 5 Kick-off Meeting, under the Employment Support Services (ESS).

Key Highlights of Batch 5

Batch 5 represents an important milestone for VTESS:

  • Final Coaching Cycle Batch of the project- Toward sustainability 
  • Coaching capacity and reach 
  • Strengthening Local Ownership of Training on Coaches through a Cluster-based model 
  • Team transition and strengthening  
The Coaching Cycle for Employment and Entrepreneurship – Batch 5 Kick-off Meeting, under the Employment Support Services (ESS).
The Coaching Cycle for Employment and Entrepreneurship – Batch 5 Kick-off Meeting, under the Employment Support Services (ESS).

Furthermore, Mr. Mike Loose, VTESS Team Leader and Meeting Co-Chair, delivered an encouraging remark for the project’s sustainable impact: 

"This is the final coaching cycle intake under VTESS, which is expected to contribute to the sustainability of our work by ensuring local ownership in Laos. Each coach will support a group of up to 14 ESS participants,  with an overall target of 600 participants-an ambitious but attainable goal

We will strengthen local ownership of Training of Coaches by applying a cluster-based model, whereby ToC 1-4 will be conducted by local trainers in the respective provinces and Vientiane Capital with backstopping support from the project team."
Furthermore, Mr. Mike Loose, VTESS Team Leader
The Coaching Cycle for Employment and Entrepreneurship – Batch 5 Kick-off Meeting, under the Employment Support Services (ESS).

Expected Results by the End

  • Coaches clearly understand the TOC Learning & Practice Cycle 
  • Coaches collaboratively develop a first draft recruitment plan for ESS participants  
  • Coaches prepare and organize Provincial Kick-off with ESS Partner Organization 

Strengthening Collaboration

Following the objective to ensure all coaches from 5 different batches get to know each other, the project hosted a team-building session for all five batches of coaches, provincial coordinators, and the project team. This allowed participants to exchange experiences and strengthen the collaborative spirit essential for the cycle's success. 

Team-building session for all five batches of coaches, provincial coordinators, and the project team.
Team-building session for all five batches of coaches, provincial coordinators, and the project team.
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.
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