Mienga Phommainh, Sunita Sayadeth, Daosadeth Soysouvanh en Xaysamone Dittaphong, de eerste studenten uit Laos. (Photo: Filip Van Loock)
In July 2005 Prof. Johan De Graeve, President and Chief Executive of GROUP T and Prof. Tong-In Wongsothorn, former President of Sukhothai Thammathirat University (Thailand) visited the National University of Laos (NUOL) where they met Prof. Boualinh Soysouvanh, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering.
The National University of Laos is located in the capital city of Vientane and is one of the largest higher education institutions in the country. The Engineering Faculty alone has more than 6,000 students. In October 2008, Prof. Patrick De Ryck, dean of the Engineering College, and Prof. Guido Vercammen, member of the board at GROUP T, traveled to Vientane and interviewed, within the framework of the cooperation agreement with NUOL, 20 students with bachelor’s degrees. Four of the students would then be given the opportunity to come to Leuven for two years to obtain a master’s degree. On Monday, 16 September, GROUP T welcomed Miengma Phommainh, Sunita Sayadeth, Daosadeth Soysouvanh and Xaysamone Dittaphong. Although their names may sound exotic, they soon became integrated in the very colorful international student population at GROUP T.
Unique opportunity
Miengma has a bachelor in Electronics Engineering and is connected to the Electronics Department at NUOL as an assistant teacher. He takes care of seminars and labs in electronic circuits. “GROUP T offered us an opportunity to obtain a master’s degree and gain international experience, an opportunity I seized with both hands”, he recounts. “You don’t get a second chance at this. It’s not an easy decision to make to leave your country, family and friends for two years and throw yourself into an unknown adventure. Luckily, GROUP T took very good care of us. It was obvious to us immediately that the University College had a lot of experience with international students, especially those from Asia. Even though at the moment we are the only students from Loas, we still felt at home pretty quickly.”
“Living in Leuven took a lot of getting used to”, Miengma continues. “Everything here is so different. I was immediately impressed by the beautiful buildings in the city and the willingness of people to help.” What also immediately struck Miengma and his fellow students was the weather here in Belgium. “The first day we were here we found it very cold. Even though the other students assured us that this fall was really pleasant by Belgian standards.”
After he completes his master’s studies in Electromechanical Engineering with an option in Intelligent Mechanics, Miengma wants to go home. “I’m going to teach again”, he affirms. “And everything that I’ll have learned at GROUP T, I’ll offer to the benefit of my students there.”
Friendly but cold
Sunita obtained her bachelor in Civil Engineering this year. At GROUP T, she is also enrolled in the Electromechanical Engineering master’s program, but her option is Intelligent Manufacturing. She is also impressed with Leuven and the friendliness of the people here, but she, too, found it cold the first few days after she arrived. “The food in Belgium also needs some adjusting to because it is not at all like what we are used to”, she says. “But little by little, we’re getting there.”
Sunita and her friends are sharing an apartment with four Cambodian students who arrived at GROUP T last year. “They’ve been through everything that we are now experiencing and know how you feel the first days and weeks. So we can count on them for a lot of understanding and support. Also, the International Office has made sure that the practical and administrative worries were kept to a minimum.”
Sunita also wants to go back to NUOL after she’s finished. There she hopes to be able to get a teaching position. “Laos urgently needs Electromechanical engineers to develop further”, she explains. “I’d like to do my bit there.”
Twice the advantage
Like Sunita, Daosadeth has a bachelor in Civil Engineering and is also enrolled in the Electromechanical Engineering program with an option in Intelligent Manufacturing. The city, the residents, the weather and the food are all fine for him. “To be honest, I’d imagined it would be stranger and more exotic”, he laughs. “Everything depends on how prepared you are and what your expectations are. It’s all in the mind.”
Daosadeth also knows what he wants to do after GROUP T. First work as a teacher for a few years at his home university and then travel abroad again to obtain a PhD. “It doesn’t matter where, as long as I become more competent in my specialty.”
Finally, Xaysamone has a bachelor in Electronics Engineering and has already been teaching in the Electronics Department for four years. “Getting a master’s has been my dream for a long time already,” he remarks. “And if you can also do it abroad, that’s twice the advantage.”
What struck Xaysamone very quickly was the number of languages spoken by the Flemings. “Dutch, English, French, German. Apparently, no one has a problem with them. I also find Leuven a great city, small but pleasant, safe and clean with hospitable people. We already know we’re going to have a good time here.”
Yves Persoons
