Alicante, Wednesday, 22 July 2026

The University of Alicante (UA) today hosted an institutional meeting with the Lao delegation participating in the RESET project, an international initiative co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme and managed by the University's Institutional Project Management Office (OGPI). The project aims to modernise research management structures within higher education institutions in Laos while fostering the sustainable professional development of researchers in strategic fields related to the country's green growth agenda.

The meeting was attended by the Rector of the University of Alicante, Prof. Dr. Amparo Navarro; the Director of Institutional Relations and Projects, Juan Llopis; and the Director of the Institutional Project Management Office (OGPI), Carolina Madeleine.

Representing the Lao delegation were Prof. Dr. Phonesavanh Thepphasoulithone, Rector of Champasack University; Mr. Amkheng Phenglasy, Deputy Director of the Office and International Relations of the National University of Laos; Prof. Dr. Vongpasith Chanthakhoun, Vice-Rector of Souphanouvong University; Prof. Dr. Sithixay Xayavong, Rector of Savannakhet University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Molina Choummanivong, Vice-Rector of the University of Health Sciences; and Mr. Khamkeo Hansana, Deputy Director General of the Department of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos.

The presence of this high-level delegation highlights the strong commitment of all participating institutions to advancing the modernisation of research management and promoting green growth in Laos.

RESET

RESET is a Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) project co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme. Its primary objective is to modernise research management structures in Lao higher education institutions while promoting sustainable research career development in strategic fields that support the country's transition towards green growth.

The project addresses the needs of the Lao higher education system by strengthening the capacities of researchers and technical staff, enhancing institutional research management strategies, and supporting the establishment of a national framework that fosters clear, sustainable, and attractive research career pathways. At the same time, RESET encourages close collaboration among universities, public authorities, and the broader research and innovation ecosystem, thereby contributing to the scientific and socio-economic development of Laos.

One of RESET's flagship outcomes will be the establishment of the National Research Hub, which will serve as the project's central pillar and a national reference point for training, collaboration, and knowledge exchange among researchers at all stages of their careers. The Hub will provide access to capacity-building programmes, innovative tools, and shared resources, while strengthening the country's critical mass of researchers specialising in priority areas linked to green growth.

The project also supports the development of public policies aimed at strengthening research careers, facilitates the transfer of best practices between European and Lao institutions, and promotes the use of digital platforms and online learning resources to ensure equitable access to training opportunities across the country. Through these initiatives, RESET seeks to generate a lasting impact on Laos' higher education system and reinforce its capacity to address the challenges associated with sustainable development.