Strengthening academic outcomes at Souphanouvong University
More than 20 Australian volunteers have worked with colleagues at Souphanouvong University since 2012, supporting them to progress towards their goals. Meet three recent volunteers who are continuing this enduring collaboration and discover their volunteering stories.
Souphanouvong University (SU) is a premier educational institution in the northern part of Laos, offering bachelor’s and master’s programs across several disciplines. SU has a commitment to excellence and a desire to publish research and participate in international initiatives.
Australian volunteers have supported SU’s progress towards their goals through more than 20 volunteer assignments focusing on research, teaching, and English language mentoring since 2012.
‘The volunteers supported our staff with the skills they truly needed — academic writing, English teaching, research editing, and grant proposal development. Our team felt encouraged and motivated,’ said a representative from SU.
The collaboration has resulted in several lecturers publishing papers or applying for international scholarships. Lecturers mentored by the volunteers have received Australia Awards Scholarships for postgraduate studies and initiated faculty-led research projects aligned with national development goals.
Souphanouvong University also benefited from an Impact Grant from the Australian Volunteers Program, which paid for a five-day training workshop to improve soft skills and employability. The workshop received positive feedback from both students and lecturers.
Meet the volunteers who supported Souphanouvong University in 2025:
Lorise Clark
Relocating from Tasmania to Laos not only meant adapting to a vastly different climate for Australian volunteer Lorise Clark, but it also offered her the chance to teach in new and meaningful ways.
Through the program, Lorise supported her colleagues at the Faculty of Economics and Tourism at SU as an English Proficiency Trainer and Curriculum Development Mentor. She worked with teachers and students to strengthen their English skills, which are vital for the tourism industry in Laos.
With tourism a key economic driver in Laos, Lorise and her supervisor, Head of Department Champa Lattanasouvannaphonh, have been working with tourism businesses in Luang Prabang to identify how the curriculum can better align with industry needs. Together they have also mapped an industry-focused English curriculum. With over 90 students already benefiting through interactive learning and assessment, Lorise’s collaboration built pathways to integrate coursework with practical work placements and industry engagement.
One such business is Ock Pop Tok, a women-founded and women-led organisation dedicated to preserving Laos’s rich textile heritage. Through workshops, artisan sales, and hospitality services, Ock Pop Tok empowers local women and promotes cultural sustainability. Phonenapha, a student from SU, completed an internship with the organisation and now works at Ock Pop Tok part-time while finishing her degree.
What has Lorise learned from her time in Laos? ‘The kindness and hospitality of people in Laos reflect the warmth of the community. The experience has deepened my understanding of education within a cross-cultural context and reinforced that teaching is most meaningful when it supports real-world needs, fosters professional growth, and is enriched by engaged students and collaborative colleagues.’
Rolf Pfotenhauer
Rolf Pfotenhauer volunteered as an IELTS Trainer at the International Relations Office of SU. He worked with academics at the university to improve their English skills to help enhance their career and academic prospects.
It was Rolf’s fourth assignment, his third with a partner organisation in Laos, and his second in-country in Laos. Rolf was repatriated from his first assignment due to Covid-19, which left him with a feeling that his work was unfinished; this became part of his inspiration to return.
Rolf worked closely with students aiming to meet the English language requirements for further studies abroad. His goal, to equip two to three students to undertake the challenging International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exams with a satisfactory result. Many of his students hope to pursue a higher degree internationally, including some who aspire to study in Australia through Australia Awards Scholarships. Rolf’s curriculum, feedback, and mock tests helped participants build confidence and gain a better understanding of the IELTS process.
Rolf’s time with SU has given him ‘a new perspective on how to teach students. It’s one of the reasons why I’m here. Teaching in Australia is very fixed – Laos is more open, so you can try new ideas’.
As an Australian Volunteers Program Alumnus, Rolf has continued his connection with SU staff and program volunteers, providing informal IELTS mentoring, which has contributed to significant improvements in their English language skills. Rolf is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Queensland.
Nancy Lane
Dr Nancy Lane OAM has undertaken six volunteer assignments with SU over the past six years, as well as previous assignments in Laos, Vietnam, Vanuatu and Thailand.
Nancy volunteered as an Academic Research Mentor improving the research skills of staff by providing one-on-one and small group support. In this role, she advised on applying for grants, editing publications for research and providing general professional development.
‘I’ve had a number of people that I’ve worked with over time go on to win Australia Award Scholarships. Two are now doing PhDs at the University of Queensland and the University of Canberra, and another two finished master’s programs at Flinders University,’ said Nancy. ‘To see how the people I’ve been working with have had such initiative and drive to want to improve Laos has been a highlight for me.’
‘I’ve probably been on at least 15 assignments’, says Nancy. ‘It gets in your blood.’
Thavone Panmanivong, Acting Head of the International Cooperation Division at SU, received an Australia Awards Scholarship to study at Flinders University in South Australia. Thavone has worked with a series of Australian volunteers who have supported him and other staff to strengthen their English and teaching skills. Thavone is particularly grateful to Nancy for her support. ‘She feels like family,’ he said. Feedback from another SU staff member noted that Nancy ‘is the very best mentor. She is always ready to help with whatever is required.’
