SKILLS FOR INDUSTRY
17 May 2019

SKILLS FOR INDUSTRY
Prof. Markus Maurer

« We want to know more about how industrial change and transformation is being influenced by vocational skills development, a field of policy that is high on the agenda of donors. We do this by focusing on six lower income countries in Asia and Africa, with a particular focus on the garments industry and with a highly interdisciplinary team. »

Featured in the SNSF annual report Profil 2018-2019
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Class at the Vientiane Capital Skill Development Center. Young Lao women are here given a chance to learn the basic skills of industrial sewing. Vientiane, Laos, November 2018.

Prof.Dr. Markus Maurer (MAA), 42, is a professor of vocational education at the Zurich University of Teacher Education. While he is strongly involved into teacher education, much of his research is comparative. One of his current projects is supported by the r4d programme, a joint funding initiative of the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. It spreads across six developing countries and focuses on the contribution of vocational skills development to inclusive industrial growth and transformation. Zürich, January 2019.

English lesson at the Lao-Korea Vocational training Center. Young women get a chance for secondary education at this centre. Vientiane, Laos, November 2018.

Each tool at its designed place. Japan’s Official Development Assistance sponsored sewing machines and tools at the Vientiane Capital Skill Development Center. The golden tree is a typical offering for the Buddha in Laos. It symbolizes the Bodhi Tree under which Siddhartha Gautama is said to have attained enlightenment. Vientiane, Laos, November 2018.

Typical Lao garment shown on mannequins at the Lao-Korea Vocational training Center in Vientiane. Vientiane, Laos, November 2018.

Mr. Santiphap talking with the CEO of the TRIO (Lao) Export Co. Ltd, Lao’s biggest garment factory where over 2500 employees work. The average income of a worker is about 250 USD a month. In Laos, as in most other developing countries, the garment industry workers are mostly female. Vientiane, Laos, November 2018.

A worker at Trio (Lao) Export Co. Ltd., Lao’s largest garment factory. Laborers work eight hours a day and earn 250 USD per month. Vientiane, Laos, November 2018.

Young students learn the basic principles of cooking at the Vientiane Agricultural school. Pumpkins are chopped and dipped in a batter before being fried and tasted with delight by all. Vientiane, Laos, November 2018.

Young women chopping ginger at the Vientiane Capital Skill Development Center. Here these young people get a chance for education and training various professions. Vientiane, Laos, November 2018.

The Xao Ban yoghurt factory, produces about 500 kg of fresh yoghurt a day. The milk is processed in an artisanal way by half a dozen employees. It comes from neighboring Thailand. Vientiane, Laos, November 2018.

After a brief fermentation, the fresh yoghurt is poured in 1 kg jars, then sealed and packed for sale. Various flavors are available, from mango to passion fruit or mulberries. All flavors are made from local fruit jams. Vientiane, Laos, November 2018.
At the right, Prof. Dr. Bounseng Khammounty, National University of Laos, at a meeting with Dr. Keonakhone, responsible for the food processing study. Prof. Bounseng is the leader of the study in Laos. Vientiane, Laos, November 2018.

Students walking in the shade of trees at the University of Laos engineering campus. Vientiane, Laos, November 2018.

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