A team of students from the National University of Laos was awarded with the most innovative team in the Youth Innovation Competition as part of the Langcang-Mekong Region’s Governance and Development (YICMG).The group is comprised of Mr. Pheng Phetmountha, Ms Phetpahailin Satsombut and Mr. Khammy Ytayengva, from the Faculty of Economics and Business Management, Faculty of Agriculture, and Faculty of Engineering respectively.
In addition, the team members received the Best Multinational Team award and the project was offered the Best Project Improvement award.
The competition, running from August 15-20, was jointly organised by Fudan University, Qinghai Yushu Tibet Autonomous Prefecture, Shanghai International Culture Association, Guangxi International Culture Exchange Centre and Guangxi University of Finance and Economics.
The YICMG is designed for universities and students in the Mekong Sub-region, offering chances to broaden students’ international vision and to enhance their competency of global governance.
The competition serves as a channel for intercultural communication and also as a functional mechanism for youth innovation and entrepreneurship. The competition theme for 2016 is “Sustainable Development of Water and Water Environment.”
In the final round of competition, the international academic committee, whose members are from China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam has chosen 14 teams from six countries, 10 institutions, including two teams from Laos for the final presentation and improvement.
The two projects from Laos were “Utilisation of Banana Trees for Community Waste Water Treatment” supervised by Sengdavan Thepphachanh, which won the Most Innovation Award and Best Project Improvement Award, and “Forest Conservation for Sustainable Water Project,” supervised by Dr Sithixay Sayavong.
Vice President of the National University of Laos, Associate Professor Doctor Phout Simmalavong was the team leader, and Associate Prof Dr Phosy Chanhming and Associate Prof Dr Lavanh Vongkhamsane were the experts from Laos acting as international judging committee members.
The competition was firstly organised by a booth display of the project, where the international judges and guests visited the booths and students explained their projects. The team’s presentation from the original team was then conducted with the first round of scoring.
The student teams then visited the source of the Langcang-Mekong River, where students brought Mekong River water from each country and poured it into the Mekong River source, staying at a camping site at the source of the Mekong River, divided into international teams to improve the project.
The student team also installed a landmark stone of YICMG at the source, lead by the tribal leader for religious functions.
Then the final round presentation of the international team was conducted at an open door camping site by the Langcang-Mekong River, Zaduo Angsai Canyon, Zaduo County.
The closing ceremony was held at the outdoor camping site.
Next year’s competition theme is “Climate Change and Disaster Protection” which will open in October 2016.
Source: Vientiane Times
