Mr Mixay Soukchaleun receives the award from Mr Hayashi Yoshimada.

Japanese minister’s commendation recognises Lao academic’s contributions to Japanese language education

Mr Mixay Soukchaleun, the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Letters of the National University of Laos, has received a Certificate of Commendation from Japan’s Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa for his contribution to Japanese language education in Laos.
The award was presented to Mr Mixay Soukchaleun by Mr Kobayashi Kenichi, the Ambassador of Japan to Laos, on September 28.
Mr Mixay has been heading the Department of Japanese at the Faculty of Letters in the National University of Laos for about 20 years. Since the department was established in 2003, he has served as the Head of Department and remains actively engaged as a Japanese language teacher.
Thanks to his longstanding efforts and continuous commitment to education, the Department of Japanese Language has played an important role in the academic development of Lao students and researchers, who have become well-versed in Japanese.
Several students of the department have gone on to study in Japan for a year or more via the Government of Japan’s MEXT scholarships, inter-university exchange programmes and other scholarship programmes.
A significant number of the Lao students under Mr Mixay’s tutelage have gone on to make contributions or to take up diverse and impactful careers related to Japan or the Japanese language following their graduation.
In order to promote Japanese language education, the Government of Japan has provided the department with multifaceted support, including construction of new school buildings, dispatch of language experts, and provision of teaching materials.
The Embassy of Japan expressed its gratitude to Mr Mixay for his outstanding contributions towards promoting Japanese language education in Laos.
Since he left the department in October last year due to his promotion to the post of Vice Dean of the Faculty of Letters, Mr Mixay has continued to teach in the department with a strong passion and long-term commitment that are respected and admired.
The Embassy of Japan hoped Mr Mixay will continue to play a role as a highly valued and special partner to its team.
The 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Laos will be marked in 2025. The Embassy of Japan expressed its gratitude to the team at the Department of Japanese language and hoped it will continue with its contributions and provide further impetus to the development of bilateral relations. In cooperation with the National University of Laos, the Embassy of Japan will continue to work to strengthen the bilateral ties.

By Sisouphan Amphonephong
(Latest Update October 3, 2022)