The Singapore-Thailand Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) has been in place since 1997, and was Singapore’s very first formalised partnership with a fellow Asean country to extend technical assistance to developing countries. Under this programme, IS staff have had opportunities to conduct English language communication courses for government officials from developing countries in the region.

Three-week English Course in Laos

In  March 2011, IS lecturers Claramae Chong and Cindy Tong went to Laos to conduct a course entitled "English for Managers and Administrators." The three-week long course was conducted as part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Singapore Co-operation Programme and aimed to help senior civil servants in Laos enhance their professional English writing and speaking skills.

The course provided the opportunity for IS staff to interact and to build relationships with government officials from various Lao ministries, and was a platform for Laos-Singapore cultural exchange.