The University of Danang - University of Science and Technology (UD-DUT) has partnered with the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization - STEM Education Centre (SEAMEO STEM-ED), to launch the "STEM Career Academies in Central Vietnam Project", to support Danang City's goal of becoming a Smart City by 2030.
The program, funded by Chevron, will adopt best practices from the Chevron Enjoy Science project in Thailand to promote STEM education in Danang City.
Associate Professor DOAN Quang Vinh, Rector of (UD-DUT), said that the program is set to adopt a regional approach for raising social awareness and building STEM education and human resource capacity.
"Being one of the three universities offering science and technology programs in Vietnam, UD-DUT is responsible for training highly qualified technical and technological human resources and implementing scientific and technological activities to meet the development of Central Vietnam and the nation," he said.
This project has three main components:
(1) STEM Workshops. These aim to promote awareness and capacity building for higher-secondary teachers and students in support of STEM education and STEM Career Academies development in Central Vietnam,
(2) STEM competition. This will be organized to motivate higher-secondary students to develop innovative STEM projects and engage them in teamwork, communication, problem solving, as well as prepare them for future careers, and
(3) STEM short-course professional development. This will cover a series of certified short courses to develop students on selected specialized professional skills and essential soft skills which are required by employers.
The STEM Career Academies project plans to pilot one career academy in technology and engineering with professional development curricula for four selected industrial sectors; enroll 20 STEM employers or enterprises; and enlist the commitment of 10 high schools. Upon completion of the pilot, the findings of a study on the program's effectiveness will be presented to relevant government and private stakeholders for consideration of program expansion.
"Through inspirational activities including a science exhibition, camps, workshops, and competition, we aim to increase the public awareness of STEM education," Associate Professor DOAN Quang Vinh said.
He noted that Chevron is one of the world's leading integrated energy companies with a long history of investing in STEM education to empower younger generations and prepare them for their future careers. The Chevron Enjoy Science project has reached over 2 million students, trained over 16,000 educators, and benefited more than 700 schools across Thailand.
Dr. Pornpun Waitayangkoon, Centre Director of SEAMEO STEM-ED, added that STEM Career Academies will show how best practices learned from Chevron Enjoy Science can be implemented outside Thailand. The project marks a good opportunity to promote engineering technology in Vietnam and address Vietnam's future industrial needs.
She explained that the 18-month project aims to kick-start regional STEM education collaboration, a first in ASEAN. The project expects to equip students in Vietnam with necessary skills, particularly those related to digital and technology. Upskilling students is an urgent issue for Danang City, a significant economic center of Vietnam, which strives to become a Smart City by 2030.
"The academies set the goal to produce necessary human resources for Smart City-related industries. We hope to involve 10 schools and 20 private employers in need of STEM human resources in Vietnam," she said.
Kurt Glaubitz, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Asia Pacific, Chevron, said "If people and communities are to thrive, education and job training are of critical importance. A workforce armed with the skills needed to succeed in the jobs of tomorrow is important to a country's ability to compete in the global marketplace. Working with our grantees, we take a comprehensive approach to investments in education by getting students excited about STEM and encouraging them to pursue STEM courses and, ultimately, STEM careers."
Chevron is supporting the STEM Career Academies in Central Vietnam Project through a US$150,000 gift. UD-DUT is contributing US$44,500.
About SEAMEO STEM-ED
The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) is a regional intergovernmental organization established in 1965 among governments of Southeast Asian countries to promote regional cooperation in education, science, and culture. SEAMEO STEM Education (SEAMEO STEM-ED) has been established to strengthen capacities, advocate evidence-based policy research, and provide policy recommendations for STEM education within the region. The Centre supports the development of regional governments' policies that promote STEM education which can enhance the capacity of human resources and utilize knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to solve real-world problems and contribute to the sustainable development of the region.
About UD-DUT
Since its establishment in 1975, the University of Danang - University of Science and Technology or DUT has predicated its leading position in the system of higher education in Vietnam. Being one of the three universities offering science and technology training programs in Vietnam, DUT is responsible for training high qualified technical and technological human resources and implementing scientific and technological activities to meet needs for the development of Central Vietnam and nationwide. In terms of scientific research and technology transfer activities of staff and students, there are many highly practical topics associated with training and productive activities which are helpful in Vietnam socio-economic development as well as effectively supportive of the completion of students' knowledge and skills after graduation.
About Chevron
Chevron is one of the world's leading integrated energy companies. As a company of problem solvers, we look to the future of energy with optimism. We provide affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner energy to people in the Asia-Pacific region that is essential to achieving a more prosperous and sustainable world. We invest in community programs that help advance the UN's sustainable development goals and strive to empower people to meet their full potential.
Source: Ripple Effect
