Accelerating Women and Girls’ engagement in STEM fields in Vietnam

NTTU – STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) play a significant role in global growth and advancement, especially in today’s knowledge-based society. With the rise of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the demand for STEM-related workforce has increased. However, there remains a shortage of workers in these fields, particularly due to the low female participation rate. To address this issue, on the morning of October 24, at Nguyen Tat Thanh University, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women or UN Women, in collaboration with the Vietnam Higher Education Network of Entrepreneurship & Innovation (VNEI), BKH Holdings, and Seaconsult, organized a workshop titled “Developing Solutions to Promote the Participation of Women and Girls in STEM Education and Employment.”

The workshop attracts numerous experts, scientists, and stakeholders

The event attracted over 50 delegates, including experts, scientists, leaders from the Department of Education – the VPC’s Commission for Information and Education, the Ministry of Science & Technology, the Ministry of Planning & Investment, along with representatives from universities, colleges, technology companies, and female students from technical fields in universities/colleges in Ho Chi Minh City. This seminar not only served as a place for experts to discuss and identify solutions to promote gender equality and comprehensive development, but also as an inspiring event to empower women in STEM.

Speaking online at the seminar, Ms. Tran Thuy Anh, Program Officer for Women, Peace, and Security at UN Women, stated that because of the rapid growth in science and technology have opened new opportunities in various professions, the presence of women in these area remains limited. According to the 2022 United Nations Progress Report on Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality), highlights that women hold slightly more than 20% of STEM professions worldwide, with a lower percentage in Vietnam. She pointed that she hopes this event would facilitate an open discussion about the obstacles girls and women encounter when trying to pursue careers in STEM and the future prospects for empowering them in these in-demand disciplines. UN Women also recommended initiatives such as scholarships, mentorship programs, and gender equality education from an early age, with a focus on eliminating discrimination against girls in educational environments. In terms of job opportunities for women, raising awareness through media, establishing policies that support women’s career advancement, and offering specialized training programs for female workers and leaders are crucial to ensure they can participate in and benefit from the growth of the digital economy fairly and sustainably.

Ms. Tran Thuy Anh, Program Officer for Women, Peace, and Security – UN Women Expert, participates in the seminar online

Explaining the shortage of workers in STEM, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Hong, Vice President of Nguyen Tat Thanh University, pointed out the gender gaps in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The number of female students in technical fields is low, and the participation of women in STEM, especially in leadership roles, is still limited due to societal gender biases and the undervaluation of women’s abilities. Additionally, women and girls often lack confidence when choosing science and technology-related fields. Prof. Hong emphasized that the seminar like this contributes to solving gender equality issues. The Vietnamese government has implemented comprehensive policies to encourage and support gender equality, the responsibility of realizing these policies lies with experts and educators. She suggested raising awareness and promoting gender equality in STEM, encouraging women to engage in natural sciences, providing preferential recruitment policies, supporting women in their careers, and fostering a balanced work-life environment to prevent gender discrimination.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Hong, Vice President of Nguyen Tat Thanh University, offers recommendations to address issues of gender inequality

The seminar featured two key presentations. Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Tien Dong, Head of Technology division and Principal of Ly Thai To College, representing the VNEI, raised the issue of gender imbalance in technical and technological fields. The presentation provided a comprehensive view of the low percentage of women in these sectors, which are considered pillars of modern economic and industrial development.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Tien Dong provided precise statistics the significant gender disparity in enrolment in technical and technological programs, showing that the proportion of female students remains low compared to their male students, despite efforts to increase access. This gender imbalance not only affects diversity and creativity in research and technological development but also diminishes the quality of highly skilled technical labor, reducing the competitiveness of Vietnamese tech firms in the global market. Moreover, this gap represents a missed opportunity for the economy as a whole, as the potential contributions of female labor are not fully realized.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tien Dong shares at the event

The seminar analysed key causes of gender imbalance in STEM, including gender stereotypes in early education, the lack of successful female role models in technical and technological fields, and disparities in policies and access to education. These factors contribute to psychological barriers and a lack of confidence among women when choosing and pursuing technical and technological careers.

Based on this analysis, the presentation recommended increasing bilateral and multilateral cooperation among stakeholders, including the government, educational institutions, businesses, and social organizations, to develop comprehensive programs that encourage the participation and success of women and girls in STEM. These programs should aim to create a supportive learning and working environment, encourage women to pursue technical and technological careers, and eliminate societal stereotypes and barriers to achieve genuine gender equality in these fields.

In the second presentation, Associate Professor Dr. Dinh Van Phuc, Deputy Director of the Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Institute at Nguyen Tat Thanh University, detailed the university’s STEM activities aimed at sustainable development. He emphasized the university’s educational philosophy of “Real Learning – Real Success – Real Prestige – Real Future” designed to equip students with the research and creativity skills needed to address environmental, social, and economic challenges.

Prof. Phuc recommended multilateral cooperation among stakeholders to create comprehensive and sustainable STEM education programs, which would promote development and improve community quality of life.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Van Phuc, Deputy Director of the Institute of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences at Nguyen Tat Thanh University, delivers his presentation

The seminar’s discussion session was lively, with representatives sharing insights and clarifying the challenges faced by women in STEM careers, as well as proposing solutions to bridge the gender gaps hindering women and girls from participating in education, science, technology, and innovation.

Discussion sessions at the event

Answering why fewer students have chosen technical fields in recent years, Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Linh from the Education Department of the VPC Commission for Information and Education said that students’ lack of access to career information is the responsibility of management agencies, which have not provided sufficient information for students to understand the value and challenges of this career, particularly in STEM fields.

In addition, business representatives discussed the opportunities for STEM-related fields in entrepreneurship activities.

Group activities in the afternoon focused on developing solutions to promote the participation of women and girls in STEM fields, providing educational and career opportunities for them to unleash their potential and contribute to the overall development of the economy.

For many years, Nguyen Tat Thanh University has prioritized STEM education to promote sustainable development. The university integrates STEM teaching into its curriculum, providing students with a multidimensional perspective and the ability to apply knowledge to real-world situations. STEM research and application activities at the university include STEM experiments, talk shows, workshops, and training sessions to enhance the capacity for designing STEM lessons and models. These programs aim to raise awareness and equip participants with the skills needed to contribute to the development of the local community.

News & Photos: Phượng Nguyễn – Media