Opening of the final round of “STEAM for Girls”: A creative playground for female students

The event was organized by the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences (an agency under the Ministry of Education and Training), in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Victoria School, to encourage girls aged 13 to 15 to participate in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM).

The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the Basic Education Committee, Ministry of Education of Thailand, UNICEF Vietnam, Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, Victoria School Management Board, 69 candidates and instructors from 18 provinces and cities across the country, and representatives from Thailand, Malaysia, and Laos.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, Prof. Dr. Le Anh Vinh, Director of the Institute of Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, Head of the Competition, emphasized: “We know that there are many world-famous female scientists such as Marie Curie, the first scientist to receive two Nobel Prizes in the fields of Physics and Chemistry, famous for her research on radioactivity; Ada Lovelace: the first computer programmer, wrote the first computer algorithm… I just want to tell you one thing: Be confident in pursuing what you like, don't let others tell you that you can't do anything”.

UNICEF Viet Nam representative, Ms. Le Anh Lan, also emphasized the role of STEAM in preparing the young generation to face global challenges: “UNICEF believes that STEAM education – a combination of social sciences and arts combined with digital skills, and awareness of environmental protection and climate change prevention – are the two most important investments in society today. Ensuring that every young person has equal access to STEAM education in a safe and responsible manner; helping them learn practical knowledge and skills, and entrepreneurial skills are factors that ensure fairness in the development of social human resources”.

Mr. Christopher Bradley – Principal of Victoria School – South Saigon also shared about Victoria School’s mission in providing a comprehensive educational environment and encouraging students to become the best version of themselves: “Victoria School - South Saigon encourages students to explore their creative potential in science and technology in learning and experiential activities. STEAM is a great way to combine the emergence of technology with more traditional subjects. We need to ensure that all students, including girls, are not only ready to participate but also become leaders in this field.”

After the opening ceremony, the teams were given detailed instructions on the rules of the final round and participated in activities to guide research and implementation of STEAM projects, with the guidance of experts from the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences. The 69 contestants will be divided into 23 teams, each team selected from three members from three different localities to help them get acquainted with and be exposed to different cultures and approaches to problems.

Each team will choose one of three topics: STEAM skills and green skills for girls; Renewable energy; Climate change adaptation to conduct research/projects. Contestant groups' entries include: An article describing the project idea (maximum 1500 words) and a practical product using a model, video, or image to illustrate the idea, demonstrating the creativity and application of the project. After completion, contestants will present the project to the Jury and answer questions on the morning of October 3, 2024.

Based on the criteria: Creativity and innovation; Feasibility and application; Cooperation and teamwork; Awareness of environmental and social protection, the jury will select the 9 best teams to enter the final round taking place on the afternoon of October 3, 2024. Through each round, contestants will learn skills in analysis, implementation, problem solving, presentation skills, critical thinking, etc.

The STEAM For Girls 2024 Finals will last from September 30 to October 4, 2024, with many interesting and useful activities such as visiting Vietjet Aviation Academy, Galaxy Innovation Hub to learn about technology and engineering applications in the aviation industry and creative research activities; Visiting the Van Gogh exhibition; experiencing practical learning, exploring "city tours" to understand more about the dynamism and creativity of Ho Chi Minh City.

In particular, students will attend an educational forum on Renewable Energy and Climate Change. This is an important first step in encouraging female students to pursue STEAM, while contributing to promoting gender equality in education and sustainable development.