HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Experts and government officials have gatheredat a forum in Ho Chi Minh City to discuss measures to promote the role of womenin the STEM fields.
The December 15 forum was held as part of the “Building University-IndustryLearning and Development through Innovation and Technology” or BUILD ITproject, funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) andimplemented by Arizona State University, as well as Lac Hong University.
Chairwoman of Lac Hong University Council Do Thi Lan Dai said the STEM fieldshave made great contributions to the global development. Demand for experts inthese fields has increased, especially female experts.
A survey showed that women account for 33% of the workforce in STEM fields inEurope and 34% in the US and Canada.
She noted that there is a gender gap in the STEM fields, urging measures toencourage more girl students to engage in STEM.
She suggested measures to raise awareness of lecturers, students and parentsabout the important role of women in STEM fields and organise competitions andgrant scholarships for girl students.
Speaking with the press on the sidelines of the forum, she applauded theBUILD-IT project for organising activities aimed at promoting the participationof women in STEM fields, such as hosting STEM competitions that required eachteam to be made up of at least 25% girl students.
Dr. Lopa Basu, Senior Advisor at USAID Vietnam, said: “It is exciting to bepart of the sixth and final forum in BUILD-IT’s Playbook Series. The impact ofthe first five forums cannot be overestimated, and I am sure this forum willcontinue in this tradition of impact.
"This forum celebrates the eight-year collaboration between USAID,BUILD-IT and their university partners in their value of women in STEM. Theseforums have brought together experts in academia, industry, and government withthe common goal of transforming Vietnamese higher education, aligning it withthe needs of industry, to create ready-to-work graduates who can contributeeffectively and efficiently to an ever-changing workforce."
Participants in this forum discussed the successes and challenges of enrolling,supporting and graduating women in STEM fields. The audience heard from expertsin academia and industry about strategies, including designing for women'sneeds, innovating for women's success, and building equitable teams. Otherareas integral to the success of women in STEM - partnering with women andpiloting gender-responsive programs - were discussed in panels and celebratedin success stories./.
Vice chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Duong Anh Duc on December 8 said that the metropolis is willing to support the opening of direct flights between the city and localities in Australia to boost tourism.
Vingroup Innovation Foundation (VINIF) on December 8 held a ceremony to announce the list of young scientists who will receive scholarships this year and summarise training cooperation programmes.
Nguyen Trong Nghia, head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, held talks in Hanoi on December 12 with Khamphanh Pheuyavong, head of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee’s Commission for Propaganda and Training.
In the context where AI dominates and produces vast volumes of content, the only sustainable path forward for journalism is to focus on high-quality content and core values. Journalism must redefine its mission - not to report the fastest, but to provide the most profound and trustworthy value.
Granma and the VNA have great potential for cooperation, especially in sharing content regularly, so that VNA products are published on Granma platforms and vice versa, thereby helping Cuban and Vietnamese people access true information and gain a deep understanding of each other's country and people.
During his stay in China’s Guangzhou city from 1924 to 1927 to prepare for the establishment of a Communist Party to lead Vietnam’s revolution, President Ho Chi Minh founded “Thanh nien” newspaper and released its first issue on June 21, 1925.
Vietnam and Cambodia are hoped to strengthen their robust collaboration across various sectors, particularly in resolving remaining border issues to transform the border area into a zone of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.
The strategic product, managed and operated by the Vietnam News Agency Digital Media Centre (VNA Media), is an official channel for popularising the Party and State’s information and documents as well as delivering mainstream and trustworthy news to both domestic and international audiences through various kinds of multimedia formats.
Since President Ho Chi Minh founded Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has become the voice of the people. During the resistance war against the colonialists, journalists took great personal risks to inspire patriotism and the will of rising up against foreign invaders.
The total investment exceeded 319 billion VND (12.2 million USD), including over 261 billion VND from the state budget and 57.5 billion VND mobilised from businesses, organisations, and individuals.
The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang is intensifying efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as part of the country’s goal of having the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning lifted.
Throughout its 80-year history, the VNA has remained at the forefront of information dissemination. It has consistently delivered timely, accurate, and objective reports on both domestic and international events, serving the Party’s leadership, the State’s management, and the public’s demand for official news.
With strong support from local authorities, businesses, organisations, and residents, the province has successfully built or repaired 10,707 homes for disadvantaged households, including war veterans, families of martyrs, ethnic minority people, and low-income residents.
Throughout its resistance against colonialists and imperialists, Vietnam developed a revolutionary press that has served as a benchmark for just and legitimate causes worldwide.
Founded in 1842, the Vienna Philharmonic is regarded as a cultural ambassador of Austria, with prestigious conductors like Mahler and Karajan who shape its legacy. Its New Year’s Concert, broadcast to over 90 countries annually, stands as a global symbol of classical music excellence.
PM Chinh lauded the press’s historic role in the nation’s fight for independence and its ongoing process of national development, affirming that the Government always highly appreciates the close partnership and steadfast support of press agencies and journalists nationwide.
In recent decades, Vietnam’s mainstream media has become a reliable and persuasive channel for showcasing the nation’s development policies and achievements, especially in economic matters, according to a senior assistant editor at the Times of India.
A hub for sharing best practices, the event aims to forge solutions for financial sustainability, public media contracts, audience engagement, content innovation, and newsroom restructuring. It is also a moment for Vietnam’s media to accelerate its progress and figure out what the “revolutionary press” means in a new era.
From “Thanh nien”, Vietnam’s first revolutionary newspaper founded by Nguyen Ai Quoc (later President Ho Chi Minh) on June 21, 1925, the revolutionary press has remained devoted to its sacred missions -accompanying the nation, serving the Fatherland, and working for the people.
The official launch of Emirates’ Dubai–Da Nang route on June 2 has sparked a “tourism revolution” for Vietnam’s central coastal city. Da Nang is emerging as a top destination for high-end travelers, particularly from the lucrative Middle Eastern market.
Bernama CEO Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin said VNA has been a consistent and reliable partner in OANA, contributing actively to the regional media landscape through content sharing, coordination, and policy discussions. Their coverage of ASEAN and Indochina issues adds valuable perspectives. Bernama appreciates the collaboration with VNA.
At the event (Photo: phunuonline.com.vn) 
