On the afternoon of June 13, 2023, the University of Sciences, VNU Hanoi, in collaboration with the British Council, organized a seminar titled: "Enhancing the Participation of female researchers in STEM in Vietnam".
The seminar attracts the participation of numerous scientists, faculty, and students from both inside and outside the University of Sciences.
Associate Professor Dr. Pham Bao Son, Deputy Director of VNU Hanoi, delivers the opening speech of the program
In his opening remarks, Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Bao Son, Deputy Director of VNU Hanoi, affirmed that, like many other universities around the world, VNU Hanoi has made significant efforts to achieve gender equality in both the educational and workplace environments. One notable example is the cooperation between VNU Hanoi and the British Council through the Global Partnerships program, which started in 2021. The program has supported 06 projects focused on gender equality and inclusion, four of which are associated with VNU Hanoi and member universities. This demonstrates the strong commitment and efforts from both the British Council and VNU Hanoi to address issues related to gender equality in higher education at various levels: management and leadership, faculty, and students.
Ms. Donna McGowan, Director of the British Council in Vietnam, speaks at the seminar
The speakers participating in the seminar are leaders, female scientists, and female students currently working, researching, and studying in the STEM field. This includes Prof. Dr. Vu Hoang Linh, Rector of the University of Sciences, VNU Hanoi; Mr. Scott MacDonald; Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Ha, Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Environment, University of Sciences, VNU Hanoi; Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, Director of STEM Education Center, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education; and Ngo Phuong Trang, a 3rd year student in Computer Science and Informatics, Faculty of Mathematics - Mechanics - Informatics, University of Natural Sciences, VNU Hanoi.
Speakers actively participate in the seminar with candid and diverse sharing
At the seminar, some compelling issues were discussed, such as the importance of promoting women's participation in scientific and engineering research; the challenges that women face when participating in STEM fields (gender barriers and biases, gender gap, personal experiences of invisible prejudices affecting female scientists); and the initiatives and best practices for promoting women's participation in STEM fields being implemented in Vietnam and around the world.
Currently, many people believe that natural sciences are only suitable for men, but as one of the leading institutions in Vietnam for training natural sciences, the successes of the female scientists at the University of Sciences (HUS), VNU Hanoi, in basic and applied research have significantly contributed to affirming the University’s reputation. However, the reality in Vietnam shows that the proportion of female researchers involved in scientific research and having their works published in international scientific journals is still lower compared to male researchers.
Prof. Dr. Science. Vu Hoang Linh, Rector of the University of Sciences, VNU Hanoi, said that the University currently has more than 500 lecturers, of which 40% are female lecturers. The number of female students also accounts for about 55% of the total number of students body studying at the University.
These numbers somewhat indicate that the participation of women in research, teaching, and studying in STEM fields is gradually increasing. In other words, women are playing an increasingly important role in socio-economic development in general, although career opportunities for women to assert themselves in the STEM field are still limited.
At the seminar, Associate Professor. Dr. Nguyen Thi Ha, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Sciences, VNU Hanoi, emotionally shared unforgettable memories from her academic and research journey. From the difficulties and hardships during the research process, when it seemed like giving up was the only option due to stalled experiments, to the euphoric moment when the experiment finally succeeded. She spoke of the happiness that came from receiving family support, understanding, and companionship when working as a graduate student abroad, as well as the tireless nights spent in the laboratory until midnight. Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Ha affirmed: "Pursuing science is no easy feat, but if you have a passion and a love for acquiring knowledge, research, exploration, and discovery, you will find everything much easier".
In another story, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, Director of the STEM Education Center at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, discovered that traditional teaching methods like rote learning and theoretical exercises are not effective for teaching and learning natural sciences. Students need to be in the lab, actively engaging in hands-on activities, and participating in experiential learning and creative activities. For this reason, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang embarked on researching STEM methods, developing educational projects, and compiling training materials for administrators and teachers across provinces and cities, following the Ministry of Education and Training's program on STEM education.
Ngo Phuong Trang, valedictorian of block A1 in 2020 at the University of Sciences, VNU Hanoi, represents the generation of talented female students in the field of STEM
As the youngest speaker at the seminar, Ngo Phuong Trang, a third-year student in Computer Science and Informatics, Faculty of Mathematics - Mechanics - Informatics, University of Sciences, VNU Hanoi, shared: "Currently, many women are restricted from participating in the STEM field due to societal biases, or even prejudices from teachers and their own family. To break these molds, role models and encouragement from family and educational institutions are crucial. Parents themselves should participate in these kinds of seminars about empowering women in the STEM field to gain broader perspectives, better understand and appreciate their daughters' dreams and passions." Lucky for Phuong Trang, she’s been inspired and supported by her family in pursuing her passion for Mathematics throughout high school. However, Trang also had to overcome social stereotypes such as "girls can’t be as good at math as boys" as well as challenge herself in Computer and Information Science, a field where people still think girls can't cut it.
Students attentively follow the discussion at the program
The program garnered significant interest from numerous scientists and faculty members, both within and outside the University of Sciences, VNU Hanoi as well as students studying at the University. A series of direct and open questions were shared and posed to the speakers.
Dr. Hoang Thi Thu Huong, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Geography, University of Sciences, VNU Hanoi, shared her own story. Given the nature of her job which often requires field trips, and her husband's military duties that prevent him from being home regularly to support her, she finds herself wrestling with the pivotal question before each trip: "If I go, who will take care of the kids?"
Thus, it’s clear that it’s not just social prejudices that pose challenges, female scientists themselves face personal difficulties, anxieties, and considerations in balancing family and work. Sometimes these concerns can hinder or slow down their contributions to science.
Listening to the sharing at the seminar, Mr. Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council, said that the British Council, along with global partners, has been putting in substantial efforts to create career opportunities for women. Programs range from building research skills, awarding scholarships in STEM fields, empowering female leaders, and expanding the network of female leaders in both Vietnam and the United Kingdom. They also design and evaluate leadership training for female students in Vietnamese higher education institutions and conduct studies on gender equality in higher education in Vietnam.
All speakers agreed that not only from family, colleagues, or those around them if female scientists receive understanding and support from the entire social system, they will feel more empowered and have the opportunity to reap more achievements on the path of scientific research.
Through sharing at the seminar, it can be seen that gender equality has been strongly promoted in the field of education as well as in STEM in Vietnam through specific action plans.
However, the development of women's leadership roles still faces many limitations such as rigid traditional perceptions about the value and roles of men and women; inequality in education; gender inequality in social and political participation; lack of understanding of laws and policies on gender equality as well as women's leadership positions.
Students attentively follow and openly interact with the speakers of the program
The organizing committee presents commemorative gifts to the speakers participating in the program
The program not only attracts the attention and participation of female students but also many male students as well
Within the framework of the program, representatives from the British Council also took the time to visit the University of Sciences campus at 19 Le Thanh Tong, as well as the facilities and laboratories of the Faculty of Chemistry.