The world of work has changed, the skills young people need today are vastly different to the memory-based learning of a decade ago. The drivers of change necessitate a re-think of traditional education and learning paths and a transformation of education, skills and gender stereotypes. STEAM for Vietnam, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Viet Nam and the American Centres today launched an innovative event to reimagine education in the country through the power of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics).
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| Photo: UNICEF |
STEAMese Festival 2023, organised at the Phenikaa University, promotes the importance of early and equal STEAM education for children and adolescents, especially girls – starting at the preschool level. The event was curated with a wide range of edutainment and exploratory activities drawing hundreds of children, young people, parents and teachers from various geographical areas including Ha Noi, Lao Cai and Soc Trang. The space creatively designed for participants to enjoy, create and interact, building on the concepts of computational thinking, growth mindset and transferrable skills, applied via programmes such as Scratch and Robotics, tournaments with VEX Robotics, and science discovery etc.
East Asia and the Pacific is home to 277 million adolescents accounting for 23% of the world’s adolescent population, an incredible cohort of youthful energy, ideas, capacity and drive. At the same time, young people face various challenges to access quality and relevant education, in their transition into decent work opportunities, and to meaningfully participate in community and policy-making processes. The climate crisis, coupled with the recent pandemic have accelerated the digital transformation of economies and education systems, as companies and governments rapidly deploy digital services and increasingly innovate in response to resource scarcity. In this context, young people, governments and business leaders across the region often report a severe skills gap within STEAM. Likewise, surveyed employers across Viet Nam have observed that transferable skills around problem-solving, communication, and creative and innovative thinking, are not being found in school graduates – boys or girls.
“Advancing and investing in STEAM education and transferrable skills is a key priority for Viet Nam, and one which UNICEF is deeply committed to – for both boys and girls,” said Le Anh Lan, UNICEF Viet Nam Education Specialist. “The evidence points to specific challenges for girls and young women as gender differences begin even before birth, and similarly gender gaps in STEAM begin early and must be tackled throughout schooling, starting in preschool, rather than through catch-up policies or programmes once a young woman enters the labor market. Encouraging girls’ aspirations in STEAM is critical, as is supporting a holistic approach to skills, career exploration and pathways to employment that are responsive to adolescent girls and young women.”
STEAM education also has the potential to contribute to personal empowerment, progressing communities and nations, and building economies for the future. In Viet Nam, like in many other countries, underrepresentation of girls and women in STEAM is often rooted in unequal gender norms that reinforce a false belief that girls are not cut out for problem-solving and an inquisitive mind. Often held by parents, teachers, employers and the community, the stereotypes are linked with various societal pressures that lead to adolescent girls’ and women’s lower participation in STEAM careers.
“Quality and equal STEAM education for all children, especially girls, is of absolute importance. We’re confident that the solid foundation of STEAM education will play a vital role in the success of the country's next generations in the global market. Our mission is to bring advanced STEAM education to Vietnamese children aged six to 18, building on cutting-edge technologies, innovative educational models and enhanced teachers’ capacity,” said Ms. Nguyen Phuong Thuy, Co-founder of STEAM for Vietnam Foundation. “This festival is a highlight in our journey to promote equal access for all children to free STEAM education of international standards.”
“The U.S. Mission in Vietnam is committed to support Vietnam’s efforts to improve the quality of its higher education and produce a 21st century workforce ready to engage globally. By working closely with like-minded partners, we can achieve so much more. Vietnamese youth are energetic, talented, and ambitious global citizens. There is no limit to their potential”, said Ms. Kate Bartlett, Cultural Affairs Officer, Embassy of the United States of America in Ha Noi at the event.
Parents and teachers are called upon to work together to dismantle the barriers that girls and disadvantaged children face to unlock their potential to become shapers and creators of contemporary scientific knowledge and new technologies.
The event hosted talk shows and discussions among national and international experts, policy makers and schools, sharing lesson design methods and teaching materials with teachers so that they can foster their teaching knowledge and learn from experiences in curricular design./.