(DLR) - From August 12 to August 20, 2025, the Gia Lai Department of Education and Training, in collaboration with Quy Nhon University, is organizing a professional training program on the 2018 STEM Education Curriculum for more than 1,600 teachers at primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary schools across the province. This initiative is part of the provincial project “Development of STEM Education in Gia Lai for the period 2025 - 2030”, approved by the Provincial People’s Committee.

The opening ceremony took place on the morning of August 12, 2025, at the Center for Scientific Discovery and Innovation (10 Science Avenue, Quy Nhon Nam Ward, Gia Lai Province) and was livestreamed to training sites throughout the province. Attending the event were leaders of the Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee; the Propaganda and Training Commission of the Provincial Party Committee; the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee; representatives from provincial departments and agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Finance, and Department of Home Affairs; the Provincial Youth Union; principals of high schools and centers for vocational and continuing education; representatives from the Board of Rectors of Quy Nhon University; along with reporters and journalists from central and local media outlets.

Mr. Pham Van Nam - Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Gia Lai Department of Education and Training, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Pham Van Nam - Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Gia Lai Department of Education and Training - affirmed: “This STEM education training program will equip teachers at all levels with solid foundations to effectively implement the curriculum and apply STEM practices at their schools, thereby contributing to improving teaching quality and advancing educational innovation.”

Leaders of Quy Nhon University also emphasized the university’s role in supporting localities in developing high-quality human resources to meet the demands of socio-economic growth. In his remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Doan Duc Tung, Rector of Quy Nhon University, stated: “STEM education is not only a global trend but also an essential requirement of modern education, enabling learners to develop creative thinking, problem-solving capacity, and the ability to connect knowledge with real-world applications. As a key higher education institution in the region, Quy Nhon University is honored to work alongside the Gia Lai Department of Education and Training in training and fostering a core team of teachers, thereby spreading the spirit of innovation to schools and students.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Doan Duc Tung - Rector of Quy Nhon University, affirmed that the University is always ready to accompany the province in education and training.

Content of the training: From theory to practice, aligned with real-world contexts

According to the plan, training activities are delivered in person at Quy Nhon University lecture halls and livestreamed to satellite sites across the province, ensuring convenience and full coverage of the participating teacher cohort. The program aims to help K–12 teachers deepen their understanding of the nature, role, and significance of STEM education; develop the capacity to design, organize, and assess STEM learning activities in general education; and thereby enhance teaching quality while fostering students’ competencies and character in line with the 2018 General Education Curriculum.

The training provides an overview of the 2018 STEM Education Program as oriented by the Ministry of Education and Training, enabling teachers to clearly grasp overarching issues, objectives, principles, and the role of STEM within the 2018 General Education Curriculum; concrete STEM lessons for each level of general education; and step-by-step guidance on designing and implementing STEM teaching themes in schools—from problem selection and lesson design to activity organization and assessment.

In addition, the program integrates hands-on practice with models, experiments, and project-based learning connected to local contexts, enabling teachers to apply what they learn immediately in their classrooms; and it features experience-sharing from schools that have successfully implemented STEM education, especially in fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and biotechnology. This blend of theory and practice not only equips teachers with knowledge and skills but also inspires them to design engaging learning activities that spark students’ passion for science.

The STEM education training and professional development course was organized for 1,600 teachers of all levels in both in-person and online formats.

Target by 2030: Universal student access to STEM

According to the Scheme “Developing STEM Education in Gia Lai Province for the 2025–2030 period,” in addition to training more than 1,600 teachers, the province sets the goal that 100% of students in public general schools will have access to STEM education under the 2018 General Education Curriculum. It also aims for 15% of lower and upper secondary students to participate in career-oriented STEM education aligned with the development of priority industries such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity—through activities like STEM Robotics, STEM AI, STEM IoT, and STEM Biotechnology offered via clubs or extracurricular projects.

This is a critical step for Gia Lai to cultivate a high-quality workforce that meets the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the province’s knowledge-based economic development strategy.

The role of STEM in Gia Lai’s Development Strategy

The implementation of STEM education is not merely a shift in teaching methods; it is intrinsically linked to the province’s development strategy. STEM is regarded as a strategic lever for Gia Lai to build the foundations of a distinctive science-oriented urban area and to emerge as a regional hub for innovation and high technology in the South Central Coast - Central Highlands.

Amid intensifying competition and deep international integration, a high-quality workforce is decisive. With its interdisciplinary approach and tight integration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, STEM education helps cultivate a young generation with logical thinking, problem-solving skills, and the capacity for collaboration and creativity - competencies essential for adapting to the future world of work.

Hopes for Broad Impact and Sustainable Development

This round of training on the 2018 STEM Education Program is not only about equipping teachers with knowledge and skills; it also opens new avenues for teaching and learning in Gia Lai’s general schools. Once adequately prepared, teachers will serve as catalysts, leading and spreading the STEM teaching movement within their schools.

In the longer term, STEM will help transform students’ learning - from passive reception to active exploration, inquiry, and application. Students will engage in rich experiential activities and real-world projects, thereby developing the essential competencies for lifelong learning and future careers.

Delegates attending the opening ceremony took commemorative photos.

With the determination of provincial leaders, the concerted efforts of the education sector, and sustained academic support from Quy Nhon University, STEM education in Gia Lai is poised for strong growth, contributing to a modern, globally integrated education system closely aligned with the province’s and the nation’s socio-economic development needs.

Thuan Bao