Learn through Construct!
BUILD-IT & Dow Vietnam STEM Program
Supporting Student Innovation Initiatives
Friday, January 18, 2019 (7:00 – 12:30)
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – On January 18, 2019, the Community Service Engineering Project Contest co-organized by BUILD-IT Project & Dow Vietnam’s STEM Program was held. present and introduce the projects participating in the contest today. More than 150 STEM students from 6 universities of technology and engineering have finished a 5-month project construction competition under the Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) model. ), an internationally recognized model of community service learning where students not only learn through practice, but also learn through creation.
This is the third time the EPICS competition has been held in Vietnam, and the second year that the competition has received the companionship of Dow Vietnam’s STEM Program. Together with the Program to Promote University and Business Cooperation Through Innovation and Technology (BUILD-IT), a project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Arizona State University, Dow Vietnam STEM Program collaborates to launch EPICS Competition to support innovative and creative ideas of students and promote community service-oriented learning at universities of Vietnam. With the financial support of Dow Vietnam through the STEM Program and under the guidance of faculty members and business representatives, more than 150 students from 27 teams had the opportunity to work on projects and compete. talent in the contest.
27 student teams from BUILD-IT’s 6 partner technical universities in Vietnam presented and introduced their project results in front of judges from government agencies, businesses, and academic circles at the EPICS Project Exhibition Space located at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education. This is a key activity in the mission of the BUILD-IT Program with the goal of integrating project-based learning activities into the curriculum of leading universities in Vietnam. This is also an event that demonstrates the unwavering commitment of government agencies, businesses and universities in integrating project-based learning activities into the curriculum system at Vietnamese universities. Male.
Joining the students at the event, Mr. Tomoyuki Sasama, General Director of Dow Vietnam, excitedly toured the contested products of student groups and said, “Our company’s STEM program whose goal is to inspire students through encouraging entrepreneurship and innovative ideas to support the sustainable development of local communities as well as contribute to the development of a workforce for future through education and a strong sense of environmental protection. The STEM program is one of our signature projects to help the community address its challenges. Dow will continue to support the best teams in commercializing and bringing their project results to market.”
Building on previous successes of the EPICS Program, leaders and lecturers from BUILD-IT’s partner universities are preparing to transform EPICS from an extracurricular activity into a scoring subject in engineering majors. arts; thereby ensuring the sustainability of the EPICS program in Vietnam and integrating EPICS into the operational structure of universities.
Dow Vietnam’s STEM Program will also partner with the BUILD-IT Project to launch the From Innovation to Entrepreneurship Program, providing the opportunity for today’s outstanding teams to further develop their careers. project ideas, and at the same time, the two sides will also implement the University Research Initiative Program to equip young people with basic knowledge as a foundation for innovative research.
BUILD-IT is a 5-year project, funded by USAID, with the goal of fostering public-private partnerships and supporting Vietnam’s engineering training programs to achieve world-leading standards. , thereby contributing to creating a workforce capable of embarking on jobs right after graduation. Implemented by Arizona State University, the Program has the participation of more than 16 businesses and 11 partner universities in Vietnam. Collaboration among Program members helps strengthen links between universities and businesses, and integrates project-based learning activities such as EPICS into our STEM training programs. Vietnam.
About Dow Vietnam
Dow Chemical Company (Dow) has been present in Vietnam since 1995. Since then, Dow has always been a partner in Vietnam’s development and committed to contribute to the growth. economic growth and added value to Vietnam’s advanced manufacturing industries. One of Dow’s ways to advance its mission of creating innovation for its stakeholders is by combining scientific and technological know-how to deliver cutting-edge materials science solutions needed for advancement. The ministry of humanity is a strong supporter of the Community Service Engineering Project Building Program jointly organized by BUILD-IT and the Dow Vietnam STEM Program.
