Enhancing the research capacity of female scientists

In 2024, the Scholar Exchange Program supported 21 scholars from 3 major universities in Vietnam to conduct research and participate in academic activities in the US, aiming to expand the network of connections with international experts.

Opportunities for female scholars

The USAID Higher Education Innovation Partnership has organized a Scholar Exchange Program, contributing to enhancing Vietnam's research and innovation capacity.

The program aims to support activities at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Danang University, and Ho Chi Minh City National University, helping young scholars develop research skills, build research networks with US scholars, and gain access to leading laboratories, research institutes, and scholars in the field.

Enhancing the research and teaching capacity of young lecturers focuses on 7 academic fields represented by the Vietnam - International Academic Network (VIAN): Economics, Business and Public Policy, Information Technology, Health Sciences, Climate and Environment, Education, Advanced Materials, Anthropology and Cultural Studies.

Many scholars participating in academic activities in the US are female scholars. Explaining this, Dr. Nguyen Thi Mai Phuong, Deputy Director of the Project, said: “Increasing the presence of women promotes diversity in research fields, especially in fields with low female presence such as technology or advanced materials. Young female scholars have new and creative perspectives, will contribute a lot to research and teaching, thereby improving the quality of higher education in Vietnam.”

After 3 months of working and researching at San Diego State University, Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi said: “Participating in the Scholar Exchange Program not only helps me further develop my research capacity, towards completing my PhD thesis, but also creates more motivation to expand and seek new research directions in the future, marking an important milestone on my academic path”.

Dr. Bui Thi Thanh Dieu, University of Education, University of Danang shared: "When I have the opportunity to experience the world's leading academic environment, I need to make more efforts to contribute to the development of the school as well as in my professional field."

Improving the quality of research

As the Head of the Higher Education Innovation Cooperation Project, Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Anh said that scholars in this program are not simply knowledge recipients, but cultural messengers, knowledge bridges, preserving creative spirit and resources to return to apply, solve current "bottlenecks" in research; opening up many cooperation opportunities between universities of the two countries in the future.

Dr. Pham Hoang Uyen, Head of the Department of Economic Mathematics, University of Economics and Law, Ho Chi Minh City National University, is conducting research on assessing corporate financial capacity through statistical data analysis techniques and artificial intelligence at New Mexico State University (USA). He affirmed: The program offers many opportunities for research and teaching with leading professors. For example, the content combines the two fields of technology and economics, providing solutions for data mining from expert knowledge and the expected result is a manuscript published in Scopus journal... In addition, scholars also have the opportunity to attend lectures by professors and Faculty meetings to understand the classroom operation mechanism and management methods at New Mexico State University...

Sharing about the reality of domestic research, Dr. Do Thi Thu Hien, International University, Ho Chi Minh City National University said: “Domestic research still has many limitations and certain challenges for scientists. For example, to serve research that has a profound impact on economic and social life, research requires a lot of modern equipment and facilities. This is a challenge for Vietnam in the context of not being able to invest much in scientific research. Meanwhile, in developed countries, investment in science has developed for many years, so multidimensional, interdisciplinary research has a great impact on technology, economy and society.”

In terms of research capacity, Dr. Thu Hien affirmed that Vietnamese scientists are fully capable of doing research like their international colleagues. However, capacity and time are being divided due to many tasks related to administrative and financial procedures, making it difficult for scientists to concentrate. Therefore, being exposed to and learning open mechanisms from the international research environment to apply to the environment in Vietnam is extremely important.

When given the opportunity to work with international scientists, Vietnamese researchers will be supplemented and supported in developing ideas, research methods, and problem-solving methods in research from leading experts. This is a way to save time and learn from the advantages and advances in recent research. Dr. Thu Hien plans to share her knowledge and skills with fellow scholars through seminars and collaborative projects, thereby inspiring other young researchers.

The female scholars participating in the program all have the desire to pursue a more professional scientific research career. These are also important factors in the process of internationalizing the domestic scientific research environment and are the goals set by the Scholar Exchange Program of the USAID-funded Higher Education Innovation Partnership Project.

According to VNA

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/cong-nghe/nang-cao-nang-luc-nghien-cuu-cua-nha-khoa-hoc-nu/20241019045811103