Choose a career through STEM projects.

No longer confined to theoretical classroom lessons, many high school students in Da Nang are now beginning to shape their career paths through the experience of building models, refining products, or staying up late to complete research projects.

The robot model balancing on a ball attracted the attention of many visiting students, creating a space for interaction and inspiring mutual learning.

Understanding the right career path

Amidst the exhibition of research models at the University of Technology (Da Nang University), Nguyen Hoang Khang, a student in class 11B3 of Binh Son High School, Quang Ngai province, repeatedly stopped in front of the Chemistry department's booth to ask the students and teachers about experiments related to medicinal plants and their applications in daily life. The male student said that he previously only liked Chemistry because he found it "suitable," but after participating in STEM competitions and scientific research, he began to have a clearer picture of the career he wanted to pursue in the future.

Hoang Khang is a member of a research group studying the *Syzygium jambos* plant at Binh Son High School, exploring its potential applications in healthcare. "There were days when the results of the experiments weren't what we hoped for, and we had to start over. But the more we worked, the more I liked Chemistry and wanted to pursue this field," Khang recounted.

Khang is not alone; many students today are beginning to embrace technology through familiar issues around them. At Tran Phu High School ( Da Nang city), Nguyen Minh Tri and his group of friends developed a smart traffic light model using artificial intelligence to regulate traffic flow at intersections around the school gate during dismissal time.

To make the model usable outdoors, the team had to research various materials to ensure they could withstand rain and sun. Once they selected suitable materials, the members continued to experiment with creating molds so that the product would function exactly as originally designed.

The male student said that it was the process of self-learning, from programming and electronics to mechanics, that led him to decide to pursue Information Technology after graduation.

Also at Tran Phu High School, Tran Vu Quoc Huy chose a more practical research direction by utilizing wild-growing guava trees to make natural scented sachets. After months of experimentation and changes in material processing methods, the group finally perfected the product as desired. Quoc Huy said that participating in science and technology research competitions helped him better understand the fields he loves.

"My family has a tradition of being teachers, so since I was little, I've always wanted to teach and impart knowledge to young children. But through participating in STEM, robotics, and science and technology competitions, I've also found myself really interested in fields like information technology, automation, and mechanical engineering, and I want to learn more about these areas," Huy shared.

From the times the models malfunctioned and the experiments failed.

Students confidently presented their unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) models to experts at the Science, Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Festival.

Those experiences are also something many engineering students begin to face when they enter university.

Ngo Tu Anh, a first-year student in the Electrical Engineering department at the University of Technology, Da Nang University, said that he initially chose the major mainly because he was good at Physics. It wasn't until he participated in practical projects that he realized he truly loved the field. "In theory, everything was very smooth, but when we started working on it, things broke down, errors occurred, and we had to fix them constantly to get it working," Tu Anh recounted.

According to Ms. Vo Thi Huong, a physics teacher at Tran Phu High School, the greatest value of STEM lies not in the awards but in the practical experience students gain to understand which field suits them best. "Some students realize they enjoy programming after creating a product, while others are passionate about mechanics or research. The important thing is that they get to try, make mistakes, and grow through the process," Ms. Huong shared.

In Da Nang, many universities are now expanding their connections with high schools to allow students to access scientific and technological research from an early age. According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Huu Hieu, Rector of the University of Technology (Da Nang University), in the context of today's rapidly changing technology, STEM not only helps students access knowledge but also creates opportunities for them to realize early on which field they are suited for, thereby making appropriate career choices in the future.

A session for exchanging and advising on startup ideas between instructors and students.

Meanwhile, Ms. Trinh Thi Hong Linh, a teacher at Nguyen Binh Khiem Specialized High School (Da Nang city), believes that STEM should not become a pressure to achieve high grades, but rather an environment for students to experience, explore their abilities, and develop practical skills. “The most important thing is that students dare to try new ideas, know how to work in teams, know how to solve problems, and persevere with their projects. These are also essential skills for their future careers,” Ms. Linh said.

For many students, the career path now begins not just with grades or classroom tests, but with the failures of models, experiments, and nights spent repairing projects with friends. And behind STEM competitions, what remains for many is not necessarily the prize, but the opportunity to understand what they truly want to pursue in the future.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/tri-tue-viet/chon-nghe-tu-nhung-du-an-stem-20260522110359325.htm