Combining STEM/STEAM and digital transformation: A solid foundation to help students integrate internationally

In the era of globalization and the 4.0 industrial revolution, general education cannot stop at imparting basic knowledge but must also develop in students the ability to think critically, problem-solving skills, creativity and a spirit of integration.

Dong Thap students visit and learn about the STEM education model.

In the Mekong Delta, a region with both great development potential and numerous challenges related to climate change, labor migration, and the pace of digitalization, integrating STEM/STEAM education with digital transformation in secondary schools is a key lever for creating a high-quality young workforce that meets the demands of the times.

From passive learning to creative thinking

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and STEAM (STEM + Arts) are no longer unfamiliar concepts in Vietnamese education. Instead of teaching each subject separately, this model integrates knowledge, helping students apply it to real-world situations. This model is gradually proving its effectiveness as it is enthusiastically received and interacted with by students.

AtFPT High School Can Tho, the History department recently organized a project presentation titled "The Pinnacle of Recycling" for 10th-grade students. Each class created two costumes representing different cultures covered in the 10th-grade History curriculum, such as Egypt, India, Greece, Rome, the Renaissance, China (Qin-Han, Tang, Ming, and Qing dynasties), and Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam (Ly, Tran, Later Le, and Nguyen dynasties), Thailand, Indonesia, and Myanmar. Even more remarkably, these costumes were designed using recycled materials, conveying a message of environmental protection.

Ms. Le Thi Ai Minh, a History teacher at FPT High School Can Tho , said that in the beginning, both teachers and students were quite unfamiliar with the STEAM model. However, with the encouragement and support of the school's administration, along with the school's advantageous facilities, teachers and students were able to carry out projects smoothly. The learning atmosphere became more vibrant and effective. Students not only quickly grasped the content of the History lessons but also experienced teamwork skills, artistic thinking, and presentation and performance skills.

Digital transformation - narrowing the gap between urban and rural areas

Along with STEM/STEAM, digital transformation in education is the key to narrowing the gap between urban and rural areas. Applying digital technology such as virtual classrooms, digital libraries, experimental simulation software, etc. helps students access global knowledge more equally.

Recently, in Vinh Long province, the provincial student team achieved high rankings in the Open Robotics Competition, demonstrating their well-developed creativity and digital skills. At the largest STEM Education Festival in the Mekong Delta in 2025, Tra On High School (Vinh Long) won first prize with a project related to the context of climate change in the Mekong region. This result proves that students in remote areas can absolutely create solutions with high scientific value and practical applications.

Mr. Nguyen Phuc Tang, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Can Tho City, said that as a central city and driving force for regional development, Can Tho focuses on digital transformation and administrative reform throughout the entire education sector. Applying information technology in management, teaching, and assessment; building and perfecting the education sector's database; connecting data within the sector and linking with national databases… are priority areas.

The Department of Education and Training has successfully implemented a Smart Education Operations Center to serve management and coordination within the sector. Most tasks related to student grades, report cards, and other information are digitized. The increased use of smart technology in lessons enhances interaction with learners, improves the visual aspect of lectures, and facilitates reporting and statistical applications within the management software.

School units regularly organize meetings, conferences, and specialized training seminars in both direct and online formats through popular applications such as Google Meet, Zoom Cloud Meeting, taphuan.csdl.edu.vn system, virtual meeting room system...

Promoting multilateral cooperation

STEM/STEAM education associated with digital transformation is a cross-level, cross-sectoral story. Therefore, promoting multi-stakeholder cooperation is the most superior trend to help this process take place quickly and effectively utilize each other's resources.

The university-high school linkage model is one of the key initiatives, optimizing advantages in terms of equipment and teaching staff. Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Quang Hung, Vice Director of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City and Director of the Vinh Long branch, stated that in 2025, the university signed memoranda of cooperation with high schools in the Mekong Delta region.

The content includes comprehensive digital transformation support for middle and high schools, especially those in remote and disadvantaged areas. Specifically, the support includes: online teaching and learning systems; tools for organizing online essay and multiple-choice exams; a multiple-choice exam scoring system using conventional scanners built on artificial intelligence (AI) technology; and an online high school graduation exam preparation system covering all subjects.

In addition to facilities, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics also organizes many human resource training courses, instructing teachers in digital transformation skills in the fields of innovation, STEM knowledge, sustainable development, etc.

Linking schools with businesses is also a direction that high schools in the region are effectively implementing.

In 2024, Samsung Vietnam sponsored a high school in Hau Giang (formerly) to build a STEM Lab worth $60,000. This was a commitment from the company to the high school whose student won first prize in the Solve for Tomorrow competition – a platform that contributes to popularizing STEM, fostering technological talent, and promoting digital transformation. This innovative approach helps mobilize social resources and create a modern practical environment for students right in their local area.

The Mekong Delta is entering a period of strong transformation. Today's generation of students, equipped with STEM/STEAM and digital transformation, will be the pioneers in building a new face for this land of great potential but many challenges.

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Source: https://baolaocai.vn/ket-hop-giua-stemsteam-va-chuyen-doi-so-nen-tang-vung-chac-giup-hoc-sinh-hoi-nhap-quoc-te-post879809.html