Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam National Industry - Energy Group (Petrovietnam) has launched a nationwide education programme called STEM Innovation Petrovietnam to equip the next generation with sci-tech skills critical to the country’s energy transition and industrial modernisation.
The programme, spurred by Party General Secretary To Lam, kicked off on September 21. It plans to build 100 standardised STEM labs in 34 cities and provinces, marking the biggest education project ever undertaken by a Vietnamese state-owned enterprise.
A strategic bet on human capital
The programme aligns with the Politburo’s resolutions on innovation and education reform, seeking to modernise learning facilities and outfit youth with skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). It underscores Petrovietnam’s determination to support the nation’s strategy for a quality workforce in the new period.
The labs will meet global standards, giving students and educators practical exposure to cutting-edge gear in artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, robotics and digital tools. The programme also advances creative STEM teaching, scientific research and a nationwide STEM ecosystem to guide careers, spark entrepreneurship and match Industry 4.0 demands.
It features teacher training and knowledge-sharing sessions across school systems, while fostering research in education and technology. Domestic labs will link with global networks, starting with Singapore, plus local university and institute facilities to nurture talented students.
Petrovietnam aims to finish all 100 labs by the late 2025, with its Party Committee deploying a national rollout plan right after launch. Each locality gets three labs, including two for high schools and one for secondary schools, with priority given to disadvantaged and border areas.
To date, 11 labs have been completed, and surveys, evaluations and construction plans are set for the remaining 89. The group is coordinating with local officials and units to fast-track procurement and setup, targeting delivery of all 100 global-standard labs within 100 days, ahead of the December 31, 2025 deadline.
Building “knowledge infrastructure”
The programme stands out not just for modern classrooms but for forging a linked education network. It connects labs countrywide, kicks off ties with Singapore’s system, and rolls out custom curricula, specialised materials and a network of local master trainers for long-term growth.
Petrovietnam described this as an investment not just in “educational infrastructure,” but in “knowledge infrastructure”, preparing a new generation of high-skilled professionals ready to lead in the era of industry-energy-digital technology.
Experts called this “investment in intellectual energy” a way to create a “knowledge cycle”, where today’s students will become the engineers, managers and innovators driving Vietnam’s future industrial and energy projects.
At Cau Giay Secondary School in Hanoi, sixth-grader Nguyen Kieu Minh said that smart learning tools make science “more vivid and engaging”. In Nghe An province, Dang Vu Duc Duy from Kim Lien High School said first-time hands-on experiments turned lessons “exciting and inspiring”.
Nguyen Thi Mai, Vice Principal of Cau Giay Secondary School, said the modern classrooms help strengthen interdisciplinary teaching and encourage creative scientific thinking.
Doan Thi Thanh Huong, Principal of Tay Mo Secondary School, hailed it as a move to “borderless learning,” letting students link globally, widen views and grow as global citizens.
Over the 100-day sprint, Petrovietnam and advisors have held regular discussions to refine rollout, ensuring labs run smoothly and power Vietnam’s budding STEM network. Tailored lesson plans and training kits are also in the pipeline.
The group continues to work closely with local authorities and schools to speed up construction and installation, aiming to quickly connect knowledge, ignite creativity and inspire science passion among students nationwide.
STEM Innovation Petrovietnam embodies the company’s view that investing in people secures the nation’s tomorrow. For Petrovietnam, business expansion pairs with public duty, and innovation means both a driver of progress and a duty to nurture the next generation./.
