Vietnam Promotes Programs to Foster Women in Science, Legal Knowledge, and Japanese Language Skills

Several programs have been launched in Vietnam to encourage women's contributions to science, disseminate legal knowledge, and promote cultural exchange with Japan. Firstly, applications are now open for the L'Oréal-UNESCO "For Women in Science" National Scholarship Program 2026. This initiative supports female researchers with promising scientific research projects, with each scholarship valued at 150 million VND (approximately $6,000 USD). The L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women In Science National Scientific Council in Vietnam will select three outstanding female scientists annually for scholarships and international nominations. The deadline for national scientific scholarship applications is 6:00 PM on September 30. Secondly, the "Smart Student 2026" competition aims to equip students with legal knowledge and skills to identify and avoid illegal multi-level marketing activities. The preliminary round, conducted online, will run until September 30, with the final round and awards ceremony scheduled for October 30 in Da Nang City. Participation requires accurate identification details, including national ID card number, full name, and university. The total score for each university will be calculated from the combined scores of all its participating students, with no limit on the number of participants. The top five universities with the highest total scores will form teams for the final round. Furthermore, the Vietnam-Japan Cultural and Educational Cooperation Promotion Center (VJCE) has launched the first Vietnamese Children's Japanese Talent Contest "J-KIDS 2026." Under the theme "Japanese Opens the Door to the Future," the competition is open to Vietnamese children aged 5-15, residing in Vietnam or abroad, divided into three age groups: 5-8, 9-11, and 12-15. The contest activities are diverse, including Japanese speeches, storytelling, singing, acting, introducing Vietnamese homeland and culture, learning about Japanese culture, drawing with presentations, creating self-introduction videos, and showcasing artistic talents using Japanese, aiming to transform foreign languages into tools for communication and cultural connection. These initiatives can be seen as part of Vietnam's national strategy to enhance its international competitiveness in science and technology, improve the legal awareness of its citizens, and broaden the international horizons of its youth. Promoting the active participation of women in science is particularly emphasized from the perspective of developing Vietnam's diverse human resources. The Japanese language contest also aims to further strengthen the growing economic and cultural ties with Japan. Source: Nhan Dan