2023 – 2025
Three Years
Three Years
Transforming STEM Education
Across Vietnam
From Ninh Bình to 19 provinces — breaking barriers so every child, regardless of geography, gender or ability, can access world-class STEM.
Mission: “Quality STEM Education For All”
400K+
Students Reached
19
Provinces
12K+
Teachers Trained
51
Training Sessions
📊 By The Numbers
Impact That Speaks for Itself
Three years of measurable, lasting change across Vietnam’s most underserved communities.
400K+
Students Supported
75% ethnic minority · 60%+ female
12K+
Teachers Trained
51 sessions delivered
19
Provinces & Cities
Highlands to urban centers
4,500+
VEX Contestants
258 teams · 23 provinces
400+
NASA Hackathon
91 projects · #2 SE Asia
197+
STEM Kits Donated
Robots, drones & kits
🗓️ The Journey
3 Years · 3 Milestones
From a bold vision to nationally recognized, internationally acclaimed impact.
2023 · Foundation
Laying the Groundwork for Equitable STEM
SEPA launched its flagship programs targeting underserved communities. The first all-female robotics club was established in Văn Quan (Lạng Sơn). CREST Awards rolled out for Northern Vietnam. The “A Piece of Teach” micro-learning teacher training framework was developed across 5 modules. First STEM kits donated to remote highland schools.
2024 · Scale-Up
National Recognition & Expanding to 19 Provinces
SEPA received the MSF 2024 Inclusive Technology Recognition (Samsung · NIC · MPI). Operations expanded to 19 provinces with focus on disabilities and girls in STEM. The 1st National STEM Education Conference was hosted. STEM for Girls ran 9 culturally integrated workshops in mountainous areas. SEPA shortlisted for SEAMEO INNOTECH Southeast Asian Educational Innovation Awards 2024.
2025 · International Acclaim
Record Events · Deputy PM Honor · Global Stage
The VEX Robotics Vietnam National Championship 2025 attracted 4,500+ contestants — Vietnam’s largest robotics event — with 6 World Championship prizes won. NASA Space Apps Challenge Ninh Bình ranked 2nd in Southeast Asia (42nd globally/400+ locations). SEPA’s Founder topped SAM RATULANGI AWARD 2025. The Deputy PM personally honored SEPA at NIC Innovation Expo 2025. ITU-UN approved SEPA to organize Robotics for Good Vietnam 2026.
🧩 Key Programs
Flagship Initiatives Driving Change
Five signature programs ensuring no student is left behind — from highland villages to urban classrooms.
🔬
CREST Awards — International Student Science Research
British Science Association · Ages 3–19
SEPA is the exclusive implementing unit for CREST Awards in Northern Vietnam — a prestigious UK-certified science scheme.
- Independent research projects to international standards
- Critical thinking & problem-solving skill development
- Certified by the British Science Association (crestawards.org)
🏔️
STEM for Ethnic Minority & Rural Students
Remote & Impoverished Areas · Cultural Integration
Equitable STEM access in Vietnam’s most remote corners through culturally resonant, community-led approaches.
- Gender-transformative curricula adapted to local culture
- STEM clubs & festivals in highland schools
- Human-centered design in program development
- Teacher & administrator capacity building
♿
STEM for Students with Disabilities
VR · Virtual Robots · Adaptive Technology
Pioneering adaptive tech so no disability becomes a barrier to STEM exploration.
- VR virtual robot training for teachers of deaf children (HCMC & Long An)
- KC Bots & Vex 123 Virtual Robots for disability centers
- Gara Robots deployed at Hope School (District 6, HCMC)
- Virtual labs for Điện Biên Disability Support Center
👩💻
STEM for Girls
Gender Equity · Cultural STEM Workshops
Inspiring female students through workshops that celebrate local identity while breaking career barriers.
- 9 culturally integrated STEM workshops in mountainous districts
- Bamboo STEM · Weaving STEM · Conical Hat STEM · Traditional Costume STEM
- First all-female robotics club in Văn Quan (Lạng Sơn)
- VEX IQ robots & drone bots awarded to top female teams
📚
“A Piece of Teach” — Teacher Training
Micro-Learning · 5 Core Modules · Dual Delivery
A dual-model program combining on-site expert deployment with online/distance learning for remote teachers.
- STEM Overview · Science Exploration · Engineering Design
- Robotics & AI in Teaching
- Guiding Student Science & Technology Research
- VR, virtual robots & AI tools integrated for highland teachers
🏅 Major Events
Competitions & Global-Standard Events
From robotics championships to space hackathons — bringing world-class competitions to Vietnamese students.
🤖 VEX Robotics Vietnam National Championship 2024–2025
Vietnam’s largest robotics championship organized by SEPA — official RECF partner. Integrated Vietnamese cultural symbols (Long Biên Bridge, Bản Giốc Waterfall) into competition design. Pioneered capacity transfer training 200+ teachers in Cao Bằng & Lạng Sơn.
258 Teams
4,500+ Contestants
23 Provinces
900 Volunteers
6 World Prizes 🏆
35 Public Schools
18 Teams at VEX Worlds
🚀 NASA Space Apps Challenge — Ninh Bình 2025
SEPA secured Ninh Bình’s debut as an international science & tech hackathon venue. Teams built space-data projects within 48 hours, earning Vietnam’s best-ever global ranking at this event.
400+ Registered
91 Completed Projects
42nd / 400+ Worldwide
🌏 2nd in SE Asia
8 NASA-Nominated Projects
👩🔬 Inspirational Stories Contest: Women & Girls in STEM
Co-organized with CEPEW and HCMUE STEM. Featured an Expert Forum with USTH and VAST specialists focusing on STEM linked to ethnic cultural elements and gender policy.
200+ Story Entries
100 Delegates
International Org Reps
🚗 Ford for STEM — Mobile STEM Labs
Designed mobile STEM programs on Ford vehicles for Ford Vietnam’s CSR initiative — traveling to Chiềng Đi, Sơn La and disadvantaged areas in Hà Nội to deliver hands-on STEM directly to students who cannot access urban schools.
Mobile STEM Labs
Chiềng Đi, Sơn La
Ford Vietnam CSR
🌐 Robotics for Good Vietnam National Tournament 2026
Coordinated by ITU (United Nations), targeting the Global Finals in Geneva at the AI for Good Global Summit 2026. Free participation for students aged 10–18. Focus: food security robotics using open-source hardware & software. Top 2 teams represent Vietnam in Switzerland.
ITU-UN Official
Ages 10–18 · Free
Geneva Finals 🇨🇭
Open Source
🌍 SDG Alignment
Impact Beyond Education
SEPA’s work directly advances multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals — measured in lives transformed, not just numbers.
SEPA pioneered the transfer of organizational processes and successfully trained over 200 teachers in Cao Bằng and Lạng Sơn. As a result, a regional tournament was successfully held for the first time in history in the poor border district of Trùng Khánh — operated by Tày and Nùng ethnic teachers themselves.
🎯 UN SDGs We Advance
SDG 4 Quality Education
SDG 5 Gender Equality
SDG 7 Clean Energy
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities
SDG 13 Climate Action
SDG 14 Life Below Water
SDG 15 Life on Land
75%
Ethnic Minority Students
60%+
Female Students
28
Mountainous Districts
17
Border Districts
🥇 Recognition
Awards & International Honors
Validated by some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, from the Vietnamese Government to UNESCO and UNICEF.
Vietnam Government · NIC 2025
Deputy Prime Minister Recognition — Vietnam International Innovation Expo 2025
Personally honored by the Deputy PM for outstanding contributions to STEM education development in Vietnam.
MSF 2024 · Samsung · NIC · MPI
Inclusive Technology Recognition — Multi-Stakeholder Forum 2024
Recognized as a pioneering unit applying technology to solve social issues, co-honored by Samsung Vietnam and the National Innovation Center.
UNESCO · Pedagogical Innovation
The Pedagogical Innovator Grant — Living Heritage STEM
“Integrating Vietnamese Conical Hats into STEM Lessons” — co-authored by SEPA’s Founder — honored by UNESCO as an Innovative Teaching Initiative in Math and Science.
SEAMEO · SAM RATULANGI AWARD 2025
Top 9 Excellent Lectures — Math & Science Beauty
“The Mathematical and Scientific Beauty of the Bauhinia Flower” — honored by SEAMEO Regional Centre for QITEP in Mathematics.
NAAEE 2022 · SEAMEO INNOTECH 2024
International Award Shortlists — Two Consecutive Years
SEPA’s educational models shortlisted for NAAEE E-STEM Awards 2022 and SEAMEO INNOTECH Southeast Asian Educational Innovation Awards 2024.
UNICEF · Humanitarian Program
Power of Radiance — STEM for Vulnerable Adolescents
UNICEF-nominated humanitarian program pioneered by SEPA, demonstrating deep commitment to student groups needing special support.
💡 Core Values
What Makes SEPA Different
Six principles that guide every program, partnership, and decision we make.
Value 01
Deep STEM Expertise
Academic rigor combined with practical, real-world application.
Value 02
Strong Partnership Network
International, governmental, academic and enterprise alliances.
Value 03
Flexible Training Methods
Micro-learning, VR, online & offline hybrid delivery.
Value 04
Cultural Integration
STEM programs rooted in local heritage and indigenous identity.
Value 05
Large-Scale Event Expertise
Proven capacity to run international-standard competitions.
Value 06
Sustainable SDG Commitment
Every program aligned to United Nations 2030 Goals.
🤝 Our Network
Partners Who Amplify Impact
A diverse ecosystem backing SEPA’s mission — from the United Nations to local community schools.
🌐 International Partners
🤖 RECF — Robotics Education & Competition Foundation
📡 ITU — International Telecommunication Union (UN)
🇬🇧 British Science Association (CREST Awards)
🇺🇸 NASA Space Apps Challenge
🏛️ Government & Innovation Bodies
💡 National Innovation Center (NIC)
🏫 Dept. of Education — Cao Bằng · Lạng Sơn · Sơn La · Ninh Bình
🚀 Ninh Bình Innovation Startup Club
🔬 Ninh Bình Dept. of Science & Technology
🎓 Academic Institutions
HUST — School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
HCMUE STEM Center
Hanoi National University of Education
VNU — University of Science, Hanoi
CENSTED
USTH · VAST
👩 NGO & Civil Society
👩💼 CEPEW — Center for Education Promotion & Empowerment of Women
🏢 Enterprise Partners
Vovinam Digital
STEAMax
Kidscode
Ford Vietnam
FPT School & FPT Polytechnic
Alpha School System
Victory Experimental School
Hanoi Toronto School
🤖 Donations
Equipment Donated (2023–2025)
Strategic technology donations prioritizing schools in disadvantaged and remote areas.
🤖
12
VEX IQ Education Kits
⚙️
139
KC Ino Bot Robots
incl. 24 to Sín Thầu 2025
incl. 24 to Sín Thầu 2025
🧰
40
S3 STEM Kits
🚁
6
Tello Drone Bots
🥽
∞
Virtual Robots & Labs
Disability & highland access
Disability & highland access
Partner with SEPA.
Shape Vietnam’s STEM Future.
Join us as a partner, sponsor, or volunteer — every contribution amplifies impact for thousands of children.
