In modern Vietnamese history, few state-owned enterprises have shouldered dual responsibilities quite like Petrovietnam: ensuring national energy security while managing annual social welfare programs worth billions of dollars.

This year, following the Politburo’s Resolution 71-NQ/TW on educational reform, the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) has taken a pioneering step by placing STEM education at the heart of its social initiatives, aiming to nurture a new generation of scientific and technological talent for the country.

From resolution to action

Last weekend in Hanoi, during the celebration of its 50th anniversary, Petrovietnam launched the STEM Innovation Petrovietnam program, witnessed by General Secretary To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The program aims to build 100 digital STEM labs in just 100 days, with a budget of approximately USD 20.4 million, funded from the corporation’s annual social welfare budget.

By the end of 2025, each province and city is expected to have at least three model STEM labs. These labs will be interconnected domestically and begin partnerships with Singapore’s educational system.

While Resolution 71 targets raising the proportion of STEM learners to at least 35% of total students, Petrovietnam is laying the groundwork to achieve that goal. The STEM labs are designed not only as spaces for students to explore robotics, programming, and AI, but also as hands-on environments that translate policy into tangible learning experiences - motivating students from early school years.

Speaking at the launch, General Secretary To Lam called the initiative a “model of harnessing human potential in the digital age.” As traditional energy sources give way to renewables, a highly skilled workforce becomes essential. Investing in STEM is not just about social welfare - it’s about preparing for future energy and high-tech industries, including oil, gas, renewables, and hydrogen.

STEM Innovation: Scaling up and global connectivity

According to expert Minh Long Son, the STEM Innovation Petrovietnam program is the largest STEM education initiative in Vietnam to date. It could build a national ecosystem of 100 pilot schools, influence up to 3,000 schools, and reach around 3 million students with international-standard STEM learning.

More importantly, the initiative connects directly with top global education platforms like ISEF (the world’s largest science and engineering fair), Arduino, VEX robotics, FAB LAB (MIT-standard), and the FIRST Robotics Competition.

“If well-organized, students from the 100 pilot schools in Vietnam will have a significant advantage over peers in many countries,” Son said. “They’ll be connected with each other, with universities, and with the international community. As knowledge and experience spread from each school to dozens more, provinces can develop STEM spearheads, boosting AI, robotics, and IoT capabilities for large segments of high school students.”

Cau Giay Secondary School in Hanoi offers a prime example. Its STEM Innovation Lab 57, gifted by General Secretary To Lam, is already operational. All 44 of the school’s classes have VEX robotics teams, and five of those teams are preparing for the 2026 National Robotics Championship. The school is also building plans to support schools in other regions, including remote Cao Bang.

When business joins the classroom

Resolution 71 outlines three key strategies: supporting students (via scholarships and credit access), investing in institutions (through innovation and digital transformation), and improving teaching staff quality (by attracting and allocating talent). Petrovietnam adds a fourth strategy - direct investment by enterprises in educational infrastructure.

Its USD 20.4 million investment into 100 STEM labs marks a shift in how social welfare is understood. It’s not merely short-term material aid, but a long-term commitment to building capacity in the next generation. In times of limited public budgets, the role of major state-owned corporations like Petrovietnam becomes critical in making policies impactful.

By placing STEM at the core of its social programs, Petrovietnam is signaling a profound change in thinking: that education and knowledge are the foundation of sustainable development. If implemented effectively, Vietnam could develop a vast, internationally aligned STEM education network that directly feeds into its strategic industries.

Petrovietnam previously sponsored Vietnam’s first National STEM Day in 2015, when STEM was still a new concept in the country. A decade later, the group is taking an even bolder step - this time on a national scale and with support from the country’s highest leadership. This is more than a welfare program; it’s a strategic investment in building a skilled workforce for Vietnam’s digital economy and green energy future.

vietnamnet.vn