DANANG, Vietnam, August 5, 2016 -- A leadership conference and exhibition opened today at the University of Danang with an aim to highlight female role models in Vietnam in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), encourage the exchange of knowledge and paths to entrepreneurship and offer networking opportunities among professionals.

“Leaders in STEM career fields will be exploring some of the most exciting realms of discovery and technological innovation and will occupy the high-tech, high-wage jobs of the future,” said USAID Vietnam Mission Director Michael Greene. “As a result, increasing opportunities for women in these fields are critically important in realizing greater economic success and equality for women across the board.”

The event is part of the Women in Stem (WiSTEM) Leadership Program under the Building University-Industry Learning and Development through Innovation and Technology (BUILD-IT) Alliance, an initiative supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and announced by U.S. President Barak Obama during his trip to Vietnam in June. The project is implemented by Arizona State University and runs through 2020. WiSTEM, in addition to hosting an annual conference, is establishing university campus-based clubs and associated academic programs that provide female mentors and offer scholarships for women earning engineering and technical degrees.

For photos of the event, visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHskFSpd3E