On November 17th 2025, Dr. Lim Hye Won, President of the Korean Society of Women Scientists and Engineers (KWSE), visited and held a working meeting with the Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The visit took place immediately after the signing the Memorandum of Understanding among the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), the Association of Korean Women Scientists and Engineers (KSWE) and the Vietnam Association for Women Intellectuals (VAFIW).
Welcoming Dr. Lim Hye Won were Professor Dr. Le Thi Hop, VAFIW’s President along with Vice Presidents Dr. Pham Thi My and Ambassador Nguyen Thi Hoi. The meeting was considered an important step, helping to concretize the cooperation directions suggested at the conference, especially in the context of both Vietnam and South Korea focusing on developing high-quality scientific and technological human resources, including female intellectuals.
During the exchange, VAFIW’s leaders shared an overview of the scientific research activities of women intellectuals in the country, existing support programs, and the difficulties in commercializing research results. In particular, representatives of the Association emphasized the need for deeper connections with experienced international partners, thereby opening up avenues for substantive cooperation that bring direct value to Vietnamese women scientists. Dr. Lim Hye Won expressed deep interest and appreciation for the efforts of the VAFIW in promoting the role and status of female scientists in science and technology. Drawing on KWSE’s years of experience in building an ecosystem to support female researchers and engineers in Korea, Dr. Lim Hye Won offered practical suggestions regarding accessing international funding to promote research and development of women-led scientific projects.
Based on the directions discussed, both sides agreed to jointly organize a specialized seminar in the near future, focusing on South Korea’s experience in mobilizing resources and building support mechanisms for female scientists and engineers. The workshop is expected to be an important starting point, contributing to expanding the cooperation network, enhancing knowledge sharing, and creating more opportunities for Vietnamese female scientists to access international training programs, resources, and collaborations.
Such collaborations are truly heartening, reminding us of the strength we create when women in science come together across borders.