Education is an essential factor in enhancing human capacity. For women in particular, education is even more important. When women are educated, they contribute to the development of the nation and at the same time elevate their position in society. However, in reality, women often have fewer opportunities to access education and training than men. In mountainous and rural areas, women have limited access to vocational training and science–technology development. The main reasons stem from gender stereotypes and discrimination.

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but also the foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. It is also one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) announced by the United Nations in 2015. This goal aims to address a major challenge in gender equality by ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls, thereby building a just and equitable society.

Monitoring and Promoting Female Students at DNC

Recognizing the importance of this goal, Nam Can Tho University has developed systematic tools to measure and monitor the enrollment and graduation rates of female students year by year. From 2022 to 2024, the university has graduated a steadily increasing number of female students. Specifically, in the 2021–2022 academic year, 1,002 female students graduated from the university’s programs; by 2023–2024, this number had risen to 1,545. In just three years, the number of female graduates nearly doubled.

Annual graduation rates of female students at Nam Can Tho University

The chart above shows not only the steady increase in the number of graduates at DNC but also the strong promotion of female participation and achievement, with clear plans to close any emerging gender gaps (in 2021–2022, female graduates accounted for 51%; in 2022–2023, the rate decreased to 49%; in 2023–2024, it rose again to 51%...). This affirms the university’s commitment to creating an equitable learning environment that supports women in education.

Supportive Policies for Female Students

In addition, DNC prioritizes female students’ engagement throughout their studies by offering special support policies, such as entrance scholarships for female valedictorians, excellence scholarships for outstanding graduates, talent scholarships in learning and research, and awards for female students excelling in English-speaking contests, MC competitions, and more.

The university also encourages female students to join academic seminars with domestic and international experts, as well as various extracurricular activities. These opportunities equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to meet the demands of society and the labor market.

At the final round of the Freshmen Talent Contest – K12 Shine your way on October 9, 2024, the Champion, 1st Runner-up, and 2nd Runner-up titles were all awarded to three female freshmen.

Affirming the Commitment to Gender Equality

These activities not only encourage female participation in the university’s programs but also expand opportunities for women in technical and technological fields, where female representation remains relatively low.

By monitoring and evaluating female enrollment and graduation rates annually, DNC seeks to design effective programs and support policies that foster a fair learning environment and encourage women to fully develop across all fields. For the DNC community, gender equality is the foundation of sustainable development.