DCU team at the International Vietnam-Ireland Service Learning (SL)/ST-STEM competition in Vietnam
Description: DCU team - Joanna Ozarowska from DCU in the Community, Natalja Matease and Jordana Corrigan from DCU Office of Civic Engagement, and Dr Donal Fitzpatrick from DCU School of Computing - had the pleasure to serve on the judging panel last week at the first International Service Learning (SL)/SL-STEM competition 2019 at University of Science ¨C Ho Chi Minh City, marking a two-year successful cooperation between VNUHCM - University of Science and Dublin City University. 50 different student service learning, civic engagement and volunteering projects from Ireland and Vietnam were competing for the awards which included a week-long study trip to Ireland for the best Vietnamese project and €1,000 cash prize for the best Irish project.
The winners were announced as follows:
1st prize winners: Dang Tien Thanh, Pham Thi Phuong Anh, Le Thu Huong under the instruction of Ms. Dao Thi Hong Quyen from Le Hong Phong secondary school Nam Dinh for a project called: ¡°A bioplastic based agricultural waste solution to the plastic problem¡± which proposes to use shrimp cells to create a type of environment-friendly bio-plastic. The winning team have applied their bioplastic products to promote the awareness of reducing plastic use. The prize is a 6-day study trip to Ireland where the winners will have an opportunity to present their project at a workshop at Dublin City University.
2nd prize winners: Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhon, Phan Thi Thuy An and Ngo Thuy Khuyen from University of Science, University of Education and Stemhouse Education respectively with the project: ¡°Plastic or Planet¡±. The main goal of the project is to promote awareness around environmental and sustainability issues among students in a secondary school in Ho Chi Minh City.
3rd prize winners: Pham Viet Dung, Hoang Ngoc Anh, Dao Thi Bich Ha and Tran Thi Thanh Ha from Ha Noi University of Pedagogy for a project entitled: ¡°SL-STEM Education in the development of environmental awareness among students¡±.
Consolation prize winners: Nguyen Hai Anh, Do Minh Chau, Chu Thien Khai and instructor Ms. Bui Dieu Linh from Ha Noi with the project: ¡°Water treatment by mucilage extracted from dragon fruit peel¡±.
Best Irish Project: Austin Campbell, the author of ¡°My streets¡± project. The project¡¯s main objective is to offer homeless people an opportunity to train and secure employment as tour guides in Dublin and Drogheda.