STEM Credit - Nurturing Dreams of Knowledge

(VBSP News) The effective implementation of Decision 29/2025/QD-TTg dated August 28, 2025 by the Prime Minister on credit for students, university students, master’s students, and doctoral candidates pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields not only creates more learning opportunities for STEM students, but it also contributes to developing a high-quality workforce for both localities and Vietnam as a whole.

VBSP Quy Hop Transaction Office disbursed credit under the STEM education loan program to the household of Mrs. Truong Thi Vui (far right)

When the Path to Knowledge Is No Longer Interrupted

It is no coincidence that Nghe An has long been known as a “land of learning”. In this scholarly region, many outstanding students have risen from difficulties to conquer knowledge. This tradition is now being strengthened more than ever, as preferential credit policies for students, university students, master’s students, and doctoral candidates pursuing STEM fields are implemented timely, opening wider access to higher education for many families still struggling with the financial burden of study costs.

Following Decision No. 29/2025/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, VBSP Nghe An Provincial Branch has promptly taken action, focusing on implementing the STEM education loan program in a proactive and flexible manner, ensuring that funds reach the right beneficiaries and meet actual needs. This preferential funding not only helps cover tuition fees, living expenses, and other study-related costs, but also serves as an important source of moral support, enabling learners to confidently pursue their long-term educational journey.

The family of Mrs. Truong Thi Vui, a near-poor household in Minh Quang Hamlet, Minh Hop Commune, is among the first in the locality to access STEM education loans. Her son, Le Huy Thien, is a third-year student at Hanoi University of Industry, majoring in Engineering Technology, and has achieved outstanding academic results, ranking as an Excellent student in the 2024-2025 academic year.

Immediately after the STEM loan program was launched, Thien proactively contacted the VBSP Quy Hop Transaction Office to receive guidance on loan procedures. With a preferential interest rate of 4.8% per year and a loan amount increased to approximately USD 1,520 per academic year (VND 40 million), Thien was able to fully cover tuition fees and living expenses throughout his course of study. Mrs. Vui’s family received disbursement from the first academic year, creating favorable conditions for Thien to focus on his studies. “Our family is very happy and encouraged. This is a great motivation for my son to continue striving in his studies. Without this fund, managing university expenses would have been a heavy burden”, Mrs. Truong Thi Vui shared.

According to Ms. Pham Thi Ly, Leader of the Savings and Loan Group of Minh Quang Hamlet, in the past many poor and near-poor households were hesitant to take out loans due to concerns about their ability to repay. However, after witnessing Mrs. Vui’s family borrow funds to support their child’s education and repay the loan fully and on schedule, many households have gradually changed their mindset. “With the STEM education loan program, featuring higher loan limits and preferential interest rates, it will certainly help many disadvantaged students continue pursuing their educational aspirations, opening up opportunities to improve their lives in the future”, Ms. Ly remarked.

Le Huy Thien - an outstanding student of Hanoi University of Industry for the 2024-2025 Academic Year

Not only Mrs. Vui’s family, but many other households in Nghe An are also being supported by this humanitarian policy. The family of Mrs. Vu Kieu Anh in Kim Ngoc Hamlet, Trung Loc Commune, has a son, Nguyen Nhu Thinh, who is a student majoring in Mechatronics Engineering at Hanoi University of Science and Technology. With a total loan of approximately USD 3,040 (VND 80 million) disbursed in a single tranche for his final academic year, the funding has helped Thinh cover tuition fees, living expenses, and essential study-related costs during the crucial final stage before graduation. Mrs. Vu Kieu Anh shared: “My son is in his final year, and practical training costs are very high. Thanks to the timely loan of the STEM credit policy, our family’s financial burden has been eased, allowing him to focus on his studies and, in the future, return to contribute to our hometown”.

VBSP Nghi Loc Transaction Office disbursed preferential loans under the STEM education credit program to the family of Mrs. Vu Kieu Anh (far left) in Kim Ngoc Hamlet, Trung Loc Commune

Meanwhile, in Phuc Loc Commune, the family of Mrs. Tran Thi Thao is also a typical case. Her son, Nguyen Dinh Anh, a first-year student at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, was approved for a total loan of approximately USD 5,930 (VND 156 million) to cover his entire university education. For the 2025-2026 academic year, her family received a disbursement of about USD 2,970 (VND 78 million) to cover tuition fees and living expenses. Mrs. Thao emotionally shared: “Our family relies solely on farming, my husband passed away early. All expenses depend on a few plots of farmland. Thanks to this funding, my son can pursue his dream of becoming an Information Technology engineer. Our family is deeply grateful to VBSP and the local authorities”.

A Foundation for Future Human Resources

New student Cao Nhu Trinh, from Nong Trang Village, Chau Tien Commune, is also among the young talents in Nghe An supported by the STEM credit policy. He has been granted a loan of approximately USD 12,170 (VND 320 million) to cover the full four-year course in Chemical Engineering at Hanoi University of Science and Technology. In the first disbursement, he received around USD 3,040 (VND 80 million) to cover tuition and living expenses for the 2025-2026 academic year. “Coming from the disadvantaged mountainous region of Nghe An, our family would have struggled without this loan. I will study hard to build a better future and contribute to my hometown”, Trinh said.

To ensure this humane policy quickly reaches those in need, VBSP Nghe An Provincial Branch has closely coordinated with local authorities and entrusted mass organizations to intensify communications and carefully reviewed eligible borrowers. VBSP officers actively visit each household to guide loan procedures, ensuring that funding reaches students quickly and in full compliance with regulations. At the same time, the application of digital technology in credit management allows both parents and students to easily monitor outstanding loans and repayment schedules, ensuring transparency when accessing policy credit.

VBSP Quy Chau Transaction Office disbursed loans to borrowers at the transaction point

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien, an officer of the Anh Son Dong Commune Women’s Union, from the very beginning of the program, local union organizations actively promoted communications and reviewed loan demand. “With high loan limits and preferential interest rates, the program has helped many families ease financial pressures and created opportunities for their children to study STEM fields”, Ms. Hien said enthusiastically.

To date, in Nghe An, 310 beneficiaries have accessed loans under the STEM education program according to Decision No. 29/2025/QD-TTg, with a total outstanding loan of approximately USD 874,000 (VND 23 billion). These figures demonstrate the wide-reaching impact and effectiveness of the policy.

Mr. Hoang Son Lam, Deputy Director of VBSP Nghe An Provincial Branch, stated that immediately after the issuance of Decision 29/2025/QD-TTg, the unit proactively advised the Provincial People’s Committee to implement a coordinated rollout, intensify policy communication, and guide the completion of loan dossiers to ensure the fastest possible disbursement. He emphasized that this is a breakthrough policy, widely supported and positively received by the people. In the coming time, the unit will continue to closely coordinate with localities, mass organizations, and educational institutions to bring the policy closer to the local people, while enhancing inspection and supervision to ensure loans are used appropriately and effectively.

Along with the rest of Vietnam, in the “land of learning” - Nghe An, the effective implementation of Decision 29/2025/QD-TTg not only expands educational opportunities for STEM students, but it also contributes to developing a high-quality workforce for many localities in Vietnam and Vietnam as a whole. These humanitarian policy funds are quietly flowing, nurturing dreams of knowledge and laying the foundation for innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable development in the new era./.