Honeywell Educators at Space Academy 2017 open for applications

Teachers of mathematics and science around the world, including Vietnam, are invited to apply for the 2017 Honeywell Educators at Space Academy (HESA), an all-expense paid, weeklong professional development programme sponsored by Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and its employees at the US Space & Rocket Centre(USSRC) in Huntsville, Alabama.

Created in partnership with the US Space & Rocket Centre in 2004, HESA is designed to address the trends in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education by providing teachers with new technical skills and teaching techniques that help motivate students around the world.

Since the programme’s inception, more than 3 million students have been reached and inspired by over 2,576 HESA alumni from 56 countries.

Last June, six Vietnamese teachers out of the more than 200 teachers from 25 countries were selected to attend the 2016 HESA programme. This fourth consecutive year marks the record number of participants from Vietnam since the first participation in 2013.

“Honeywell Educators at Space Academy opened a new door for me to broaden my understanding of space science, experience amazing activities and obtain new perspectives on STEM teaching,” said Mai Thi Kim Tuyen, biology teacher at Thanh Cong Secondary School, Hanoi, who has just returned from HESA 2016. “I would like to thank Honeywell for this invigorating opportunity, and now I am on the way to amplify the STEM spirit from HESA to my beloved students.”

Mai Trang Thanh, president of Honeywell Indochina, said the remarkable number of Vietnamese finalists this year demonstrates the outstanding merit and better access of Vietnamese teachers to the programme.

“I am very pleased and expect them to acquire as much knowledge and teaching methods as possible,” she said. “Ultimately, the beneficiaries of the programme are thousands of high school students – the future of our country. To continue the impact of HESA beyond the classroom for the sustainable development of Vietnam is what Honeywell always heads to.”

Each successful applicant will receive a full scholarship following a rigorous and lengthy application and selection process involving competing teachers from around the world. Scholarships include tuition for the five-day programme, round-trip airfare, meals, accommodations, programme materials, and flight suits, all sponsored by Honeywell and contributions from Honeywell employees.

During the week-long programme, educators participate in 45 hours of intensive classroom, laboratory, and rigorous training, focusing on space science and exploration including astronaut-style exercises, and attended seminars, listened to teachers of previous years talk about their experience in applying the programme’s knowledge. Educators learn through simulated astronaut training and activities designed to promote life-long learning in a classroom setting.

Eligible teachers can submit the online application to HESA 2017 from September 1 until November 11, 2016. Acceptance notifications will be made during the week of January 9, 2017. The week-long programme will run twice from June 14 until the 27, 2017, at the US Space & Rocket Centre in Huntsville, Alabama.

Specially, from January 9 to February 10, 2017, all 2004 – 2014 alumni can grasp the opportunity to return to the programme by applying for 2017 HESA ambassadors. During each of the two weeks, two ambassadors will be selected to lead the programme at the US Space & Rocket Centre.

By Hong Anh