Celebrating International Women’s Day 2026

International Women’s Day - ‘Balance the Scales’: Online launch event 

• Date and time: Tuesday 3 March, 2:00-3:30pm 
• Format: Online via Teams 

The week will begin with an opening seminar introducing the International Women’s Day theme – ‘Balance the Scales’, outlining the purpose of the week, and highlighting upcoming sessions. 

This session will feature: 

• An overview of ‘Hack the Gap’ and the student projects that will be showcased throughout the week. 
• Short presentations from selected student teams, sharing their motivations, insights, and creative journeys. 
• A guest speaker session from Dr Katrina Phillips, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, SSET, offering a broader context on gender equity and leadership. 

This seminar is open to all students and staff and serves as a shared starting point for the week’s conversations. 

In collaboration with SSET & the Women in STEM Circle 

• Date and time: Wednesday 4 March, 11am-1pm 
• Format: Offline at Saigon South campus 

Topic: ‘Debugging Gender Bias in STEM’ 

This session focuses on gender equity in STEM education and industry, with a strong emphasis on lived experience. 

The event will be structured around four facilitated stations, hosted by students and staff, where participants can engage with: 

• Personal reflections and stories related to gender, study pathways, and career progression. 
• Student projects from Hack the Gap that explore access, opportunity, and outcomes in STEM fields. 

The session will conclude with a synthesis discussion, bringing participants together to identify common themes and develop practical actions that can inform future initiatives within SSET and beyond.  

Note: 

• Places are limited, and registration is required. 
• Refreshments and lunch will be provided. 

Topic: ‘Motion for All’ 

• Date and time: Thursday 5 March, 2:30–4:30pm and time to participate in Pickleball and/or Kendo  
• Venue: Foyer RMIT Active Hub, SGS 

This session explores how gender equity shows up in sport, physical activity, and wellbeing spaces. 

Drawing directly on Hack the Gap submissions from student clubs and teams, the session will highlight: 

• Gendered access to sports, training spaces, and leadership opportunities. 
• Experiences of inclusion, confidence, and safety in physical activity environments. 

The session will also feature a guest talk by Alice Nguyen, a Vietnam-based nutritionist, who will speak about gender, health, and wellbeing in sport and active lifestyles.  

This event aims to connect student insight with real-world practice, sparking reflection on how inclusive sport and wellbeing environments can be designed and sustained. 

There will also be demonstrations from the Pickleball and Shinsei Kendo Clubs, so bring your sports kit if you want to get involved! 

• Date and time: Friday 6 March 
• Activities: Offline board games 
• Locations:
  • SGS: Academic Building 2 pathway 
  • HN: Student Breakout Area, Level 5, Tower B 

To close the week, UniEvents and Wellbeing will jointly host a set of in-person, interactive activities at both Saigon South and Hanoi campuses, featuring: 

🎲 Hack the Gap’s student-designed board games, facilitated by the student creators and groups; 

✨ The ‘Balance the Scales’ game run by UniEvents, featuring a seesaw-style setup inspired by this year’s IWD theme  

These games translate complex gender equity concepts, such as fairness vs equality, power, access, and social norms, into interactive, engaging experiences. Students and staff will be invited to play, discuss, and reflect together in a low-pressure, social setting. 

This final session reinforces the core message of the week: that learning about gender equity can be participatory, creative, and community-driven.