Media OutReach
VinFuture Prize empowered the woman scientist Dr. Firdausi Qadri to give back to Bangladesh
Sharing with the VinFuture Foundation, Dr. Qadri reflects on her groundbreaking work and her passion for expanding STEM education for women. In the face of societal barriers, particularly in Bangladesh, she remains committed to empowering women in science and using her VinFuture Prize value to strengthen the country’s scientific community.
The ongoing battle against cholera
Having established herself as one of the scientific titans in the vaccine area, Dr. Qadri has developed a single oral dose of an affordable cholera vaccine to address the public health needs in Bangladesh. Her research opens the possibility of large-scale vaccination campaigns in poor countries to prevent outbreaks and reduce the healthcare cost burden, allowing them to invest in education and economic activities. This revolutionizing discovery has earned her global recognition, including the 2024 VinFuture Special Prize for Innovators from Developing Countries.
“The VinFuture Prize was completely unexpected, but it has given me immense energy and a profound sense of purpose to turn scientific solutions into real-world applications that benefit those in adverse settings, including humanitarian crises globally,” Dr. Qadri said.
Beyond its personal significance, the VinFuture Prize also empowered Dr. Qadri to give back to her home country. In 2014, Dr. Qadri formed a non-profit research institution called the ideSHi (Institute for Developing Science and Health Initiatives) located on the 11th floor of Blue Moon Gram Tower in ECB Chattar, Dhaka. She shared an astounding initiative to expand this institute using the 500,000 USD prize value from VinFuture, “Together with the VinFuture Prize money and a quarter of my personal funds, I took a bold step forward, acquiring an additional 5,000 square feet of space within the same building as ideSHi’s original facility,” she elaborated.
This facility is a bold initiative dedicated to improving public health and nurturing the next generation of scientists. Since then, this institute provides state-of-the-art facilities, offers training programs, collaborates with international partners, conducts research on genetic diseases including thalassemia – the most common blood disorder in Bangladesh – as well as infectious diseases.
“Over the past decade, ideSHi has expanded tremendously, and this new extension will allow us to tackle even more critical health challenges while further strengthening scientific capacity in Bangladesh,” she shared. “With prize money received from VinFuture, I am confident that this support will help ideSHi develop pragmatic solutions to public health challenges and ultimately help advance Bangladesh’s position in biomedical research.”
The achievement results in her determination after witnessing firsthand the dire impact of cholera and diarrheal diseases. Her journey began as a scientist with a deep passion for immunology, later on extended her work beyond the laboratory to the field, fully devoted to the cause of uplifting the lives of Bangladesh and beyond.
However, through her extensive work in diarrheal diseases at their main hospital in Bangladesh, Dr. Qadri estimates an annual intake of approximately 200,000 patients, with 90-95% comes from impoverished backgrounds. Living in overcrowded conditions with shared toilets, kitchens, and bathrooms, they face rapid disease transmission. “If one person contracts cholera, the infection can spread to three other people in the family and beyond due to contaminated hands and food,” Dr. Qadri explained. “It’s very difficult to control.”
Recognizing the persistent devastation of global health crises, Dr. Qadri extended her research beyond the laboratory. She conducted field studies on vaccine effectiveness, distribution strategies, and public health interventions. Her efforts extended beyond academia as she worked more with the government, advocating for necessary actions to improve healthcare access.
“Over 15 to 20 years, my work has evolved to encompass not just vaccine development, but also implementation strategies – exploring the effectiveness of different modes in delivering vaccines and understanding how to integrate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) with vaccination programs to achieve cholera control,” she noted.
Dr. Qadri emphasized that cholera remains a disease of poverty, often overlooked due to its association with inadequate sanitation and clean water access. She also pointed out that some governments were reluctant to acknowledge the disease’s prevalence, fearing for their global image. Therefore, she expressed deep gratitude and immense joy at being recognized by such a prestigious global award as the VinFuture Prize. “This recognition is a tremendous honor and serves as a motivation for me to move ahead,” she shared.
Breaking glass ceilings
Dr. Qadri’s dedication to rigorous scientific research and her success in the cholera vaccine area serves as an inspiration for young women all over the world. However, for women in science, particularly in developing countries across Asia, the road is often fraught with challenges. Deep-seated prejudices and invisible glass ceilings make it difficult for women to gain recognition in male-dominated fields.
“I always want to be known as a scientist, not a “woman scientist,” who works alongside men as equals“, Dr. Qadri shared. “But I cannot deny that acceptance has not always come easily.”
The unwavering support of her family played a crucial role, encouraging her to push boundaries and proving that a woman is just as capable as a man. “I traveled to remote areas, worked long hours in the field, and committed myself fully to scientific research. I have managed to overcome many prejudices, though challenges remain,” she noted.
It is also a driving force that motivates her to passionately advocate for empowering women in STEM education. According to her, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are the foundation of progress, driving innovation and shaping the future. Yet, women remain underrepresented in STEM fields, not only in developing countries but even in advanced economies.
“If we truly want to make a meaningful contribution to the world, women must be part of this transformation,” Dr. Qadri emphasized.
Many hesitate to pursue careers in STEM, not due to a lack of ability but because of societal expectations and deeply ingrained biases. Fields including engineering and mathematics, in particular, remain male-dominated, with cultural norms dictating which professions are deemed “suitable” for women.
Another critical factor is the cost and commitment required. STEM education is more demanding, expensive, and time-intensive compared to fields including finance or commerce. Success in STEM requires years of dedication and persistence, making it an uphill battle, especially for women who must balance professional ambitions with societal expectations of family life.
“I try to use my journey to show young women that it is possible to have a family, raise children, and do science.” She remarked, “You just need to know the mechanism to do it. There is no secret formula: just focus, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to the work you choose to do.”
Addressing health disparities
Driven by the goal to seek effective preventive public health solutions for Bangladesh and other developing countries, Dr. Qadri focuses on large-scale clinical studies using Vietnamese live vaccine train, which allowed her to conclude the benefit, power and feasibility of an oral dose of an affordable vaccine.
“Vietnam, which has been able to control cholera better through concerted public health efforts, has always been an example I reflected on.” She stated, “If Vietnam can better control cholera through a comprehensive public health approach, why can’t we?”
Besides vaccination, the scientific titan emphasized the need for a holistic approach, including improvements in WASH education, and surveillance. However, behavioral change and access to clean water remain significant hurdles. Thus, according to Dr. Qadri, to provide crucial protection in the short term, there are two key strategies: reactive vaccination during an outbreak and preventive vaccination to build immunity.
However, a major obstacle the world faces is the global shortage of cholera vaccines. “Despite cholera affecting millions across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, only 80 million vaccine doses are currently available annually. This is far below what is needed – Bangladesh alone requires 100 million doses in the coming years,” she noted.
The economic constraints surrounding cholera vaccines also present a challenge. Since cholera is often considered a “disease of poverty,” many pharmaceutical companies hesitate to invest in its production due to low profit margins. “This is already happening,” she stressed.
To address this, Dr. Qadri actively advocates for increased vaccine production in Bangladesh. She shared that one of her team’s key achievements has been demonstrating that in a major outbreak, giving the vaccine in a reactive way can quickly reduce the number of cases. “We have implemented this strategy in multiple regions of Bangladesh,” Dr. Qadri added.
“More importantly, as a result of our dedication, we now have a national cholera control plan, centered on preventive vaccination, ensuring that people receive doses regularly – whether annually or every three years – to stay protected before outbreaks occur. This is a significant milestone in our fight against the disease.” she said.
Hashtag: #VinFuture
https://vinfutureprize.org/vinfuture-prize-nomination/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
VinFuture
The VinFuture Foundation, established on International Human Solidarity Day on December 20th, 2020, is a non-profit organization co-founded by billionaire Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong and his wife, Mrs. Pham Thu Huong. The Foundation’s core activity is awarding the annual VinFuture Prize, which recognizes transformative scientific and technological innovations capable of making significant positive changes in the lives of millions of people worldwide.
The nomination period for the 2025 VinFuture Prize will close at 2:00 PM on April 17, 2025 (Vietnam time, GMT+7).
The VinFuture Prize consists of four prestigious awards presented each year. The most esteemed is the VinFuture Grand Prize, valued at US$3 million, making it one of the largest annual prizes globally. Additionally, there are three Special Prizes, each valued at US$500,000, specifically dedicated to honoring women innovators, innovators from developing countries, and innovators with outstanding achievements in emerging fields.
The three-year campaign is co-funded by the European Union and centered on Grana Padano PDO, a hard cheese from the Pianura Padana (Po River Valley) in Northern Italy, known for its fine, granular texture and 900-year production history. In 2026 the campaign returns to PizzaExpress with a dedicated three-dish Grana Padano PDO menu running across 19 branches for the length of the promotion. The partnership puts the cheese in front of diners through one of Hong Kong’s most familiar restaurant brands.
Each of the three dishes uses Grana Padano PDO in a different way, from the sauce of a pizza to the finishing of a pasta. The menu is designed to show how the cheese works across familiar dishes diners already order.
The Menu
The starter is a Cheesy Crab Dip with Grana Padano PDO. Grana Padano PDO is stirred through the dip to balance the sweetness of the crab, and the dip is served with a Grana Padano PDO cheese flatbread for tearing and dipping. It is built to be shared and finished before the rest of the meal arrives.
The Grana Padano PDO Pizza is built on a béchamel base rather than tomato sauce, with Grana Padano PDO worked into the sauce and shaved generously over the top. It is layered with fresh porcini, mortadella, mozzarella, and sliced peach. The combination of sweet peach, cured mortadella, and earthy porcini gives the pizza its character, and the cheese running through both the base and the finish brings the flavors together.
The Spaghetti Seafood Bianco with Grana Padano PDO brings together prawns, clams, and mussels in a garlic and white wine sauce with chili flakes and Grana Padano PDO. The cheese is stirred through the sauce, giving the dish more body than a typical white-wine seafood pasta.
About Grana Padano PDO
Grana Padano is one of the oldest cheeses still in continuous production. It was first made in 1135 at the Abbey of Chiaravalle near Milan, where Cistercians monks developed it as a way to preserve surplus milk. The name comes from its texture: “grana” means “grainy”, a reference to the fine, granular structure the cheese develops as it ages.
Each wheel is handcrafted from fresh milk produced in the Po River Valley of Northern Italy. The cheese is naturally lactose-free thanks to the production process. Maturation takes at least nine months, with some wheels aged for over two years. Younger wheels are milky and slightly sweet; longer-aged ones become richer, nuttier, and faintly crystalline. Grana Padano is the world’s most consumed PDO cheese in Europe.
The Consorzio Tutela Grana Padano is a non-profit making organization charged with protecting, promoting and enhancing the product, providing consumer information and generally taking care of the interests regarding its P.D.O. status.
The absence of lactose is a natural consequence of the traditional Grana Padano production process. It contains less than 10 mg/100 g of galactose.
Ciao! Buon appetito everyone!
For campaign updates and participating branches, visit www.happinessfromeu.com or follow the campaign on Instagram and Facebook.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or of the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Hashtag: #HappinessfromEurope
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Media OutReach
Hong Kong’s AI Adoption Outpaces Organizational Change, Microsoft Work Trend Index 2026 Finds
- 18% of Hong Kong workers using AI are the most advanced group known as Frontier Professionals, higher than the global average at 16%
- Just 19% Hong Kong AI users say leadership is clearly and consistently aligned on AI, and only 10% say they’re rewarded for reinvention even when results aren’t immediate
- Organizational factors such as culture, manager support, and talent practices drive 2x more AI impact than individual factors alone
- Microsoft is also announcing the launch of Copilot Cowork, bringing multi-model capabilities to help organizations close the gap between AI adoption and how work is designed by enabling end-to-end, multi-step workflows
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 June 2026 – Hong Kong employees are moving faster than their organizations when it comes to using AI, creating a growing gap between AI adoption and how work is actually designed, according to Microsoft’s 2026 Work Trend Index. The research warns of a “Transformation Paradox”: while AI use is accelerating across the workforce—with more Frontier Professionals using agents for multi-step workflows and building multi-agent systems, leadership alignment, culture, and operating models are not evolving at the same pace, limiting impact and increasing pressure on employees.
The 2026 Work Trend Index draws on analysis of trillions of anonymized Microsoft 365 productivity signals, combined with survey insights from AI users and perspectives from experts in AI, work, and organizational psychology. The conclusion is consistent: the constraint is no longer what people can do, but how work is structured around them.
- AI is lifting output but not yet transforming organizations. The data shows that AI is already raising the ceiling on individual performance in Hong Kong. A privacy-preserving analysis of more than 100,000 chats in Microsoft 365 Copilot shows that 49% of all conversations support cognitive work—helping workers analyze information, solve problems, evaluate and think creatively. This shift is visible in outcomes: 57% of AI users in Hong Kong say they are producing work they could not have a year ago, rising to 73% among Frontier Professionals, the most advanced AI users in the research.
- The Transformation Paradox reflects the need for systemic change, with the gap more pronounced in Hong Kong than globally. 75% of Hong Kong AI users fear falling behind if they do not adapt quickly, yet 57% say it feels safer to focus on current goals than to redesign work with AI. [i] At the same time, only 19% say their leadership is clearly and consistently aligned on AI, and just 10% say they are rewarded for reinventing work with AI even when results are not immediate, revealing a widening gap between individual adoption and organizational change. [ii]
- As AI and agents take on more execution, human value is shifting rather than diminishing. When asked which skills matter most as AI becomes more embedded in work, Hong Kong AI users ranked quality control of AI output (48%) and critical thinking (42%) at the top, underscoring that AI is redesigning work, not replacing people.
From Using AI to Being Frontier Professionals Who Refuse to Outsource Thinking
The Work Trend Index identifies the rise of Frontier Firms—organizations that deliberately rebuild their operating models around human‑agent collaboration, rather than layering AI onto existing ways of working.
Realizing this shift requires transformation at both the individual and organizational level. The research outlines four modes of human-AI collaboration to help employees take the first step toward becoming Frontier Professionals, before progressing to designing agentic workflows:
- Delegate execution—Employees hand off routine or repeatable tasks to AI to gain speed and scale, while retaining responsibility for the outcome.
- Ask for information—Employees turn to AI for context, clarification, or insight when they need to quickly get up to speed.
- Collaborate on reasoning—People work alongside AI to analyze information, test ideas, and solve problems, using AI as a thought partner rather than a shortcut.
- Explore new possibilities—AI is used to explore open‑ended questions, reframe problems, and surface options when the path forward is not yet clear.
These patterns matter because Frontier Firms do not aim to maximize AI use everywhere. Instead, they intentionally match the right level of human involvement to the outcome, enabling speed without sacrificing quality or accountability.
Leadership and Culture Are the Real Multipliers
The research makes clear that technology alone is not the differentiator, but by how organizations lead, operate, and evolve. Organizational factors, including culture, manager support, and talent practices, account for more than twice the AI impact of individual mindset and behavior. In Hong Kong, Frontier Professionals are significantly more likely to say their managers set clear quality standards for AI work[iii], create space for experimentation[iv], and encourage more ambitious redesign of work[v].
“This is the Transformation Paradox facing Hong Kong today,” said Leo Liu, General Manager of Microsoft Hong Kong and Macau. “AI adoption is moving fast on the ground, but many organizations are still trying to fit it into old operating models. To unlock real value, leaders must move beyond pilots and productivity gains, and intentionally redesign how work gets done—how teams collaborate, how managers lead, and how success is measured.”
Microsoft is also announcing the launch of Copilot Cowork, designed to support this shift toward workflow redesign. Built on Microsoft’s multi-model approach, this agentic system enables long-running tasks across multiple tools, with usage-based pricing, cost management, and governance capabilities to balance quality, performance, and cost, and helps organizations run complex workflows more efficiently at scale.
Microsoft brings this perspective as Customer Zero, applying the same principles internally to redesign workflows, build human‑agent teams, and embed continuous learning into everyday work. Using Copilot Studio and Microsoft Foundry, Microsoft transformed its “Ask Microsoft” web agent from a standalone chatbot into a multi‑agent system that routes conversations more effectively and supports more dynamic, context‑aware interactions. This shift improves how customer intent is understood and addressed, while steering queries to the right resources or teams and allowing sales to focus on higher‑value, high‑intent engagement.
The solution delivered measurable business impact across customer engagement and operational efficiency, achieving up to 61% lower response latency and 70% fewer human escalations. Users who engaged with the agent were 10 times more likely to sign up for services and drove a 16% increase in product trial initiations.
“Inside Microsoft, we’ve learned that AI transformation is not a tooling exercise. It’s an operating model shift,” said Lorraine Bardeen, Corporate Vice President, MCAPS AI Transformation, Microsoft. “When leaders clarify how humans and agents work together, set standards for quality and judgment, and create room to experiment, organizations move faster and learn faster. That’s what separates Frontier Firms from everyone else.”
“We are entering a new era of work, where the traditional value formula is being rewritten,” said Nancy Wang, Head of LinkedIn Greater China. “We call it the ‘new math of work’—a concept introduced in LinkedIn’s new book, Open to Work. The people and organizations that emerge strongest will be those who use the time freed up by AI to build work around what’s actually harder to automate—the specific, contextual, human judgment that no tool can fully replicate, because no tool has lived what you’ve lived or knows what you know.”
The message of the 2026 Work Trend Index is clear: access to AI will soon be table stakes. How work is designed around it will define the next generation of competitive advantage for Hong Kong organizations. For more insights, read the 2026 Work Trend Index Report.
Hashtag: #Microsoft
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
Media OutReach
SIM Highlights the Importance of Strong Personal Statements in University Applications
Preparing Students Beyond Admissions
Over at the Singapore Institute of Management, most programmes primarily assess applicants based on academic qualifications and programme specific eligibility requirements. However, selected postgraduate programmes, such as the University of Birmingham Master of Business Administration offered at SIM, may require applicants to submit a Statement of Purpose as part of the admissions process. Even for programmes where a personal statement is not mandatory, education experts suggest that submitting one can still strengthen an application by providing additional context about the applicant’s interests, goals, and readiness for higher education.
Tips for Writing a Strong Personal Statement
According to guidance from the University of Birmingham, a strong personal statement should clearly communicate an applicant’s motivation, interests, and suitability for the programme. Admissions tutors note that the opening section is particularly important, as it creates the first impression and helps establish the applicant’s enthusiasm and direction.
Education experts also recommend that applicants explain how their academic background, professional experiences, and personal achievements have shaped their interest in the chosen field of study. Relevant experiences such as internships, leadership roles, volunteer work, and professional accomplishments can help demonstrate initiative, growth, and readiness for higher education. Rather than simply listing activities, applicants should reflect on what they learned from these experiences and how they contributed to their personal development.
The University of Birmingham further advises students to avoid overly generic statements and instead tailor their applications to the specific programme they are applying for. Demonstrating an understanding of the programme structure, learning outcomes, and career relevance can help strengthen the application, particularly for postgraduate programmes such as the MBA.
Authenticity is another important factor highlighted by university admissions advisors. Applicants are encouraged to present a genuine reflection of their interests, ambitions, and experiences rather than relying on exaggerated language or generic phrases. In terms of structure, admissions guidance generally recommends presenting information in a clear and organised manner. A strong personal statement typically includes an introduction outlining academic or professional interests, relevant experiences and achievements, career aspirations, and reasons for choosing the programme. Applicants should also proofread carefully to ensure clarity, grammatical accuracy, and consistency throughout the document.
Reference:
- SIM Application Process – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/admissions/application-process
- What makes a great personal statement – https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/accessibility/transcripts/personal-statement
- How to write a statement for MBA – https://www.inspirafutures.com/blog/how-to-write-a-statement-of-purpose-for-mba-admission
- MBA Statement of Purpose Examples – https://bemoacademicconsulting.com/blog/mba-statement-of-purpose-example
Hashtag: #SIMGlobalEducation #SIMGE #GlobalEducation #InternationalDegree #CareerReady #FutureSkills
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About SIM Global Education
SIM Global Education (SIM GE) is a leading private education institution in Singapore and the region. We offer more than 140 academic programmes ranging from diplomas and graduate diploma programmes to bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes with some of the world’s most reputable universities from Australia, Canada, Europe, United Kingdom, and the United States. SIM GE’s cohort is made up of 17,000 full- and part-time students and adult learners, of which approximately 41% are international students hailing from over 50 countries.
SIM GE’s holistic learning approach and culturally diverse learning environment aim to equip students with knowledge, industry skills and employability competencies, as well as a global perspective to succeed as future leaders in a fast-changing, technologically driven world.
For more information on SIM Global Education, visit www.sim.edu.sg
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