AI Young Guru Competition Officially Announced

Hanoi, January 8, 2026 – FPT University held the official announcement ceremony for AI Young Guru, a nationwide AI application competition for high school and vocational secondary students. The event also marked the launch of the competition’s website and an online learning program designed to equip contestants with foundational AI knowledge and skills.

 

The ceremony brought together representatives from ministries, agencies, and organizations, along with experts, teachers, students, and a large number of journalists—demonstrating broad interest in the movement to learn, research, and apply AI in schools.

 

AI Young Guru is organized in response to national priorities on developing digital human resources, aligned with Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, as well as Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in education and training. By encouraging students to learn and apply AI in a structured, safe, and effective manner, the competition is also consistent with the Ministry of Education and Training’s recent directions on AI education and guidance on using AI in teaching and learning.

 

As a pioneer in community initiatives that promote technology and AI literacy in schools, FPT University continues to advance programs that help high school and vocational secondary students develop early technology–AI thinking, strengthen learning skills, and enhance problem-solving capabilities in the context of digital transformation. Through AI Young Guru, students can engage with AI in a practical way, gradually shape career orientation, and improve their adaptability for future learning and working environments.

 

A Nationwide AI Application Platform

 

 

AI Young Guru is a technology competition for high school and vocational secondary students across Vietnam, designed to encourage and guide the application of artificial intelligence (AI). The competition offers students opportunities not only to develop innovative thinking but also to build proficiency in using AI to address challenges in learning, work, and daily life—thereby contributing to improved quality of life and sustainable social development.

 

AI Young Guru is organized by FPT University, under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Training, with professional endorsement from the Ministry of Science and Technology. The competition is supported by the Science & Education Editorial Board of Vietnam Television (VTV), the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee, the Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention (Ministry of Public Security), and units within FPT Corporation. This collaboration provides a strong foundation for professional operations, communications, and unified execution—helping to strongly amplify the movement to learn and apply AI in schools.

 

Launch Ceremony Marks Vietnamese Students’ Journey Toward Mastering AI

 

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Pham Ngoc Thuong, Deputy Minister of Education and Training; Mr. Bui Hoang Phuong, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology; Mr. Nguyen Hong Quan, Deputy Director of the Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention (Ministry of Public Security); along with representatives from various ministries and agencies.

 

Representing FPT Corporation and FPT University were Mr. Nguyen Van Khoa, CEO of FPT Corporation; Dr. Le Truong Tung, Chairman of the University Council of FPT University; Mr. Nguyen Khac Thanh, Rector of FPT University; Ms. Nguyen Kim Anh and Mr. Tran Ngoc Tuan, Vice Rectors of FPT University; together with leaders and staff from FPT Corporation and FPT University.

 

Notably, the event welcomed more than 200 students and teachers from 50 high schools nationwide, reflecting strong interest among high school students in AI and their readiness to take on new challenges.

 

 

Dr. Le Truong Tung, Chairman of the University Council of FPT University, emphasized that AI is reshaping daily life and the labor market. Therefore, education should not “ban AI” but should guide students to use AI effectively, responsibly, and with integrity. He noted that AI Young Guru is a key initiative prepared over a long period to bring AI into learning through a practical model of “learn – apply – experiment,” and forms part of FPT Education’s broader programs on AI literacy and teaching-method innovation.

 

 

Mr. Pham Ngoc Thuong, Deputy Minister of Education and Training, stated that AI presents both opportunities and challenges for education governance and training; being overly cautious could mean missing opportunities, making early AI education for both teachers and students essential. He acknowledged the Ministry’s pilots and guidance initiatives, and expressed the expectation that AI Young Guru could become a scalable model thanks to three strengths: inclusiveness and fairness, assessment that covers both learning and application processes, and an orientation toward using AI with integrity and effectiveness.

 

 

Mr. Bui Hoang Phuong, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, described the competition as a concrete demonstration of Vietnam’s efforts to advance digital transformation and AI application by encouraging ideas to be turned into products that serve real life. He urged that real-world problems should be the benchmark, while technical capabilities should be developed alongside safe and responsible, human-centered thinking—especially with a focus on practical, deployable outputs. The Ministry of Science and Technology, he added, will consider supporting high-applicability products for real-world implementation.

 

 

Colonel, Dr. Nguyen Hong Quan, Deputy Director of the Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention (Ministry of Public Security), noted that AI can be misused for harmful purposes; therefore, students need to develop early the mindset to use AI responsibly, lawfully, and for positive purposes. He reaffirmed the department’s support for the competition to help raise awareness of digital safety and ethics in students’ learning and application of AI.

 

Competition Format

 

AI Young Guru is designed in three rounds:

 

Round 1: AI Literacy & Ideas (Online)

 

Contestants register on the competition website and complete student verification as required. Participants must complete at least three mandatory free online courses developed by FPT University, and may take additional elective courses. After completing the learning component, teams choose a problem in learning, work, or daily life and propose a solution using free AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.). Submissions are made as a PDF including: the problem, solution, expected impact, prompts used, and a product link. The Organizing Committee evaluates feasibility, practical value, AI application approach, and product quality to select the Top 150 teams for the next round.

 

Round 2: Arena (In-person, Regional)

 

Held at five FPT University campuses (Hanoi, Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Ho Chi Minh City, and Can Tho). Within three hours, teams use AI to solve a real-world challenge. Teams are ranked based on accuracy and speed; the Top 30 advance to the final round. Teams may adjust members only if the new members have registered and completed the required courses.

 

Round 3: Field Battle (In-person, Hanoi)

 

Includes a 24-hour hackathon to develop and refine solutions. The Top 8 then compete through debate, pitching, and live product demos at Studio S14 – Vietnam Television (VTV) as part of the final awards ceremony.

 

Scale & Timeline

 

AI Young Guru 2026 is implemented nationwide from January to April 2026, with key milestones:

 

Phase I: Launch & Training (Jan–Feb 2026)

• 08/01/2026: Official announcement ceremony; launch of the website and online courses

• 10/01–28/02/2026: Registration and online learning period

 

Phase II: Screening & Arena (Mar 2026)

• Round 1 (Online) selects Top 150 for the Arena round

• Workshop series (online and offline)

• Round 2 (Offline at 5 regions) selects Top 30 for the Field Battle round

 

Phase III: Field Battle & Finish Line (Apr 2026)

• 21/04/2026: Training for Top 30

• 22–23/04/2026: Opening of Field Battle round & 24-hour hackathon (FPT University Hanoi campus)

• 24/04/2026: Top 8 finals, closing ceremony & awards (Studio S14, Vietnam Television)

 

Awards

 

The prize structure includes cash awards, gifts, certificates, and valuable scholarships from FPT University:

• 1 First Prize: VND 100,000,000; Commendation Certificate from the Youth Union Central Committee; U.S. experience trip; Tech Gen – Vietnam Digital Era Talent Scholarship: 100% tuition for 4 years per student

• 1 Second Prize: VND 50,000,000; Commendation Certificate; Tech Gen Scholarship: 70% tuition for 4 years per student

• 2 Third Prizes: VND 30,000,000 each; Commendation Certificate; Tech Gen Scholarship: 50% tuition for 4 years per student

• 4 Consolation Prizes: VND 15,000,000 each; Commendation Certificate; Tech Gen Scholarship: 30% tuition for 4 years per student

• 22 Promising Awards: VND 5,000,000 each (individual or team)

 

In addition, contestants/teams who complete the courses will receive certificates (issued by Coursera and FPT University), and may receive additional weekly mini-awards.

 

Eligibility & Registration

• Eligible participants: Students currently enrolled in high school or vocational secondary programs nationwide.

• Registration format: Individual or group registration (collectively referred to as a “Team”). Each person may register for one team only; each team may have up to three members; team members may not be changed once officially registered.

• Registration & online learning period: 10/01–28/02/2026• Online registration via the competition website: aiyoungguru.fpt.edu.vn