FPT University Organizes the Global-Scale Robot Tournament in Vietnam

On November 7, in Hanoi, FPT University (FPTU) signed a cooperation agreement with FIRST® (USA). Besides, it announced the FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC) Vietnam robot competition, which would be hosted to choose representatives for the global championship. The event also allows millions of high school students to learn and experience robotics.

The signing ceremony between FPT University and FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) took place in Hanoi on November 7. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Phong (Vice Rector of FPT University) and Mr. Mike Shea (Vice President of program distribution), representing FIRST® (USA), signed the agreement virtually. Rachel Moore, Senior Director of FTC, and Samuel Plasmati, International Operations Director of FTC, also gave speeches congratulating FPT for officially organizing the FTC competition for the first time in Vietnam.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Phong (Vice Rector of FPT University) at the signing ceremony

The signing ceremony and the launch of the FTC Vietnam 2024 competition were attended by representatives of the National Innovation Center (NIC), FPT Software, STEM Alliance, STEAM for Vietnam, Maker Viet, the leadership of several high schools with strong STEM and robotics movements nationwide, student clubs, research groups, and some members of the Vietnamese teams who won prizes in international robot competitions.

FPT University signed a cooperation agreement with FIRST® (USA)

According to the cooperation agreement, FIRST® authorizes FPT University to organize the robot competition in Vietnam following the rules and standards of FIRST® (USA) – FIRST® Tech Challenge Vietnam (FTC Vietnam). The competition is for middle and high school students (grades 7-12) nationwide, participating in teams of 3-15 members with one mentor for each team. Teams are required to use essential equipment provided by the organizers (basic KIT equipment including control circuits, motors, and sensors) according to international standards, along with the freedom to apply their knowledge, programming skills, and mechanical structure... to design robots that solve the given issues. FIRST® 2024's theme is "Young Generation Creating the Future" with the FIRST® IN SHOW℠ challenge. Participating teams must design robots capable of drawing and performing creative tasks together with humans.

FIRST® authorizes FPT University to organize the robot competition in Vietnam following the rules and standards of FIRST® (USA) – FIRST® Tech Challenge Vietnam (FTC Vietnam).

The FIRST® Tech Challenge Vietnam 2024 (FTC Vietnam) will select the winners (Inspire Award) to represent the country in the global FIRST® Tech Challenge held in the USA in April 2024. In order to support students nationwide to join in the competition, FPT University also organizes the Vietnam Open Robotics Challenge (VORC) in its five campuses across the country in Hanoi, Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Can Tho, and Ho Chi Minh City. Students will be trained to familiarize themselves with robots in a more accessible format with virtual simulation. Winning teams in regional rounds will be supported with standard robot components and funding to participate in the official FTC in Hanoi in February 2024.

High school students participated in the competition.

Various Vietnamese teams have achieved excellent results in global-scale robot competitions in recent years. Vietnam is recognized as a country with solid technological growth and a potential young labor force capable of applying high technologies such as AI, Big Data, or trending industries worldwide such as chips and semiconductors. Vietnamese students can enhance their knowledge and skills through competitions, training, and experiences in technology and robotics following international standards. Moreover, those activities will ignite creativity and potential for better movements in science and technology.

FIRST® - For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology is a non-profit organization for international youth, established in 1989. FIRST operates the FIRST® Robotics Challenge (FRC), FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC), FIRST® LEGO League Challenge (FLL) for club teams, and the FIRST® Global Challenge (FGC) for national teams annually. Each year, FIRST® competitions, including FTC, gather nearly one million students worldwide from over 100 countries.

FIRST® 2024, with the theme "Young Generation Creating the Future" and the FIRST® IN SHOW℠ challenge, will highlight the role of STEM in the fields of art and entertainment, as well as empower young people to create a future full of opportunities and imagination. Participating teams must design robots capable of drawing paintings, performing creative tasks with humans, and even playing with paper airplanes made by the teams themselves. Details are available on the program's website ftc.io.vn.