On April 19, 2025, Vietnam – Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (VKU), University of Danang officially opened the first preliminary round of the English Talent Contest 2025 (ETC 2025) with a vibrant and inspiring atmosphere. Seventy teams of first-year students from various training majors of the University participated in the online contest, delivering their presentations entirely in English.

The first preliminary round of the ETC contest was conducted online

With the theme “Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs”, ETC 2025 is not only a language competition but also a journey of academic discovery, innovation and action for the community. Each team was allotted 5 to 7 minutes to present their topic, demonstrating their English proficiency, critical thinking, teamwork spirit and professional presentation skills.

Right from the first preliminary round, VKU freshmen demonstrated their outstanding abilities and deep awareness of global issues. Although they have just started their university journey, they have brought creative ideas with a technological and humanistic perspective in solving sustainable development challenges.

The projects focus on technological solutions to some areas such as education, healthcare, environment, clean energy and community life. Some highlights include:

• AQUAFORCE – a smart water purifier that operates without the need for electricity.
• SeaGuardAI – an AI solution to combat ocean waste.
• Smart Food Management – a smart food management system that helps reduce waste.
• IoT application models for clean energy, smart toilets, stroke warning devices and food supply chain monitoring.
• Smart learning platforms, online fraud prevention solutions, and improving access to education in remote areas.
• Global topics such as climate change, digital carbon footprint and green finance in the student community.

These initiatives not only demonstrate outstanding foreign language and technical skills, but also reflect a sense of social responsibility and global citizenship.

After an objective and thorough scoring process from 10 panels of judges, the 36 best teams have been selected to enter the second preliminary round, scheduled to take place on May 10, 2025. This will be an opportunity for the teams to present their ideas to international experts and have their solutions and skills challenged at a higher level.

Tentative schedule of the rounds

ETC 2025 is a valuable opportunity for VKU first-year students to practice academic English, develop critical thinking and affirm their responsibility to the community. The competition demonstrates the spirit of VKU’s educational philosophy of Humanity – Dedication – Liberation, while spreading the spirit of sustainable development and digital transformation in the university environment.

Center for Learning Resource and Communication VKU

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