On the morning of April 11, 2026, the Opening Ceremony of the Grand Finale of the 7th Olympiad in Informatics in Central and Central Highlands was held. The event was hosted by Vietnam–Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (VKU), The University of Danang, in collaboration with Vietnam Association for Information Processing (VAIP), ICPC Vietnam, the Department of Education and Training of Da Nang City, and Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted (Da Nang), with the sponsorship and support of Hanwha Life and ChorogUsan for Children (Korea). This is an engaging and meaningful academic playground that fosters students’ passion for learning, updating knowledge, practicing skills, and creating innovative programming solutions, thereby contributing to the development of high-quality human resources for the Central–Central Highlands region in particular and for the country in general.

Overview of the Opening Ceremony

Attending the ceremony were representatives from the Steering Committee and Organizing Committee, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Cong Phap – Rector of VKU, Head of the Steering and Organizing Committees; Dr. Nguyen Long – Vice President of VAIP and Director of ICPC Vietnam, Co-Head of the Steering Committee and Head of the Jury; and Mr. Pham Tan Ngoc Thuy – Deputy Director of Da Nang Department of Education and Training, Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee.

Distinguished domestic and international guests included Mr. Lim Suk Hyun – Executive Director of Hanwha Life (Korea); Mr. Hwang Jun Hwan – Chairman of the Member’s Council cum CEO of Hanwha Life Vietnam; Ms. Shin Joungwon – Director of Corporate Social Impact Initiatives, ChorogUsan for Children Foundation (Korea); Dr. Nguyen Quang Thanh – Chairman of Da Nang Danang Computer Association; along with representatives from functional departments of The University of Danang.

Representing VKU were Vice Rectors Dr. Tran The Son and Dr. Huynh Ngoc Tho, along with leaders of various departments and units. The event also welcomed members of the Steering Committee, Organizing Committee, Jury Board, Problem-Setting committee, representatives from VAIP and ICPC Vietnam; school leaders, team leaders, teachers, and parents from 248 gifted high schools, high schools, secondary schools, and primary schools with finalists, as well as a large number of VKU students and contestants participating in the final round.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Cong Phap – Rector of VKU delivers the opening remarks

In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Cong Phap – Rector of VKU and Head of the Organizing Committee – extended a warm welcome to distinguished delegates, teachers, parents, and especially the 996 outstanding contestants from across the country who gathered for the Grand Finale of the 7th Olympiad in Informatics in Central and Central Highlands. He affirmed that the Olympiad is not only a prestigious and professionally organized academic competition that meets national standards and is progressively aligned with international benchmarks, but also holds significant importance in discovering, nurturing, and developing IT talents for the nation. At the same time, the competition contributes to promoting the teaching and learning of informatics in schools, thereby laying a solid foundation for the development of high-quality digital human resources in the context of rapid digital transformation.

As the initiator and host institution, VKU continues to affirm its position as one of the leading higher education institutions in Vietnam in the fields of digital technology and digital economy. The University remains committed to building a modern and human-centered learning environment while further strengthening international cooperation to provide learners with expanded opportunities for study and development.The valuable support and companionship of domestic and international organizations and enterprises—particularly Hanwha Life and ChorogUsan for Children (Korea)—have played a significant role in ensuring the Olympiad’s sustainable growth, professionalism, and widespread impact.

Dr. Nguyen Quang Vu – Head of Academic Affairs Department at VKU and Standing Member of the Organizing Committee presents an overview of the 7th Olympiad in Informatics in Central and Central Highlands – 2026

For the 7th Olympiad in Informatics in Central and Central Highlands, contestants participated in the qualifying round held on February 28, 2026, with the involvement of 3,046 students from 502 gifted high schools, high schools, secondary schools, and primary schools across 34 provinces and cities nationwide. The competition featured four categories: AI Challenge; Super Cup (for members of national informatics training teams); Informatics Specialized (for students specializing in informatics at gifted high schools); and Non-specialized Informatics (for other participants). With the contributions of reputable experts from VAIP, ICPC Vietnam, and VKU, the exam questions for all rounds were carefully developed to ensure high quality, strong differentiation, accuracy, and fairness. Based on the results, school teams selected 996 outstanding contestants from 248 schools nationwide to advance to the final round. These include 53 teams (158 contestants) in the AI Challenge category, 146 contestants in the Super Cup, 233 in the Informatics Specialized category, and 459 in the Non-specialized category. In addition to the traditional categories (Super Cup, Informatics Specialized, and Non-specialized Informatics), the AI Challenge category—comprising teams of three members—was organized in a hackathon format for secondary and high school students, focusing on topics such as Machine Learning (ML), Computer Vision (CV), and Natural Language Processing (NLP).

The total prize value of the 7th Olympiad in Informatics in Central and Central Highlands amounts to VND 110,000,000 (one hundred and ten million Vietnamese dong). In addition, prize-winning contestants (First, Second, Third, and Consolation) are eligible for priority consideration in university admissions, along with other benefits in accordance with the admission policies of Vietnam–Korea University of Information and Communication Technology, The University of Danang (https://vku.udn.vn and http://tuyensinh.vku.udn.vn), as well as those of other universities.

Over the years, the Olympiad in Informatics in Central and Central Highlands has continuously evolved and innovated, becoming a competition that meets both national and international standards. It serves as an intellectually enriching academic playground where students can challenge themselves, enhance their skills, and better prepare for global programming competitions. The Olympiad has demonstrated its significant role and impact in identifying and nurturing talents, promoting informatics education at the high school level, and contributing to the development of high-quality technology human resources for Vietnam and the global community.

Representatives of the Organizing Committee present flowers and commemorative tokens to Hanwha Life and ChorogUsan for Children (Korea)

At the Opening Ceremony, the Organizing Committee sincerely acknowledged the valuable contributions of Hanwha Life and ChorogUsan for Children (Korea), and presented commemorative tokens and flowers in appreciation of their meaningful support and companionship in this year’s competition.

Immediately after the Opening Ceremony, the 996 contestants will enter the Final Round, competing in three categories: Super Cup, Informatics Specialized, and Non-specialized Informatics. The exam content and format are aligned with the standards of national and international excellent student competitions in informatics. All test papers are designed to ensure high quality, reliability, and confidentiality, and are developed by a problem-setting committee comprising reputable experts nominated by VAIP and ICPC Vietnam. The problem-setting process is led by Mr. Nguyen Long, Vice President and General Secretary of VAIP, Director of ICPC Vietnam. Academic oversight is provided by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Phan Thuan (Hanoi University of Science and Technology) and Dr. Do Duc Dong (Vietnam National University, Hanoi).

The Closing and Awarding Ceremony of the Grand Finale of the 7th Olympiad in Informatics in Central and Central Highlands – 2026 is scheduled to take place at 8:00 AM on April 12, 2026.

Center for Learning Resource and Communication

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