Vietnamese students learn about technology and entrepreneurship through Solve for Tomorrow

Participating in Solve for Tomorrow for the first time, the team from iSchool Quang Tri International Integrated School demonstrated strong preparation and a deep commitment to STEM, which has been a focus since the school’s founding. Their hard work helped them stand out from over 2,200 teams and secure a place in the Top 40, advancing to the product development round. Ms. Huynh Thi Kim Ngan, advisor to the Farmer 4.0 team, expressed immense pride and joy in this accomplishment. She also noted that after the live training session for teams in the Central region, both her and her students’ determination to succeed became even stronger.

This achievement was made possible by the Solve for Tomorrow organizers, who held live training sessions for teams in the North, Central, and South on August 10, 17, and 24. These sessions helped participants improve their soft skills and gain more business knowledge. The practical lessons, led by experts, gave teams the tools they needed for their product development submissions.

Dang Tri Toan from Truong Xuan High School (Dong Thap) shared that he was "so excited I couldn’t sleep" the night before heading to Ho Chi Minh City for the Top 40 training session of Solve for Tomorrow 2024. "I was really looking forward to learning from the teachers and other students, and the training lived up to my expectations. I learned a lot about business and soft skills from two incredibly energetic teachers. Looking back, I’m confident that joining Solve for Tomorrow 2024 was absolutely the right choice," Tri Toan added.

Tri Toan’s excitement was shared by all the teachers and students, as reflected in the vibrant and passionate atmosphere during the training. With expert guidance, teams gained new insights and practiced key skills for their projects, including presentation, time management, teamwork, and critical thinking.

As Vietnam works to promote student entrepreneurship, the teams in this year’s Solve for Tomorrow were encouraged to develop models focused on sustainable development and create products that meet market needs. For the first time, the criteria for product commercialization were included in the evaluation process. During the live training session, teams received basic knowledge about business and entrepreneurship, as well as details about the scoring criteria for the product development round and finals. They were guided on business planning, project execution, and group presentations to help them effectively showcase their submissions.

Lý Tự Trọng Middle School (Lao Cai), one of the most experienced teams, has participated in all six seasons, with four appearances in the Top 40 of Solve for Tomorrow. However, the new focus on product commercialization—a completely unfamiliar area for both teachers and students—left teacher Vu Huy Hoa, the computer science teacher and advisor to the Fabulous Fairies team, feeling a bit uncertain. The live training session in Hanoi helped answer many of their questions, boosting their confidence in refining their product.

Nguyen Thanh Ha, a student representative from Lý Tự Trọng Middle School (Lao Cai), shared: "We were really excited about the business and entrepreneurship training because it helped us understand the basics of starting a business. This knowledge is not only crucial for developing our team’s product but also for our future. Our team is determined to leverage our strengths and potential to create a high-quality, practical product. We aim not just to reach the finals but to make a lasting positive impact on society, contributing to sustainable development."

In addition to the training activities, Samsung provides ongoing support for the teams during the product development round. This includes online consultations with leading STEM and technology experts, as well as financial assistance to help each team complete their submissions.

The sixth season of Solve for Tomorrow saw an impressive 2,298 innovative and practical tech ideas submitted in the preliminary round. These ideas ranged from simple yet impactful solutions to improve quality of life, to groundbreaking projects focused on environmental protection, healthcare, education, support for vulnerable groups, and local production. The creativity of middle and high school students was on full display.

The top 40 teams of Solve for Tomorrow 2024 are now channeling their resources into turning their creative concepts into real product models, guided by a high-level advisory team of experts from Vietnam and Samsung. This journey goes beyond building models; it involves refining solutions, adjusting product functions to fit real-world needs, and ensuring the feasibility of each project for maximum impact. Alongside assessing contestants’ creativity and STEM skills, this round offers valuable opportunities for teams to learn, gain experience, and develop their projects in a more structured and professional way.

At the end of the product development round, the top 10 most outstanding projects will be selected to compete in the finals, which will take place on October 26, 2024, in Hanoi.

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