On June 15, the final round of the Social Venture Plan Competition was held in collaboration with Singapore Polytechnic and Burapha University. Students from local colleges and universities are eligible for this annual competition.
After two months of preparation, the first round took place on June 7 and 8 with twenty-three teams competing. Fifteen teams progressed to the final round.
The TGT team with their project “The Beauty of Recycling”
At the opening ceremony, Dr. Le Nguyen Bao, DTU Vice-Rector and Chief of the Jury recalled the first competition in 2011, when three teams were selected to take part in the final round in Seattle in the USA.
He said: “The Social Venture Plan competition is a familiar activity for American students. Recently, DTU has expanded educational partnerships with foreign universities and the method of teaching and studying by planning projects. This competition helps DTU students as well as other universities to incorporate this method. In addition, students can get other benefits from the Social Venture Plan, such as practicing their English, improving group skills and, most of all, becoming aware of their communal responsibilities.”
In the final round of fifteen, each team built a kiosk to display their products and present their project to the jury. Most of the projects were well prepared and far more diversified than last year. Among them were some adventurous projects, including one conceived by the N.H.T team to establish a cultural zone for Vietnamese ethnic minorities in Hoi An and developing a school for autistic children by the Singapore team. The E&P team focused on making handicrafts, such as ILE handbag” and the New Way team project was planned to provide kidney patients with a new way of living. Another new idea came from the “We are One” team, which was “Vietnamese online - a global link for all Vietnamese.”
The teams presented their projects to the jury of 21 that included people from many different businesses, Singapore Polytechnic and Duy Tan University. Each judge worked as a customer calling at team kiosks to get information, ask questions and grade each project.
A judge questions and grades the New Way project team
Ms. Ngo Thi Phuong Dung, a student of the Danang University of Economics and a member of the “We are One” team said: “We entered the competition as a test of our abilities and fortunately our project has progressed to the final round. It realized that it was essential to prepare our project very carefully. We got used to working effectively in a group. A worthwhile and successful project not only brings personal benefits but also contributes to our community and country.”
“We want to express our gratitude to the directors and lecturers of DTU who have taught and assisted us by creating this unique competition for all the students at colleges and universities in Danang.” said Ms. Dung.
After totaling the scores, the jury will announce the winners. The best teams will represent DTU in competition with international students in the final rounds in Thailand and Singapore next autumn.
(Board of Website Editors)