On April 9th, the opening ceremony of the XXI National Student Mathematics Olympiad took place at the TrungVuong theatre in Danang. As the teams shook hands, the competitors were excited, hoping to do well against participants from all over the country.
There are some changes in the Olympiad. This is the first time that a private university has hosted such a national educational event. This confirms DTU’s quality and reputation in education and its strong recognition in Vietnam today. This year, the number of contestants in the Olympiad is the highest ever. Seven hundred students from 89 universities and colleges is evidence of the popularity of the competition.
Representatives receive commemorative flags from Organizers
Mathematics has been always respected and Mathematicians admired for devoting their lives to research. Mathematics is often regarded as an intellectual sport where the players can improve their minds and personalities. Mathematics is the foundation of social development, the economics and technology. The XXI National Student Mathematics Olympiad is held to improve educational quality and to encourage students to study harder and to produce more talented students nationally. It is hoped that, by rewarding the winners, the competition will arouse and inspire everyone’s interest in Mathematics.
At the opening ceremony, Professor Nguyen Huu Du, General Secretary of the Vietnam Mathematics Society said: “The National Student Mathematics Olympiad is not only a competition for students but also an occasion for Mathematical experts. Mathematicians and lecturers have shared their passion to improve their skills and have recommended new ways of teaching Mathematics. We highly appreciate the fact that Duy Tan University as it is the first private institution in Vietnam to organize and host the competition. The National Students Mathematics Olympiad is supported by the community and by lecturers and students nationwide to demonstrate their love of Mathematics. I hope you all have a good time at DTU and leave with good memories of Danang”.
Dr. Le Nguyen Bao addresses the ceremony
Dr. Le Nguyen Bao, DTU Vice-Provost, who did not pursue Mathematics as his passion, said: “Many of my teachers have advised me to study Mathematics but I did not really believe in its power. Only when I started learning about Mathematics, have I realized its value. It is the foundation of Civil Engineering, Economics and even Music and the Film Industry. It helps us improve our awareness and creativity in finding solutions. Since returning to work in Vietnam at DTU, I have decreed that Mathematics be mandatory in all curricula. Many Social Science students have complained to me, although they are very grateful to DTU for this after graduation”.
“It is an honor for Duy Tan University to host of the XXI National Student Mathematics Olympiad. Surprisingly, many of the contestants are female. This proves that Mathematics is a popular subject, despite difficulty. All of the contestants are winners. I hope that your dedication to Mathematics will inspire in you the type of devotion exhibited by our honored guests, Professor Ngo Bao Chau and Mr. Le Ba Khanh Trinh, who are renowned in Vietnam”.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tuan, the Vice-President of the Danang People’s Committee added: “The XXI National Student Mathematics Olympiad is particular honor for DTU and for the city of Danang. I hope all the contestants will use their abilities to achieve their finest performances”.
Mr. Nguyen Van Quy, from the National University of Economics, who won two first prizes in Algebra and Analytics in the XX National Students Mathematics Olympiad said: “I feel very confident this year. Most of all, I really want to exchange ideas and make new friends from all over Vietnam. I was surprised to see that the educational environment at Duy Tan University has inspired us a lot. DTU has made excellent preparations for the competition, which marks their first achievement in this year’s Olympiad".
A seminar on Innovation in Teaching Mathematics at Technical Institutes
First held in 1993, the National Student Mathematics Olympiad has been held every year in the collaboration with MOET and the Vietnam Mathematics Society. This is an opportunity for Vietnamese students to show their talents and love of Mathematics by taking exams in Algebra and Analytics. Since 2002, DTU students have gained remarkable achievements, winning Third and Consolidation prizes. At the same time, DTU will hold other activities, including a conference on innovative teaching methods in Mathematics at Technical Institutes, a meeting between Olympiad students and experts and Professors of Mathematics and a seminar to prepare for the 2014 Mathematics Olympiad. Travel agents are available for those who want to discover more about things to see in Danang and World Heritage Sites, such as the Ancient Town of Hoi An, the My Son Holy Land, and the Hue Citadel. This is a good opportunity for the participants to tour Central Vietnam. The closing ceremony of the XXI National Students Mathematics Olympiad will take place at the Trung Vuong Theatre and will be broadcast live on VTV2 at 8.00am on April 13th.
(Board of Website Editors)