Undergraduate

Recently, the organizing committee of Global IT Challenge (GITC), Will To Live (WTL) JSC, and Duy Tan University (DTU) signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly organize the Global IT Challenge 2026 contest for youth with disabilities.

Global IT Challenge (GITC) 2026 will take place from October 27 to 29, 2026, at DTU and Crowne Plaza Danang City Centre in Danang. The event will be held under the leadership of the Republic of Korea Ministry of Health & Welfare, LG corp., and the city of Danang, with sponsorship from the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Korea Social Welfare Foundation.

Representatives of the three partners at the signing ceremony (from right to left):

Mr Sung Min Jo, Secretary General of the Global IT Challenge organizing committee;

Ms Huyen Minh, CEO of Will To Live; and DTU Vice Provost Assoc. Prof. Gia Nhu

Three partners join forces for professional and inclusive international event

Global IT Challenge is an international technology competition for youth with disabilities. It aims to promote access to and the application of IT, the development of digital skills and creative abilities, and confidence with integration. What makes GITC special is that technology is viewed not only from the perspective of achievements or competition, but as a tool for breaking down barriers related to physical disability, communication, and access to knowledge.

Under the cooperation agreement, the partners will work together to organize GITC 2026 with clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms throughout preparation and implementation. The goal is to ensure that GITC 2026 is conducted professionally, safely, and effectively. The partners will coordinate closely, from developing the overall plan, establishing the competition infrastructure and environment, and receiving registrations from international teams to arranging logistics, accommodations, meals, transportation, visa assistance, medical care, and accessibility for people with disabilities.

“DTU’s facilities can accommodate many of the key activities for GITC 2026,” Ms Ngo Thi Huyen Minh, CEO of Will To Live, commented on Danang’s capacity to host the event. “In addition, the university’s expert teams in IT and AI, together with its R&D for novel assistive solutions for people with disabilities, can be expected to provide a valuable foundation of expertise for the event. These are important conditions to ensure the effective organization of an international event of the scale of GITC.”

Four competition categories to promote digital skills and creativity

Global IT Challenge 2026 should attract about 500 participants from more than 15 countries. Contestants will compete in four main categories:

    e-Combination: digital product integration,
    e-Content: digital content,
    e-Creative: digital creativity,
    e-Interactive: digital interaction.

The competition categories are designed to develop the ability of youth with disabilities to apply technology, create content, program, and interact using AI. Through this, GITC aims not only to identify contestants with strong technology skills but also to encourage young people to apply digital knowledge to solve problems, create products, and confidently master emerging technologies.

Alongside the official competitions, the partners will organize a series of academic, exchange, and international networking activities. These will include a forum titled “From digital transformation to inclusive AI”, cultural exchange, field trips, meetings with guests, and other side events. Global IT Challenge 2026 is expected to become a platform connecting technology, education, innovation, and social responsibility, promoting inclusive digital transformation and reaffirming the role of technology in expanding development opportunities for everyone.

DTU’s facilities can accommodate many of the key activities for GITC 2026

AI and technology must serve humans

“We understand the difficulties and challenges that people with disabilities face in education, employment, and technology access,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Gia Nhu at the signing ceremony. “That’s why we believe advances in AI and digital technology can have real meaning only when they can be applied to remove these barriers, improve quality of life, and expand opportunities for people with disabilities to learn, work, and develop in the community.”

This commitment is reflected in DTU’s ongoing efforts to apply technology to support people with disabilities. Over the years, the university has been pursuing numerous research & technology initiatives aimed at improving their lives:

    an AI-powered sign-language translation assistant to support people with hearing impairments,
    a semi-active prosthetic leg,
    an electric wheelchair,
    “The Magic Hand”: a prosthetic finger for people with disabilities.

“These projects aim not only to improve access to technology and the quality of life for people with disabilities; they also demonstrate DTU’s commitment to building an inclusive digital society,” Assoc. Prof. Gia Nhu emphasized. “Building on this, we hope to work closely with our partners to successfully organize GITC 2026 and create even more opportunities and technological solutions for people with disabilities.”

The three partners are working together to create the most favorable

conditions for youth with disabilities to participate in Global IT Challenge 2026

Building on Vietnam’s achievements at Global IT Challenge

Global IT Challenge 2026 marks the competition’s return to Vietnam after nine years, following an edition in Hanoi in 2017. Before that, GITC 2025 was held in Ulsan, South Korea, with 92 contestants from 16 countries. The event provided a platform for connecting technology, education, and other values of inclusion for people with disabilities. At that competition, the Vietnamese team made a mark by winning three major awards:

    Le Thi Uyen Nhi received the Super Challenge Award and the second-prize Excellent e-Combination Award,
    Will To Live-GITC Vietnam received the Contribution Award.

These achievements demonstrate not only the technological abilities but also the determination, resilience, and international integration capabilities of Vietnamese youth with disabilities.

Hosting Global IT Challenge 2026 in Danang this year carries significance beyond that of a technology competition. As co-organizer, DTU will work with its partners to convey a powerful message: In the digital and AI era, technology must be developed to serve humans, expand opportunities for people, and ensure that no one is left behind.

Computer Science at DTU ranks 144th of the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, placing it first in Vietnam. DTU has several ABET-accredited programs in IT: Software Engineering, which received accreditation in 2021 and 2026; Network Engineering, accredited in 2019 and 2025; and Management Information Systems, accredited in 2019 and 2025.

(Media Center)