The year 2026 is marked with the NAPROCK International Programming Contest held in Vietnam for the first time. The contest brought together 36 teams with 114 students from four countries: Vietnam (15 teams), Japan (12 teams), Thailand (3 teams), and Mongolia (6 teams), further affirming its position as a prestigious academic forum for students passionate about programming and technological innovation from many countries.
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In his opening remarks, Prof. Kuwabara Hirofumim - President of the NAPROCK Association expressed his pleasure and honor in welcoming distinguished guests, delegates, and participating teams to this year’s contest. According to him, the participation of 36 international teams has created a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere, while also demonstrating the strong appeal of the contest to students passionate about information technology.
He expressed his expectation to witness innovative ideas, new technological products, and outstanding performances from the teams throughout the contest. He also encouraged the contestants to maximize their creativity, teamwork, and determination in order to contribute to a successful and memorable contest.
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Speaking at the opening ceremony, Prof. Taniguchi Isao - President of the National Institute of Technology, Japan acknowledged the participation of teams from Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, and Mongolia - outstanding students representing the new generation of young engineers in the region. He expressed his hope that the teams would demonstrate their best abilities in the contest rounds. He also emphasized that the contest is not only a platform to showcase the outcomes of students’ learning and research, but also an opportunity for them to exchange ideas and learn from one another, thereby strengthening international friendship and working together toward a better future.
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Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Vietnam Ito Naoki highly appreciated the significance of the contest in the context of Vietnam’s strong development, particularly in the fields of information technology, digital transformation, and high-quality human resource development. He said that, the NAPROCK PROCON serves as an important platform for nurturing the next generation of young engineers, contributing to the promotion of innovation and sustainable development.
Ambassador Ito also emphasized that, in the context of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Japan and Vietnam, cooperation in science and technology, innovation, and human resource development is becoming one of the key pillars. He expressed confidence that connecting young talents from Vietnam with Japan’s experience and technological strengths would further expand opportunities for cooperation and bring practical benefits to both countries.
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Addressing the opening ceremony, VNU Vice President Pham Bao Son expressed his pleasure that the 17th NAPROCK PROCON hosted by VNU University of Engineering and Technology, is being held in Vietnam for the first time. He stated that the event is not only a prestigious academic contest but also contributes to creating an international space for academic exchange and innovation for students in the field of information technology.
VNU Vice President Pham Bao Son noted that, as Vietnam is embarking on a "new era of national growth," with a vision to become a developed nation by 2045, science, technology, and innovation are the primary engines of progress. VNU consistently upholds a human-centered development philosophy, considering talent as the core factor of its growth.
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According to its Development Strategy for the 2026-2035 period, VNU aims to educate and nurture global citizens capable of leadership, creativity, and co-creating a sustainable future. In this regard, international academic activities, such as the NAPROCK PROCON, play an important role in providing an environment where students can develop creativity, problem-solving skills, and international collaboration.
Highlighting the significance of this year’s theme, “ICT for a Green Future”, VNU Vice President Pham Bao Son emphasized that information technology today should go beyond developing algorithms or writing lines of code to embrace responsibility for environmental protection and sustainable development of the planet.
He also expressed his hope that during the contest, the participating teams would not only conquer technical challenges but also gain memorable experiences, expand their international friendships, and find new inspiration for their studies and research.
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