A team of students from the University of Engineering and Technology (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), has won third prize in the themed creative software category at the NAPROCK Procon 2026 international programming contest.
The closing ceremony of the 17th NAPROCK Procon competition took place on March 9 at Vietnam National University, Hanoi. The 2026 edition marked the first time the contest has been held in Vietnam.
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The event was hosted by the University of Engineering and Technology in collaboration with the National Association for the Promotion of KOSEN Programming Contests (NAPROCK) and the Vietnam Informatics Association.
This year’s competition brought together 36 teams comprising 114 students from Vietnam, Japan, Thailand and Mongolia. Vietnam fielded 15 teams, while Japan sent 12 teams, Mongolia six and Thailand three.
Participants competed in two main categories: algorithm programming and themed creative software development. The programming contest focused on building algorithms to solve specific problems, while the creative software category encouraged teams to apply advanced information-processing technologies to address practical challenges.
Japanese teams won first prize in both categories. The Vietnamese team from the University of Engineering and Technology secured third place in the themed creative software competition.
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Speaking at the event, Professor Chu Duc Trinh, rector of the University of Engineering and Technology, noted the contest emphasises practical problem-solving and requires students to combine strong technical knowledge with an understanding of real-world challenges.
He said that international competitions provide valuable opportunities for universities and students to assess their capabilities and recognise the gap that still exists compared with leading countries such as Japan, particularly in applying academic knowledge to practical solutions.
According to him, narrowing this gap requires a comprehensive approach to training programmes, with greater emphasis on practical skills and real-world problem-solving.
Hosting international competitions in Vietnam and encouraging Vietnamese students to participate in global contests also helps expose them to different technological approaches and allows them to compare their knowledge and skills with peers from other countries, he said.
Professor Trinh stressed that while academic knowledge remains essential, it must be closely connected with societal needs and future employment opportunities in order to fully develop students’ potential.
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