UITer Lương Đắc Nguyên - A Journey to Conquer National Technology Competitions   Lương Đắc Nguyên, a 2023 Data Science student at the University of Information Technology (UIT), Vietnam National University-HCM, serves as the class president for the Data Science cohort. Along with his leadership role and active participation in extracurricular activities, Nguyên has proven his academic and creative talents through his remarkable achievements in national competitions. Recently, Nguyên and his team secured 2nd place at the WEB3 IDEATHON, a prestigious national competition focused on innovation in blockchain and AI technologies. The Journey to Winning the Prestigious WEB3 IDEATHON Award Realizing the growing technological gap between the rapid pace of advancement and the accessibility for rural farmers, Nguyên and his team developed “Nông Trí”, an AI-powered agricultural chatbot tailored to the needs of Vietnamese farmers. This innovative tool aims to bridge the technological divide, offering farmers real-time updates on crop techniques, weather forecasts, pricing information, and modern farming practices. Thanks to its practical application, addressing the real needs of millions of agricultural workers, “Nông Trí” quickly became a standout project at the WEB3 IDEATHON. The team outshone numerous strong contenders from leading universities nationwide and proudly claimed 2nd place in the competition. Nguyên shared, "The emotions are hard to describe. We felt not only joy but also pride and gratitude as our hard work was recognized. This experience truly highlighted our team's unity and strengthened my confidence in myself." Overcoming Challenges on the Path to Success Despite studying Data Science, Nguyên and his team faced numerous challenges in bringing their AI chatbot to life. From mastering programming and designing user interfaces to managing tight deadlines and overcoming geographical barriers, they navigated these hurdles with clear task division, a continuous learning mindset, and mutual trust. “Our success was due to a clear division of responsibilities, with each team member handling specific modules to ensure smooth collaboration. Thanks to our spirit of progress, self-learning, and trust in one another, we were able to complete the project. Most importantly, we gained invaluable lessons from this journey,” Nguyên reflected. Passion for Academic Competitions The WEB3 IDEATHON was not Nguyên’s first significant achievement. He has also earned prestigious awards, such as 1st place in the ISE Spark of Idea Fall 2024 and Quarter Finalist in the 2024 Hanoi Mathematical Modeling Competition. Beyond academic accomplishments, Nguyên is also known for his active participation in leadership roles and his commitment to social responsibility. Discipline as the Key to Success Nguyên believes that maintaining discipline is essential for balancing academic work, extracurricular activities, and competitions. "I have a small habit of focusing on completing each task thoroughly before moving on to the next. I make sure to plan each part of my day in advance. This helps me stay balanced between my studies and staying active," Nguyên shared. UIT – A Solid Foundation for Innovation UIT’s dynamic and supportive learning environment has played a crucial role in Nguyên’s journey to competing in major tech events. "UIT provided me with practical, real-world knowledge. During the development of Nông Trí, I applied lessons from my courses directly to the project." Nguyên believes that with the knowledge and soft skills provided by UIT, most UITers are well-equipped to participate in major competitions like WEB3 IDEATHON. "All it takes is a little courage to get started," he said. With the motto “In your 20s, be greedy and naive,” Nguyên encourages his fellow students: "You won’t truly know your potential until you put yourself to the test in real-world situations. Academic competitions are not just about winning; they’re opportunities to recognize the value of everything you’ve learned and fill the gaps that textbooks can’t offer." Nguyên’s journey exemplifies the power of innovation, teamwork, and determination — values that UIT instills in all its students. We look forward to seeing more UITers rise to the challenge and showcase their talents!    

M*CTF-International 2025 Awards Ceremony – UIT Team Wins First Place Internationally On the morning of April 18, 2025 (Russia time), the online awards ceremony for the international M*CTF-International competition officially took place, with the presence of representatives from international universities and embassies as part of the COMINFFEST 2025 International Science Festival, organized by the Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (MTUCI). The Wanna.W1n team from the University of Information Technology, Vietnam National University HCMC (UIT) was honored with the First Place award, representing Vietnam and taking the top spot on this international stage. Attending the ceremony on behalf of UIT were: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vũ Đức Lung – Party Secretary, Chairman of the University Council Dr. Phạm Văn Hậu – Director of the Network Security Center, VNUHCM MSc. Nghi Hoàng Khoa – Researcher at the Information Security Laboratory The winning team consists of 7 students from the Information Security Department, Computer Networks and Communications Faculty: Trần Trọng Nghĩa Phan Bình Nhẫn Phan Nguyễn Việt Bắc Bùi Hữu Tùng Hoàng Xuân Vinh Ngô Trần Anh Ninh Lê Quốc Cường The ceremony was attended by the MTUCI Board of Directors, representatives from partner international universities, and a large number of students attending online. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vũ Đức Lung, UIT’s representative, expressed gratitude to the organizing committee and affirmed the strong and sustainable cooperation between UIT and MTUCI, as well as between Vietnam and Russia in the field of education and research in Information Security. Top 3 teams at M*CTF-International: Wanna.W1n (VNUHCM – University of Information Technology) PTIT.Lugia (PTIT) MSEC_ForSociety (Le Quy Don Technical University) With a real-world attack-defense format, the M*CTF competition not only serves as a great opportunity for honing professional skills but also as an international stage for UIT students to demonstrate their expertise, quick thinking, and teamwork spirit. Event details: https://mctf-info.ru Once again, congratulations to the Wanna.W1n team and their mentors!

Congratulations to the UIT Team for Winning the Second Place in the Academic Category at PWNME CTF 2025   Continuing to make a mark in CTF competitions, the members of the Alternative für Knights team from the Department of Computer Networks and Communications – University of Information Technology, Vietnam National University HCMC, have proudly secured the second place in the PwnMe CTF 2025 competition. Members of the UIT team: Ngô Vinh Huy (Team Leader) // Pwn Hứa Minh Duy // For Ngô Phúc Dương // Web Thái Vĩnh Đạt // Crypto This is a rare occasion for the UIT CTF team to be invited to compete in the onsite final round in Europe, marking a significant milestone in the journey towards international recognition for UIT students. PwnMe CTF is an annual competition organized by Phreaks2600, a leading CTF team from France, under the patronage of Ecole 2600, with sponsors such as OtterSec and FuzzingLabs. This year, the competition consisted of two rounds: Qualification Round (Online): March 1–2, 2025, with 5 main categories: Pwn, Crypto, Rev, Web, Misc Final Round (Onsite in France): April 12, 2025, with an additional Hardware category. For more details: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BrZCQnncs/  

UIT x Tresemi  Advanced VLSI Design Training Course for UIT Students   Recently, nearly 30 UIT students officially began the advanced VLSI (Very-Large-Scale Integration) design training course, organized by the University of Information Technology in collaboration with Tresemi. This is a unique opportunity for students to access in-depth knowledge and practice important skills in the VLSI field, such as Physical Design, Basic Design, and Advanced VLSI Design. The course lasts for 3 months, from February to June 2025, with a Blended Learning format—combining online and in-person sessions with experts from Tresemi. The curriculum is designed with the aim of enhancing semiconductor VLSI design skills for professional teams, developing essential skills, and providing practical, in-depth knowledge on the use of EDA (Electronic Design Automation) tools for designing and analyzing VLSI circuits. In particular, Tresemi will connect students' CVs to businesses, opening up many attractive career opportunities in the semiconductor industry. This course not only helps students improve their knowledge but also serves as an important stepping stone for them to confidently enter the job market. Wishing all students great success in their studies and future endeavors!    

The NII_UIT Team, Composed of Members from the AI Club at UIT, Wins First Place in the VBS 2025 Competition We are proud to announce that the NII_UIT team, consisting of members from the AI Club at UIT - University of Information Technology, in collaboration with the National Institute of Informatics (NII), Japan, has won First Place in the VBS 2025 (Video Browser Showdown) competition. This competition focuses on video search on large datasets and was held annually alongside the MMM 2025 (Multimedia Modeling) conference, a prestigious event in the multimedia field, marking its 31st edition in Japan. About VBS 2025 (Video Browser Showdown) Video Browser Showdown (VBS) is an annual international competition where research and development teams from around the world demonstrate advanced video search systems. VBS 2025 involved over 17 teams from top universities worldwide. The competition continues to be a platform that promotes innovation in the field of multimedia information retrieval, aiming to develop powerful, intuitive tools that allow users to search for video content quickly and accurately within a massive dataset of over 9TB. Challenges in VBS 2025 Complex content search: Teams are required to handle queries that include natural language, image or video samples, and efficiently combine information from multiple sources. Real-time response capability: Teams must optimize their systems to provide results quickly from a dataset larger than 9TB. Understanding multimedia context: The system must accurately recognize objects, scenes, actions, or minute details. Language and cultural diversity: The system needs to effectively handle queries in various languages and cultural contexts. User interface: The system must be intuitive and easy to use, enabling users to perform searches efficiently. VBS 2025 is not only a place to showcase technological skills but also an opportunity for teams to learn from each other, exchange ideas, and promote the development of AI applications in the field of multimedia information retrieval. Thông tin chi tiết xem tại: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DRjqazvjg/

On the morning of February 26, 2025, the University of Information Technology (UIT) successfully hosted a talk with Mr. Andrew Kim, the Director of Graduate Enrolment Services from Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), Canada. The event provided valuable information for UIT students interested in Master’s and PhD programs, as well as scholarship opportunities from MUN. During the talk, Mr. Andrew Kim introduced the Master’s and PhD programs at MUN, particularly those focused on research-oriented tracks in fields such as Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Technology. This session gave UIT students the opportunity to choose an educational path that aligns with their interests and capabilities as they pursue higher education. Additionally, one of the key highlights of the talk was the information about the valuable scholarships MUN offers to outstanding students, especially those pursuing research-focused Master’s programs. These scholarships provide a great opportunity for students to reduce their financial burdens while focusing on advanced research projects alongside leading professors, opening up more academic and career opportunities in an international environment. Throughout the session, UIT students had the chance to directly ask questions and receive answers from Mr. Andrew Kim about admission requirements, entry criteria, and support policies for studying and living in Canada. These insights helped students better understand the academic journey at an international institution and confidently prepare for their upcoming path. Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) is known as one of Canada’s prestigious universities, with over 19,000 students from around the world. It is ranked among the top 500 universities worldwide according to the Times Higher Education rankings. The university offers more than 100 programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and is renowned for its high-quality education and modern research systems, providing students with the opportunity to participate in advanced academic and scientific projects.  

The ICPC Asia Pacific 2025 brings together 65 teams from universities in countries such as South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, and more. These teams will compete fiercely for a spot to participate in the ICPC World Finals 2025 in Baku this August. In addition, the competition will also welcome 2 invited teams from the South Pacific Regionals (already qualified for the ICPC World Finals 2025), promising an exciting and intense battle from talented teams.  Representing Vietnam, National University of Singapore (NUS) will host 12 teams from various universities. Among them, UIT (University of Information Technology) proudly has 3 teams participating: UIT.KHQ.TheUnkillableDemonKings, UIT.KNT.2mic1cup, and UIT.TTT.Baka.  The excitement for ICPC Asia Pacific 2025 is hotter than ever! Stay tuned for a contest filled with thrilling moments and intense competition. UIT wishes all the best to our talented participants, stay calm, confident, and aim for your best results in this prestigious contest!

  On the morning of August 15, 2024, MAPR2024 - the International Conference on Multimedia Analysis and Pattern Recognition - officially opened with the participation of nearly 100 scientists, PhD candidates, graduate students, and undergraduates from various countries around the world. MAPR2024 commenced with an opening speech by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duc Dung from the Institute of Information Technology (IOIT), VAST, Vietnam. The conference also featured a keynote talk titled “Tensor Decomposition and its application for Model Reduction in Neural Networks” by Prof. Karim Abed-Merain (University of Orléans, France), setting the stage for this year’s international conference. During the morning sessions, authors presented their research in the following categories: • Session 1A: Object Detection • Session 1B: Language & Speech   In the afternoon, MAPR2024 included a talk on “AI in Business: A Double-Edged Sword,” presented by Dr. Tai Huynh (CEO - Kyanon Digital, Vietnam), followed by sessions: • 1C: Deep Learning • 1D: Segmentation and Recognition • 1E: Multimedia Applications. One of the highlights of MAPR2024 was the award ceremony recognizing the best papers, selected from hundreds of submissions. Following a rigorous review process, the awarded papers were chosen not only for their high academic value but also for their practical contributions to the field: • Best Paper Award: “TF-SASM: Training-free Spatial-aware Sparse Memory for Multi-object Tracking” by Thuc Nguyen-Quang, Minh-Triet Tran • Best Student Paper Award: “Systematic Evaluation of Language Characteristic and Data Enrichment in Text-based Person Search” by Thi-Hoai Phan, Hung-Phong Tran, Hoang-Son Bui, Thi-Ngoc-Diep Do, Thanh-Hai Tran, Thuy-Binh Nguyen, Hong-Quan Nguyen, Thi Thanh Thuy Pham, Thi-Lan Le • Runner-up Paper Award: “Brain Tumor Segmentation in MRI Images with 3D U-Net and Contextual Transformer” by Thien-Qua T. Nguyen, Hieu-Nghia Nguyen, Thanh-Hieu Bui, Thien B. Nguyen-Tat, Vuong M. Ngo. The MAPR International Conference has been held annually since 2018, with 2024 marking its 7th edition. The inclusion of MAPR conference papers in IEEEXplore and Scopus demonstrates the conference’s success in advancing the fields of multimedia analysis and pattern recognition in Vietnam and globally.

Article: “A Novel 5G PMN-Driven Approach for AI-Powered Irrigation and Crop Health Monitoring” Article Link: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10662981 Student Authors: • Nguyen Tan Tang - MMCL 2019 - Primary Author Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Quan Abstract: Precision agriculture is a critical field for addressing food security for a growing population. This article introduces an innovative approach combining deep learning with a 5G Private Mobile Network (PMN) to create a smart agriculture system. The 5G PMN infrastructure was simulated using UERANSIM and Free5GC with Quantum Key Distribution Function (QKDF) integration. 5G connectivity enhances agricultural practices by enabling real-time monitoring of crop health and reliable transmission of irrigation control commands. Besides using 5G, our proposed system incorporates a lightweight model and three YOLOv8 models for AI-powered irrigation and crop health monitoring. The lightweight model automatically generates irrigation schedules based on real-time weather conditions and soil moisture levels, optimizing water requirements for crops. The three YOLOv8 models are trained to predict growth stages, health status, and nutritional status (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). All deep learning models are optimized for lettuce crops and feature lightweight architecture for easy deployment on low-power devices. Tests on evaluation datasets demonstrate promising accuracy: the irrigation scheduling model achieves 73%, the growth stage model reaches 93.8%, the health status model attains 87%, and the nutritional status model reaches 83%. This research enhances precision agriculture by offering practical solutions for improved irrigation management and crop health monitoring. We also developed a QKDF integrated with the 5G core network, enhancing the proposed system’s security by generating secure session keys with a 256-bit length. IEEE Access is a multidisciplinary open-access journal by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), established in 2013. This journal publishes high-quality research in various fields, including electronic engineering, information technology, artificial intelligence, telecommunications, computer science, and other technology sectors. With an open-access model, IEEE Access articles are freely accessible, promoting the dissemination and application of research worldwide. IEEE Access is one of the prestigious journals in engineering and technology, achieving numerous milestones over the years. According to the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) in 2023, IEEE Access has an Impact Factor of 3.9, placing it among the high-impact journals in electrical and electronic engineering. Additionally, it is classified as Q1 (quartile 1) in many scientific research areas, indicating it ranks in the top 25% of journals according to Scopus or similar assessment systems.  

UIT students conquer short-term study abroad opportunities in Singapore Sometimes, big opportunities begin from very simple moments. A chance encounter with a post on a forum, a decision to "give it a try," and a new journey opens up. At the University of Information Technology (UIT), students are not only studying to conquer exams or academic projects but are also seeking opportunities to challenge themselves in new environments. Recently, Le Gia Khang, a fourth-year student majoring in Computer Science, was honored to receive the opportunity to participate in the DiscoverNUS program at the National University of Singapore in 2025, thanks to keeping an eye on the Forum page of the university. Le Gia Khang, Fourth-Year Computer Science Student Gia Khang shared that at first, he only registered with a mindset of challenging himself, not expecting to be selected since he understood that the program was competitive and had high requirements. However, when he received the official result, Khang felt happy and proud—not only for achieving his goal but also because it was the result of his consistent effort and perseverance throughout his studies and self-development. When asked about the difficulties of the application process, Gia Khang shared, “Preparing the application was very complex, but I was lucky to have the support of a friend who had participated in the program the previous year, and the teachers in my department also provided guidance, which helped me complete my application more thoroughly.” Speaking about his expectations for the upcoming program, Gia Khang expressed excitement about experiencing an entirely new learning environment: “I am really looking forward to the lectures on Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing at NUS. These fields have always been my passion, and learning from top professors is a rare opportunity.” Alongside his excitement for the upcoming journey to the "Lion City," Khang also shared that the university played an essential role in realizing his dream: "UIT has not only provided me with a quality education but also created opportunities for me to access the latest technology trends. The courses in the Computer Science department are highly aligned with the training programs at top universities worldwide, making me feel confident when participating in international exchange programs." DiscoverNUS is not only a “short-term study abroad” opportunity at one of Asia’s top universities—it also opens up exciting experiences in an international environment where everything is conducted in English. This will be a big challenge, but also a chance for Gia Khang to enhance his foreign language skills, communication abilities, and adaptability to multicultural environments. The advice Le Gia Khang would like to share with other UIT students is: “No pain, no gain! Don’t shy away from challenges. Step out of your comfort zone and seek new opportunities. You’ll never know what you can achieve if you don’t dare to try.” Alongside Le Gia Khang, UIT also has another student, Nguyen Le Phuong Thy—a second-year student in Information Systems at the University of Information Technology—who has also been honored with the opportunity to participate in the DiscoverNUS 2025 program. The DiscoverNUS program is a collaboration between the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. The program selects and provides opportunities for students in Southeast Asia to study at NUS for one semester. Students who complete the program have the opportunity to apply for the NUS ASEAN Master’s Scholarship Programme.

The Cyber SEA Game is an annual Capture the Flag (CTF) competition for students and young engineers (under 26) from ASEAN member countries, sponsored by the Japanese government. In 2024, the competition was held in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 24–25, 2024. Each country is represented by one team. Representing Vietnam, the UIT.Wolf_Brigade team excelled in the competition, securing Second Place. The team consists of four third-year students from the Information Security program (Faculty of Computer Networks and Communications): Lê Phú Đức, Lê Khắc Trung Nam, Lê Mậu Anh Phong, and Nguyễn Hữu Dương. This year, the First and Third Prizes at the Cyber SEA Game were awarded to teams from Singapore and Indonesia, respectively. UIT previously represented Vietnam in the Cyber SEA Game, winning First Place in 2015 and Third Place in 2018.

On the morning of October 29, 2024, UIT and several Vietnamese universities signed the "Joint Statement on Cooperation in Semiconductor Workforce Training and Development between Vietnam and Japan." This signing took place during the "Innovation and Semiconductor Workforce Development between Vietnam and Japan" seminar, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam in collaboration with the Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka and Kyushu University (Japan). At the seminar, Vietnamese universities and Kyushu University discussed various training and research activities related to semiconductor technology. Through this seminar and the signing of the joint statement, UIT aims to foster collaboration and establish strategic partnerships in the fields of semiconductor training and research in the near future. The delegation from the University of Information Technology, VNU-HCM, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Luu Thuy Ngan, Vice President; Dr. Nguyen Minh Son, Head of the Computer Engineering Department; and Dr. Doan Duy, Deputy Head of the Computer Engineering Department, engaged in in-depth discussions with professors from Kyushu University. These discussions included Kyushu University's President and the Director of the School of Science and Technology as well as the Center for Innovation, focusing on issues related to workforce development cooperation between UIT and Kyushu University in Japan.