HCMUTE’s S-Y-T team receiving first prize award
EPICS is an international award-winning social entrepreneurship program implemented in Vietnam by Arizona State University and its partners, including Dow Chemical Vietnam Limited Liability Company and some prestigious technical universities.
The competition is part of the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Building University-Industry Learning and Development through Innovation and Technology (BUILD-IT) project, with Dow Vietnam STEM program sponsorship.
EPICS Exhibition space at HCMUTE
Basically, it is a design-based learning model in which student teams design, build and deploy systems to solve engineering-based problems for charities, schools and other not-for-profit organizations.
With the aim of serving the community, projects partaking in EPICS cover a wide range of real-life problems, from energy, health care, to sustainable development.
In the final showcase, the competing teams then present their products to the judges from enterprises, academia and state agencies.
Three best teams will receive a cash prize of USD 500 each, together with certificates of appreciation. Dow Vietnam will also support them in their path of commercializing the projects and bringing the products to the market.
Competing teams presenting their projects to judges
This year, EPICS attracted 27 competing teams with over 150 students from six BUILD-IT partners in Vietnam, namely Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, Danang University of Science and Technology, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, and Lac Hong University.
Among them are three teams from HCMUTE, including UTE S-Y-T, Wonder Girls, and Out-novation, with projects of Smart Walking Cane for the Elderly, ABU-Friend: Aid Device for Deaf People, and CO2 Eliminator.
This is the third time EPICS has been organized in Vietnam, and the second year Dow Vietnam STEM program has accompanied the competition with their sponsorship.
“Our STEM program aims to inspire students by encouraging their entrepreneurship and innovative ideas, in order to support the development of the community and future workforce. This also raises their awareness and creates a strong sense of environmental protection,” addressed Tomoyuki Sasama, General Director of Dow Vietnam.
From students’ perspective, EPICS is a practical event that provides internationally recognized community-service-oriented learning models where they can develop their technical skills through hands-on design and creation activities.
Tran Kim Phong, leader of S-Y-T, said at the event that EPICS was a huge opportunity for students from different universities to exchange knowledge, share experience and have access to modern technologies.
“This is also a great chance to present our project ideas and get substantial support from enterprises,” said Phong.