"Staying safe in the digital world": Highlights from the Speak Up 2025 Competition

On the evening of May 22, Hanoi University of Industry (HaUI) hosted the grand finale of the English-language competition “Speak Up 2025,” drawing the enthusiastic participation of students across the university. The event created a vibrant intellectual platform where students could showcase their talent, language proficiency, and global mindset.

With its timely theme, "Staying Safe in the Digital World," the "Speak Up 2025" competition explored key challenges inherent in our increasingly digital lives. This focus effectively addressed the growing anxieties felt by young people, parents, and the broader community in an era of swift technological change. Far exceeding the scope of a typical language competition, "Speak Up 2025" offered students an interactive environment where they could share insights, apply their understanding, and enhance their grasp of how essential foreign languages are in navigating the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Organizers underscored that "Speak Up 2025" was conceived not merely as a linguistic assessment but as an essential opportunity for students to exhibit their confidence, communication proficiency, and global competence. These attributes are consistently identified as defining characteristics of HaUI students, who are actively cultivated to be proactive, innovative, and socially responsible global citizens.

During the culminating final rounds, participating teams demonstrably impressed both the audience and the judging panel. Their presentations, which encompassed a diverse range of formats including theatrical skits, musical renditions, and persuasive speeches, showcased exceptional fluency and precision in the English language. Furthermore, these performances highlighted advanced critical thinking capabilities, notable creativity, and highly effective teamwork. Each presentation was not only inherently engaging but also conveyed substantial thematic depth and meaningful content.

Following a meticulously adjudicated series of rigorous and emotionally charged rounds, the esteemed judging panel formally announced the competition's top accolades:

First Prize was awarded to the team Serene Seekers

Second Prizes were presented to the teams Safinity and The Firewalls

Third Prizes went to the teams WLB and Cyber Saviors

The Audience Choice Award was given to the team Cyber Drivers

The Best Video Award was presented to the team HLH Innovations

“Speak Up 2025” reflects HaUI’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality of education, particularly in building foreign language capacity among students. The university currently offers 10 English-taught academic programs and is in the process of developing 15 additional programs, all aligned with prestigious national and international accreditation standards such as ABET and FIBAA. These efforts aim to make English a second language across the university, supporting the institution’s strategy for educational excellence and international integration. At the same time, HaUI continues to attract international students through high-quality English-language programs, affirming its position on the regional and global education map.