Beat 140 Teams to Win MECA: Who Are the Faces Behind IUH’s Championship Victory? 15-07-2025
Amid a prestigious national-level engineering competition featuring 14 top universities—including Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, and the Military Technical Academy—a familiar name once again rose to the top: Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City (IUH). But who are the young talents behind the MECA 2025 Championship trophy? And who was the silent strategist leading IUH to maintain its champion status for the second year in a row?
When IUH Students Are Warriors and Their Lecturers Are the Generals
NexCore is a team of four students from IUH’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering, each responsible for a different technical domain: design, programming, mechanics, and control systems. Leading the team is Phạm Đặng Phương Nam, a calm yet determined team captain who coordinated and united the group. Nam recalled the moment their team was announced as champions: “That moment was overwhelming. All our efforts, the sleepless nights spent with our model—everything was finally recognized.”
Phạm Đặng Phương Nam – Student, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, IUH – Captain of Team NexCore
NexCore’s success was not only built on teamwork but also the result of a long, methodical, and well-prepared journey. Starting in December of the previous year, the team brainstormed ideas and held at least three meetings per week, continuously challenging and refining their project with a strong focus on practical application. Beyond their solid technical skills, the team was tested under pressure, most notably during the final round when their system was remotely disrupted, forcing an urgent technical recovery.
Euphoria erupted as NexCore – IUH was named Champion
The Silent Strategists Behind the Scenes
Lecturers Võ Trung Thư and Hoàng Thị Tú Uyên from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering were the devoted mentors who guided the IUH team through MECA for the third time. Witnessing their students lift the trophy, Ms. Uyên shared with emotion: “It was such a proud moment seeing our students raise the championship trophy. It’s an incredible honor for IUH to maintain the top position for two consecutive years.”
Their role went far beyond technical guidance. They were the strategic architects behind each success, from analyzing the competition and shaping the product development direction to cultivating creative thinking and a competitive spirit in the students. With a clear philosophy the two lecturers were involved in every step, from early group meetings to the first technical drawings. Mr. Thư added: “This year’s victory was thoroughly convincing. Even other teams admitted: IUH’s strategy was powerful.”
Representatives of Mitsubishi Electric Vietnam presented gifts to the instructors, including those from IUH’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering.
MECA 2025 marks IUH’s fourth participation in the competition, and once again, the university has left a strong impression with 2 First Prizes, 3 Second Prizes, and multiple subsidiary awards. This success is not merely the achievement of one team but the result of a robust and integrated educational ecosystem, powered by active involvement from the university administration, faculty leadership, departmental staff, advisors, and former students who continue to inspire and support younger generations.
As the journey concludes, Mr. Thư sends this message: “Our students are not just bringing home a trophy—they are carrying with them a strong foundation for the future. That foundation encompasses resilience, practical thinking, and the spirit of perseverance. And we, their teachers, will always be here walking the journey alongside them.”