After successfully advancing through multiple evaluation rounds, the eight most outstanding teams competed in the final round of the SPARK UP 2026 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, organized by the Faculty of Commerce and Tourism at Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City (IUH). Beyond presenting their ideas, students were challenged to defend the feasibility of their projects before a panel of business leaders and industry experts.
On the afternoon of June 6, at the Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, the eight finalist teams entered the last stage of competition after progressing through several selection rounds.
On the afternoon of June 6, at the Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, the eight finalist teams entered the last stage of competition after progressing through several selection rounds.
Contestants and members of the judging panel.
The atmosphere in the auditorium remained energetic as student teams confidently presented their projects. Each team had only a limited amount of time to showcase its idea yet had to convince the judges of the project's creativity, implementation potential, economic effectiveness, and social impact.
Some teams focused on addressing sustainable development challenges in logistics, while others explored ways to leverage local cultural values to develop experiential tourism. Several projects focused on digital transformation and technological applications to enhance customer experience in commerce, services, and tourism.
Notably, most ideas originated from real-world issues that students had observed during their studies, internships, or business experiences. This practical foundation helped the projects move beyond theoretical concepts and address genuine societal needs.
While the presentation segment highlighted students’ creativity, the question-and-answer session revealed their resilience and critical thinking skills. Judges challenged the teams with questions about financial models, commercialization potential, customer development strategies, and implementation risks. These questions required students to think quickly, construct logical arguments, and confidently defend their viewpoints.
Some teams focused on addressing sustainable development challenges in logistics, while others explored ways to leverage local cultural values to develop experiential tourism. Several projects focused on digital transformation and technological applications to enhance customer experience in commerce, services, and tourism.
Notably, most ideas originated from real-world issues that students had observed during their studies, internships, or business experiences. This practical foundation helped the projects move beyond theoretical concepts and address genuine societal needs.
While the presentation segment highlighted students’ creativity, the question-and-answer session revealed their resilience and critical thinking skills. Judges challenged the teams with questions about financial models, commercialization potential, customer development strategies, and implementation risks. These questions required students to think quickly, construct logical arguments, and confidently defend their viewpoints.
The judging panel presents awards to the winning teams.
Several groups impressed the audience with their in-depth market analyses, demonstrating serious investment in their projects. Many ideas received high praise for their potential to address challenges faced by businesses and communities in the rapidly growing digital economy.
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Quốc Cường, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Tourism, SPARK UP is not merely a competition to identify entrepreneurial ideas, but also an environment where students can develop innovative thinking, problem-solving skills, and adaptability to professional realities.
“In a labor market that is changing rapidly, students need more than professional knowledge. They must possess creative thinking, an entrepreneurial spirit, and the ability to create new values. Through SPARK UP, we aim to provide opportunities for students to transform classroom ideas into projects with real-world application potential, gradually fostering an entrepreneurial mindset while they are still at university,” shared Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Quốc Cường.
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Quốc Cường, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Tourism, SPARK UP is not merely a competition to identify entrepreneurial ideas, but also an environment where students can develop innovative thinking, problem-solving skills, and adaptability to professional realities.
“In a labor market that is changing rapidly, students need more than professional knowledge. They must possess creative thinking, an entrepreneurial spirit, and the ability to create new values. Through SPARK UP, we aim to provide opportunities for students to transform classroom ideas into projects with real-world application potential, gradually fostering an entrepreneurial mindset while they are still at university,” shared Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Quốc Cường.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Quốc Cường, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Tourism.
The Faculty of Commerce and Tourism currently offers programs in international business, e-commerce, tourism, restaurant management, and hotel management, with a strong emphasis on aligning education with business needs and professional practice. In recent years, the faculty has consistently organized academic competitions, professional contests, and business networking activities to create an environment in which students can develop their knowledge, skills, and innovative thinking.As the final round concluded, deserving winners were recognized with awards. However, the greatest value of SPARK UP 2026 may not lie in rankings or prizes, but in the journey that helped students learn how to observe the world around them, identify real problems, and confidently propose innovative solutions.
