Grand Final of the Youth Innovation for Sustainable Development Competition honors five outstanding initiatives

27/11/2025

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On the evening of November 26, the Grand Final of the Youth Innovation for Sustainable Development Competition took place at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (USSH - VNU), marking the conclusion of a journey to identify and nurture innovative student-led initiatives for a more sustainable future.

The Judging Panel comprised three experienced experts in sustainable development, education, and youth engagement: Ms. Tran Hong Diep, Director of For Vietnamese Stature Foundation (VSF); Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang, Head of the Department of International Development Studies, USSH; and Ms. Vuong Hong Ngoc, Youth Programme Officer, UNDP Viet Nam.

At the final round, eight teams presented their initiatives, engaged in debates, and responded to questions from the Judging Panel. Beyond demonstrating strong project design and presentation skills, the students also showed openness to feedback and a willingness to refine their ideas based on direct professional input from the experts.

The Judging Panel highly appreciated the overall quality of the finalist projects. Although only five initiatives were selected to receive implementation support, all participating teams demonstrated enthusiasm, creative thinking, and a strong commitment to contributing positively to the community—true to the spirit of sustainable development.

Following a thorough review and objective evaluation based on criteria such as alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, innovation and creativity, practical applicability, sustainability, and scalability, the five selected initiatives are:

“Greenverse – A Board Game Universe for the Environment” - Greenverse
“Recycling Coffee Grounds into Organic Batteries” - COFFEENERGY
“Kintsugi” - NHA CAM
“APL Future Path” - Humans of APL
“Sunshine After the Storm” - Co Gai Mo Duong

The selected initiatives cover a diverse range of themes, including environmental protection, youth career guidance, gender equality promotion, and disaster response. This diversity reflects a comprehensive and responsible approach by students to today’s sustainable development challenges.

Each team will receive VND 20 million to implement their project in the next phase. In addition, the teams will continue working closely with experts from VSF to further refine their initiatives. VSF will provide ongoing mentorship and technical support to ensure effective implementation and meaningful community impact.

Some memorable moments at the competition: