One of the proud holders of the runner-up title at the FPTU AI & Robotics Challenge 2025 (FARC 2025) is team Inaus from Nguyen Gia Thieu High School (Hanoi). Behind that impressive achievement is the story of effort, determination, and the “dare to think, dare to act” spirit of a group of passionate 12th graders.
Challenges until the… 89th minute
Formed by members of the school’s Steam Gia Thieu Club, Inaus entered FARC 2025 with the goal of learning and connecting at a large-scale, professional playground. To secure the runner-up spot, all five members—Nguyen Phuong Thao (class 12A4), Duong Hoang Duc Minh (class 12A4), Bui Gia Hieu (class 12A4), Dao Ngoc Linh (class 12A1), and Do Le Thien (class 12A7)—had to overcome significant hurdles.
The biggest challenge was scheduling. “Our packed school timetable made it difficult to meet in person to assemble the robot and discuss plans. So we divided the work and assigned clear tasks so each member could work independently,” said team captain Nguyen Phuong Thao. Each week, the team held an online meeting to review completed, ongoing, and pending tasks, share new ideas, and address issues for the upcoming week.
During the competition, the team also faced disagreements and technical setbacks. “At the regional round, when choosing the team driver, we decided on a member from the mechanics section. Since it was their first time controlling the robot in competition—and not being the one who programmed the controller—they felt nervous, which led to poor scores in the first two matches. If this had continued, we risked elimination. That night at the Hoa Lac campus, we sat down together to talk—not to assign blame but to find solutions,” Thao recalled. Switching drivers gave Inaus a more confident operator, but more importantly, it taught the team how to share, empathize, and grow closer.
Throughout the competition, Inaus received strong support from Nguyen Gia Thieu High School’s leadership, especially mentor Ngo Minh Hieu. “She was always there to encourage us during moments of fatigue and frustration—when the robot wouldn’t run after countless tries or when we didn’t know where to start. She guided us through key aspects, from mechanics to programming,” Thao said.
More than just a competition
For Inaus, FARC 2025 was not just a contest but also a valuable learning experience. “FARC 2025 was a great place to test ourselves while learning and networking. During preparation, we gained deeper knowledge in AI and robotics—topics we hadn’t encountered before,” Thao said.
“What I remember most is stepping into the competition arena. We had to play eight matches in the national final, where even the smallest mistake could end our run. In those moments, our synergy and team spirit were higher than ever,” she recalled.
The contest also gave members the chance to develop soft skills such as time management, teamwork, and handling pressure. “The best lesson we learned was to stay calm and fix problems instead of blaming each other,” Thao emphasized.
For the team, the runner-up title brought confidence and reaffirmed their potential to pursue technology-related careers. “After the contest, we are even more certain about our passion. FPT University left a strong impression on us—not just for its modern facilities but also for its experience in hosting tech competitions and its real-world achievements. It’s definitely a school we’ll consider when choosing our majors and universities,” Thao affirmed.
FARC 2025 is one of the largest technology competitions for high school students nationwide, attracting nearly 800 teams. Its main goal is to promote STEM education, inspire a love for technology among young people, and identify talent in AI and robotics. The competition’s total prize pool reached 13 billion VND, with each runner-up team receiving 35 million VND in cash and a two-year scholarship at FPT University for each member.