LookAtVietnam – With the Viet Nam Students’ Association set to meet this weekend in Ha Noi to discuss problems faced by students and other issues, attention has turned to the lack of support for participants in students’ science competitions.

Over 3,113 scientific projects by 6,000 students have competed for the Eureka Students Awards since it was launched 10 years ago.

“Business executives should be invited to be on the jury.

“We would like to be questioned by business representatives at sciences competitions,” he said.

He was the head of his college’s scientific research group that created the winning entry “Solutions for development of tuna breeding and consumption in central Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen provinces.”

Over 3,113 scientific projects by 6,000 students have competed for the Eureka Students Awards since it was launched 10 years ago.

Entries can be in many fields, including economics, social sciences, natural sciences, and agriculture-forestry-fisheries.

Nguyen Minh Thanh Tra, who won the top prize in 2006, said “I only got the prize, no evaluation or comments from businesses.”

Prof. Bui Van Mien, head of the Agriculture and Forestry College’s Scientific Research Department, said: “It is a terrible waste since many award-winning projects are left forgotten on colleges’ shelves.”

“Most award-winning projects are praised by juries for their practical applicability,” he pointed out.

Pham Dinh Tuan, a student of Technical College, said: “We eagerly take part in scientific research projects and science competitions because we want to put into practice what we learn at school.”

“We also need financial assistance from colleges to have quality projects,” he said.

Colleges give VND2.5 million or VND5 million for a project.

“We worked for nearly a year, spending over VND10 million from our own pockets for the tuna project,” Tan said.

Like Tan’s group, almost everyone competing in science competitions spend their own money.

“The number of students taking part in science competitions in their colleges and the Eureka Awards is increasing every year,” Le Quoc Phong, president of the HCM City Students’ Association, said.

Phong, like many teachers and students, is worried that only a fraction of award-winning projects go on to become technology actually used in production.

“There is a big gap between scientific research and market demand,” Phong said.

“The Students’ Association will work with businesses to get their support for students’ research activities.

“Participants at the [Viet Nam Students’ Association] meeting will discuss the opening of scientific clubs at universities where students can meet scientists and business executives.”

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News