On September 7, 2026, a team of students from the University of Languages and International Studies (ULIS) and the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), won First Prize in the final round of the “Youth Innovation – Action for Clean Air” Competition with their project, “Smart Campus Air Shield – An Intelligent Air Quality Monitoring and Alert System for School Campuses.”
The “Youth Innovation – Action for Clean Air” Competition was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in collaboration with UNICEF, with the aim of encouraging young people to develop creative initiatives and solutions to improve air quality and protect community health.
This year’s competition attracted 103 applications, of which 96 teams met the eligibility requirements, representing approximately 70 universities across the country. Competing against numerous ideas and innovative solutions, the “Smart Campus Air Shield” project by the VNU student team was awarded First Prize in the final round.
The “Youth Innovation – Action for Clean Air” Competition was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in collaboration with UNICEF, with the aim of encouraging young people to develop creative initiatives and solutions to improve air quality and protect community health.
This year’s competition attracted 103 applications, of which 96 teams met the eligibility requirements, representing approximately 70 universities across the country. Competing against numerous ideas and innovative solutions, the “Smart Campus Air Shield” project by the VNU student team was awarded First Prize in the final round.
Turning Air Quality Data into Actions to Protect Health
“Smart Campus Air Shield – An Intelligent Air Quality Monitoring and Alert System for School Campuses” is an IoT ecosystem integrated with artificial intelligence, developed to monitor air quality and contribute to protecting the health of students and the school community from the impacts of air pollution.
A notable feature of the project is that the solution goes beyond a theoretical concept. The team has assembled the system and put it into pilot operation in Hanoi. By applying technology to collect, process, and transform air quality data into meaningful information, the system aims to help users identify potential risks and proactively take appropriate actions to protect their health.
Through the project, the student team seeks to convey the message “Turning invisible data into actions to protect health,” thereby making every breath in the school environment safer through technology.
When data can “speak” and technology becomes a proactive shield, individuals can gain greater knowledge and access to practical tools to protect themselves from the risks posed by air pollution.
A Testament to Interdisciplinary and Inter-university Innovation
The project was developed by a team of five students from the University of Languages and International Studies and the University of Engineering and Technology, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
The team includes four students from the Faculty of English Language and Culture, ULIS:
- Nguyễn Thu Thuỷ (QH24.E3);
- Phạm Thị Loan (QH23.E24);
- Trần Đức Vũ (QH23.E24);
- Trịnh Phương Thảo (QH23.E24).
The team member from the Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications, UET is Phạm Quốc Hưng (K69E-RE1).
Winning First Prize in the “Youth Innovation – Action for Clean Air” Competition not only recognizes the team’s idea and efforts but also demonstrates the potential of interdisciplinary and inter-university innovation.
Bringing together students from different academic disciplines to address a real-world challenge created an opportunity to connect strengths in language, communication, and social thinking with technological knowledge and expertise.
The team’s achievement also marks a positive milestone in student innovation activities, encouraging students to proactively connect knowledge across disciplines, turn ideas into practical solutions, and contribute to addressing challenges facing the community.
Mai Anh/ĐSTT
