Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – On October 25, 2019, the Final Automation Project-Based Learning Competition was held at the Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City. To enhance the next generation of Vietnamese automation engineering graduates, Rockwell Automation, a key partner in the USAID Building University-Industry Learning and Development through Innovation and Technology (BUILD-IT) Alliance, provided support and training to five technology-focused universities during the competition. This was the first Automation Project-Based Learning Competition held in Vietnam.
At the Final Competition, 15 student pairs from five engineering and technology-focused universities competed to program system control kits to simulate advanced automation functions. A panel of industry judges ranked each team’s efficiency, accuracy, and team performance. By surpassing their competitors, Hoang Manh Duc and Nguyen Quyet Thang from Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City won the competition and were awarded an all-expense paid trip to visit Rockwell Automation’s Regional Headquarters in Singapore. The winners will visit Rockwell’s Connected Enterprise Center to learn about Smart Manufacturing from Rockwell’s engineering team. Visiting Rockwell’s Headquarters is a much sought-after prize for young automation engineers.
During the one-year span of the competition, Rockwell Automation and educational allies contributed training kits, staff time, learning materials, and prizes to encourage students to master new technologies and encourage faculty to bring these advanced tools into their automation lessons. “As the largest company in the world solely dedicated to industrial automation and information, Rockwell Automation is committed to educating a productive and independent workforce that will enable Vietnam global competitiveness”, Mr. Le Van Hai, Country Manager for Rockwell Automation Vietnam, shared at the event.
Rockwell Automation and USAID BUILD-IT will continue to support micro-automation labs at partner universities to help the faculty transform lessons learned from the competition into their lesson plans for years to come. Reflecting on the competition’s partnership, Jeff Goss, Associate Vice-Provost of Southeast Asia Programs at Arizona State University stated, “The shared value partnership between USAID BUILD-IT Alliance partners demonstrated that coordinated support from industry and academia can synergize quick advancements in automation education.”
Congratulating BUILD-IT partners on the successful competition, USAID Section Chief in Ho Chi Minh City, Stephen Berlinguette confirmed USAID’s commitment to helping build world-class engineering programs in Vietnam, “Good engineering skills are learned by experimenting, doing, and trying. All of the teams that participated in this competition now know much more about automation than they did a year ago.”
About Rockwell Automation Inc.
Bringing The Connected Enterprise® to Life
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, connects the imaginations of people with the intelligence of machines to expand what is humanly possible, and bring The Connected Enterprise® to life. Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, USA. Rockwell Automation employs 23,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.
About The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
USAID leads international development and humanitarian efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people progress beyond assistance. USAID's work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity, demonstrates American generosity, and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience. Please visit www.usaid.gov or follow https://www.facebook.com/USAID/ for more information.
About USAID BUILD-IT
The USAID BUILD-IT Alliance is a five-year public-private partnership founded to support world-class engineering programs and create work-ready graduates in Vietnam. Implemented by Arizona State University, the Alliance has over 16 industry partners and 11 Vietnamese university partners. Collaboration between the Alliance members strengthens university-industry linkages, and introduces project-based learning programs such as the Automation Project-Based Learning Competition.
Arizona State University
Arizona State University was ranked #1 Most Innovative University in America by U.S. News & World Report for five consecutive years 2014. With over 100,000 students, ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but rather by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.
The Polyco Group
Polyco was established on May 05, 1995. The company specializes in studying, consulting, designing, fabricating and installing equipment line for the following industries: electrical engineering, water resource works, and civil infrastructure.
Qui Long Refrigeration
Qui Long Refrigeration Electrical Engineering Technology Co., Ltd is Electrical Engineering, Refrigeration, Clean Room Technology company founded in Vietnam.
First Solar, Inc.
First Solar, Inc. is an American photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer of rigid thin film modules, or solar panels, and a provider of utility-scale PV power plants and supporting services that include finance, construction, maintenance and end-of-life panel recycling. The company was founded in 1990 by inventor Harold McMaster as Solar Cells. First Solar opened its first factory in Vietnam in 2018. First Solar is based in Tempe, Arizona.
Published November 18, 2019
