On the morning of May 10, 2026, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Engineering (HCM-UTE, formerly Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education) hosted the 36th National Mechanics Olympiad 2026 – Southern Region, welcoming 606 contestants from 25 higher education institutions across Southern Vietnam.
The opening ceremony of the 36th National Mechanics Olympiad 2026 – Southern Region
Attending the program on behalf of HCM-UTE were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chau Dinh Thanh – Vice President of the University and Deputy Head of the Southern Regional Organizing Committee; Dr. Mai Duc Dai – Vice Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Duy Kien – Vice Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering.
Representing the Vietnam Association for Mechanics were Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Loc – Standing Committee Member of the Vietnam Association for Mechanics and Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee for the Southern Region; and Dr. Le Quang Thanh – Executive Committee Member of the Vietnam Association for Mechanics and member of the Organizing Committee.
The event was also attended by university leaders and representatives of competing teams from 25 higher education institutions in Southern Vietnam.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Loc stated: “The National Mechanics Olympiad is not only an academic competition but also an environment that inspires scientific research, fosters engineering thinking, and nurtures young talents in engineering and technology. Through the competition, the Vietnam Association for Mechanics continues to connect universities, lecturers, and students nationwide, thereby contributing to the enhancement of education and scientific research quality in mechanical engineering, mechatronics, civil engineering, aerospace, and other related fields.” He also expressed his gratitude to the organizations and partners accompanying the competition and wished all contestants the best results.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Loc – Standing Committee Member of the Vietnam Association for Mechanics and Deputy Head of the Southern Regional Organizing Committee
Speaking at the ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chau Dinh Thanh expressed appreciation to the Vietnam Association for Mechanics for selecting HCM-UTE as the host institution for the 36th National Mechanics Olympiad 2026 – Southern Region. He emphasized: “The National Mechanics Olympiad is a prestigious and long-standing competition that has significantly contributed to promoting learning motivation and scientific research in mechanics subjects at universities in general, especially technical universities.” He also encouraged contestants to give their best efforts and achieve outstanding results in this year’s competition.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chau Dinh Thanh – Vice President of HCM-UTE speaking at the ceremony
After 36 editions, the National Mechanics Olympiad has established itself as one of the most prestigious and long-standing academic competitions in the engineering field. The competition is organized by the Vietnam Association for Mechanics in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training, the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, and the Vietnam National Union of Students. The Olympiad not only provides students with opportunities to demonstrate critical thinking and solve complex engineering problems, but also serves as an important platform for universities to standardize training quality and contribute to developing elite human resources for the country’s industrialization and modernization.
HCM-UTE presenting commemorative gifts to representatives of the Vietnam Association for Mechanics
Representing the contestants, student Vo Hoang Phuong Duy from HCM-UTE, who competed in the Strength of Materials category, expressed gratitude to the Organizing Committee, affirmed his determination to perform at his best, and wished the competition great success.
Student Vo Hoang Phuong Duy sharing his thoughts at the program
Immediately after the opening ceremony, contestants moved to examination rooms to compete in eight subjects, including: Theoretical Mechanics, Strength of Materials, Structural Mechanics, Hydraulics, Soil Mechanics, Theory of Machines, Machine Elements, and Computer Applications in Machine Elements.
Contestants officially entering the competition with seriousness and strong determination
Alongside the competition, the Applied Mechanics Seminar was organized with the participation of lecturers and experts from various universities. During the seminar, delegates presented valuable research papers that closely connected fundamental theories with practical engineering applications. The in-depth academic discussions not only updated the latest research directions but also laid a strong foundation for future collaborative research networks among participating institutions.
The seminar featured three presentations:
• “New Trends in STEM2 Education and Applied Research: Objectives and Curriculum of Biomedical Engineering” presented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoai Son;
• “Research on the Mechanical Behavior of High-Performance Concrete under High Temperature Effects” presented by PhD candidate Nguyen Huu Nghia;
• “Three-Dimensional Analysis of Viscoelastic–Viscoplastic Behavior of Asphalt Concrete Materials” presented by PhD candidate Nguyen Ngoc Hung.
The seminar concluded successfully after a productive and professional working session. The discussions provided fresh perspectives on mechanics research and applications while creating opportunities for lecturers and experts from different institutions to strengthen connections and exchange experiences in teaching and scientific research.
Over the years, the National Mechanics Olympiad has become a highly respected annual academic playground, demonstrating the close cooperation between the Vietnam Association for Mechanics and higher education institutions. Hosting the 36th National Mechanics Olympiad 2026 – Southern Region not only further affirms HCM-UTE’s strong position and training quality in the engineering sector, but also enables the University to widely promote the spirit of research and innovation among lecturers and students throughout the region.
About the University’s Name Change
On December 26, 2025, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 2809/QĐ-TTg, officially changing the name of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education to Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Engineering (HCM-UTE). The new name reflects the University’s multidisciplinary development orientation, its strengths in technology and engineering, and its current stature.
Before 2007, the University was a leading institution in technical teacher education. Since 2007, in response to changes in the national academic discipline system, the University has strongly expanded its technology, engineering, and related disciplines. The name change aligns with Vietnam’s higher education network development plan for the 2021–2030 period with a vision toward 2050, meeting workforce demands in the era of digital transformation while reaffirming the University’s role as a national key university in technology and engineering.