VinUniversity Students Win First Prize at QS ImpACT Skills Challenge

At VinUniversity, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are not treated as a checklist. From research centers, student communities, academic programs, to campus decorations, the SDGs are highlighted as a practical frame for how students are encouraged to engage with the world’s most pressing challenges.

That commitment recently translated into a concrete result. A student team from VinUniversity has won First Prize in the Beginner Track of the QS ImpACT Skills Challenge 2026 (Game Design Track) – a global annual competition organized by QS Quacquarelli Symonds, structured around SDGs. VinUniversity becomes the first Vietnamese university to win at this level in a QS global student competition.

The QS ImpACT Skills Challenge is designed to equip students with future-ready skills through real-world, challenge-based learning tied directly to the SDGs. This year’s edition drew more than 160 teams from over 44 countries, competing across innovation-driven tracks including game design.

VinUniversity’s Participation: A Breadth of Innovation

Nine VinUniversity teams entered the competition: VIREYA, MAJORAGA, REBLOOM, HiTides, SOVEREIGNTY, Vinexus, INVICTUS, NPC Studio, and the VinUni Gaming Society Team. Of these, six advanced to the final round – five in the Beginner Track and one in the Advanced Track.

Finalists for the Beginner Track

Finalists for the Advanced Track

NPC Studio claimed First Prize in the Beginner Track with Silvoria, a story-driven, no-combat conservation RPG in which the player takes on the role of Ren, a young conservationist working to restore a medicinal forest in decline. Progress is measured through habitats recovered, species documented, and community trust earned – all while navigating the tension between ecological survival and economic pressure. The game addresses SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), and was recognized for its creativity, technical execution, and meaningful real-world impact.

The pitching video is available here, and the game can be accessed here.

Institutional Support: A Multidisciplinary Ecosystem

This achievement reflects the collaborative support of VinUniversity’s broader academic ecosystem. Faculty mentorship was provided by Professor Julia Heather Smith (College of Health Sciences), Professor Christine Mitchell (College of Arts and Sciences), and Ms. Quynh Vu, Writer in Residence. The VinUni Gaming Society played a central role as a student-led community that sustained participation throughout the competition.

VinUni Library contributed as an AI-enabled learning hub through various initiatives:

• Providing students with access to global knowledge resources.
• Hosting collaborative spaces, including the 24/7 Learning Space.
• Facilitating the campus-wide competition launch.
• Connecting students with digital tools and innovation platforms.

This integrated support demonstrates how the university’s infrastructure and community enable students to move from academic learning into applied, real-world impact.

Looking Ahead: From Competition to Global Dialogue

Selected winners from the QS ImpACT Skills Challenge will be invited to present at the QS Youth Summit in London. VinUniversity expects to have student representation at this event, where participants will have the opportunity to share their work with an international audience of peers and leaders.

In addition, VinUniversity will host a Gaming Festival in May to celebrate this milestone. The festival will feature physical and digital exhibitions of student-designed games, live demos and interactive showcases, and panel discussions on game design, AI, and innovation.

This achievement marks a meaningful step forward for VinUniversity’s student community – and for Vietnam’s visibility in global higher education and innovation.