Students from Seven Asian Universities Join Forces to Tackle Educational Challenges

On September 4, the "Global Project-Based Learning (gPBL) on IoT in the era of LLMs" program, organized by the School of Educational Science and Technology at Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) in collaboration with Japan's Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) and with the participation of five other domestic and international universities, officially concluded with an emotional closing ceremony at HUST.

The gPBL program, led by SIT, was initiated in 2018 and first implemented at HUST's School of Educational Science and Technology in 2022, becoming a key annual event for the School ever since. In 2025, the program expanded to include nearly 80 undergraduate students, master's students, doctoral candidates, and lecturers from seven universities: the School of Educational Science and Technology - HUST, Shibaura Institute of Technology - Japan, Ming Chi University of Technology - Taiwan, Universiti Teknologi Petronas - Malaysia, Phenikaa University, VNU University of Engineering and Technology, and the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City.
  Speaking at the closing ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Lê Hiếu Học, Dean of the School of Educational Science and Technology, expressed his pride that this year's program not only expanded in international scale but also underscored the importance of IoT and LLMs in addressing sustainable development challenges, including those in the environment, healthcare, energy, transportation, logistics, and education. "This is an opportunity for students and lecturers from all participating universities to learn from and share experiences with one another, while also opening up new directions for research and practical applications," shared Assoc. Prof. Lê Hiếu Học.

Throughout the 10-day program, participants were divided into inter-university and interdisciplinary teams to solve real-world problems in education and society using IoT and artificial intelligence. From designing learning support solutions to building autonomous vehicles and energy-saving smart homes, each project demonstrated creativity, teamwork, and the ability to connect across multiple disciplines.
  The two most outstanding projects of the course were named: "Autonomous Vehicles Utilizing LLM," which won the Jury's Choice Award, and "Home Habit Coach: LLM-Enhanced Smart Home for Energy Savings & Comfort," which received the Students' Choice Award.

Alongside academic activities, program participants also experienced Vietnamese culture through a trip to Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh province), witnessed the uniquely meaningful atmosphere of the 80th Anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (September 2), interacted with HUST students, and engaged in community-building activities.
 
The program concluded with hugs and many promises to "see you again in Tokyo/Kuala Lumpur/Taipei!" For the HUST students of Educational Technology and Educational Management, the memories of gPBL 2025 are more than just certificates or souvenir photos; they are cross-border friendships and, above all, an aspiration to transform technology into solutions for the educational challenges in people's lives.