At 08:00 AM on May 29, 2026, the Semifinals of the English Speaking Contest "SPEAK UP 2026" officially took place in a hybrid format (combining online and offline participation) at Hall A, Dong Nai Technology University (DNTU). Featuring a highly topical global theme: “Voices for a Sustainable Future”, the event delivered an explosive and inspiring intellectual feast.

Far more than just an academic language competition, "SPEAK UP 2026"—organized by the Faculty of Foreign Languages—serves as a platform to foster critical thinking, teamwork, and, most importantly, to raise students' awareness of humanity's vital issue: Sustainable Development.

Holding the scales of justice to find the most outstanding "flagships" for the Grand Finale was a highly professional Panel of Judges, featuring prestigious lecturers from the Faculty of Foreign Languages:

Mr. Zafar Junaid, M.A.

Ms. Tran Thi Minh Thu, M.A.

Mr. Dhiraj Mishra, M.A.

Surpassing the Preliminary Round, the 08 finest "dark horses" officially emerged and marked their names on the dramatic Semifinal racetrack. They included the highly courageous teams: Wonder Pups, ANINAG, RenewGen, WAW: We Are Warriors, Yogyakarta Oneformatics, CTXH, The Champion, and Glowing Up.

In this round, the pressure was pushed to its absolute peak with an incredibly fierce set of rules. Each team had a maximum of only 10 minutes to showcase their global mindset in English through presentations on sustainability topics (such as environmental protection, education, technology, green lifestyles...). Going even further, immediately after their presentations, the teams had to enter a high-stakes Question and Answer (Q&A) session. This was where the contestants' courage, quick reflexes, and depth of knowledge were put to the ultimate test under challenging questions from the Panel of Judges.

Aside from the intellectual rivalry, the Semifinals of "SPEAK UP 2026" was truly a premier festival for cultural and academic exchange, where geographical distance was erased by Hybrid technology and the global mindset of the contestants.

The special highlight that elevated the stature of this year's season was the international imprint from the Yogyakarta Oneformatics team (Indonesia). The physical presence of the representatives from the "Land of a Thousand Islands" at Hall A not only brought a fascinating multicultural perspective to the sustainable development equation but also stood as a testament to the competition's high prestige and strong appeal beyond national borders.

Performance of Yogyakarta Oneformatics team (Indonesia)

The intersection of these diverse colors resonated and ignited a fiery atmosphere across the entire DNTU auditorium. From the digital space, the online warriors including Wonder Pups, ANINAG, RenewGen, and WAW: We Are Warriors kicked off the event with meticulously prepared presentations, confident demeanors, and sharp critical thinking through the big screen.

Performance of Wonder Pups team (Philippines)

Phần dự thi của đội WAW: We Are Warriors (Philippines)

Performance of ANINAG team (Philippines)

Performance of RenewGen team (Philippines)

Immediately following that, the atmosphere in the hall continued to reach its climax with direct "battles of wits" from the host representatives of Vietnam: CTXH, The Champion, and Glowing Up.

Performance of CTXH team (DNTU - Vietnam)

Performance of The Champion team (DNTU - Vietnam)

Performance of Glowing Up team (DNTU - Vietnam)

Performance of Let's Do It team (DNTU - Vietnam)

Each team brought a unique color and personality: from profound academic thinking and captivating presentation styles to masterful stage presence. The heat of the competition did not just lie in the scores or the ticking countdown of the timer; it radiated from the steadfast eyes, the ironclad arguments, and the burning desire of young people to find solutions for a green future and a sustainable planet. Together, they created a vibrant, dramatic, and deeply inspiring academic atmosphere for all lecturers and students present at the event.

DNTU, June 12, 2026

Reporter: Huynh Le Minh Trang