TPO - The AI ​​or Behind contest for high school students nationwide has just been launched, using international standard tests, with the first prize worth 100 million VND.

On the morning of October 31, the Military Industry and Telecommunications Group (Viettel) and IIG Vietnam Education Organization officially launched AI or Behind, an international standard artificial intelligence (AI) competition for high school students nationwide.

AI or Behind is the first competition in Vietnam to use tests according to international AI standards to evaluate student capacity.

Tests are provided by Pearson - Certiport, the world's leading information technology testing unit headquartered in the US, with a network of more than 14,000 authorized testing centers in nearly 150 countries and territories, organizing millions of tests each year.

With the message "No AI is left behind", AI or Behind aims to create a prestigious academic playground, helping students in all localities access and apply AI safely, responsibly and effectively right from school, especially creating opportunities for students in rural, remote and remote areas to use modern technology.

The competition consists of three rounds, lasting from November 2026 to April 2027. The closing ceremony and awarding ceremony are expected to take place in May 2027.

In the grassroots competition round, taking place from November 2 to December 30, 2026, students take individual exams at school, on computers in Vietnamese or English.

Students will be assessed on their foundational knowledge and skills in working with generative AI, including 4 contents: generative AI methods and models; command writing techniques (prompt); ethical, legal and social impact; practical application.

Students achieving 700/1,000 points will be issued an electronic certificate from the Organizing Committee. Then, each school selects up to 15 groups (3–5 students/group) to enter the National qualifiers.

The National Qualifier is scheduled for March 14, 2027. Here, teams participating in the test assess their ability to use tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, build and refine commands, verify results and use AI responsibly.

Candidates achieving 700/1,000 points will be awarded an international Generative AI Foundations certificate provided by Pearson - Certiport. The 40 groups with the highest results entered the final round.

The National Finals are scheduled for April 11, 2027 in Hanoi, Da Nang and City. Ho Chi Minh. In this round, candidates take the international test AI - IT Specialist, assessing their understanding of AI concepts and how to use AI to solve problems, from problem identification, data processing to model deployment and monitoring.

Qualified candidates will be granted an international certificate with global validity. The 10 best teams continue to carry out AI projects according to the organizers' topic, competing for final prizes.

The total prize money for the contest is 280 million VND, including 1 first prize of 100 million VND, 2 second prizes of 40 million VND each, 3 third prizes of 20 million VND each and 4 consolation prizes of 10 million VND each.

According to Mr. Thai Van Tai - Director of the General Education Department, Ministry of Education and Training - said: "AI or Behind is not just a contest, this is also a very timely, large-scale educational activity nationwide, approaching the content being implemented in general education in Vietnam and according to international standards, so that students have the opportunity to experience and develop their strengths and passions through this playground."