Technology students learn and work on games as if they were doing a real job.

In the context of IT training facing the problem of students lacking practical experience, the project-based learning model is considered an approach that helps bridge the gap between the classroom and the workforce needs of businesses, especially in creative industries such as game development.

On the afternoon of January 21st, the University of Information Technology (UIT) of the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, in collaboration with VNG, held a ceremony to summarize the 2025 co-training project in game programming. The project was implemented as a core course, in which students learned and practiced directly in a corporate environment.

One of the three top-performing student groups presented their game development project at the closing ceremony. Photo: Organizing Committee.

According to UIT, this is the first time a course in the university's training program has been entirely conducted at a business enterprise. Instead of learning in the traditional classroom model, students are placed in a real-world work environment, participating in game development projects with requirements, processes, and timelines similar to those of a production environment.

The course "Developing Practical Game Programming Skills" (SE116), starting in September 2025, is built upon UIT's Software Engineering training orientation and VNG's game development program. Students learn through a project-based model, completing all stages from idea generation, design, programming, testing, to product completion and presentation.

From the applications received, the program selected 51 students, divided into 10 groups to implement their projects. The learning process was organized as a mini-production project, requiring students to work continuously in teams, adhere to deadlines, and be evaluated based on product quality. By mid-December 2025, all groups had completed and submitted preliminary reports; three groups with outstanding products were selected to present at the closing ceremony.

According to school representatives, learning through practical projects helps students develop product thinking early on, improve teamwork skills, and become familiar with deadline pressures – elements often lacking in theory-heavy training models. This also provides students with an opportunity to better identify career requirements and prepare themselves for entry into the labor market after graduation.

From VNG's perspective, participating in co-training allows the company to share practical experience and observe and assess students' capabilities while they are still in school. Some products were evaluated as having the potential for further development if they received more investment in technology and market orientation.

Teams present their games at the closing ceremony of the 2025 co-training game programming project. Photo: Organizing Committee

The co-training project in game programming is one of the activities within the framework of the strategic cooperation between the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City and VNG for the period 2025-2030. According to UIT representatives, this model is consistent with the orientation of linking university training with practical needs, meeting the requirements for developing high-quality human resources in technology and creative industries.

Based on the initial results, the school and businesses stated that they will continue to evaluate and refine the model, considering the possibility of expanding it to other modules or training fields. The goal is to enhance practical experience for students, helping to bridge the gap between training and the workforce needs of the market.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/giao-duc/sinh-vien-cong-nghe-hoc-va-lam-game-nhu-di-lam-that-20260121184631151.htm