The 8th “Econometric and Applied Olympiad” contest organized by the Central Committee of HCM Youth Union, Academy of Finance and Institute of Mathematics, aims to promote the application of mathematical models, econometric models, data science and artificial intelligence in scientific research. Each year, the competition attracts more than 300 students from 30 universities across the country.

In the final round, the teams representing the University of Economics - VNU achieved a great victory with 01 First Prize (Topic: "On the liquidity connectedness between cryptocurrencies and other financial assets" guided by Dr. Le Hong Thai), 01 Second Prize (Topic: "Does environmental regulation affect corporate capital structure decisions? Empirical evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China" guided by Dr. Luu Ngoc Hiep and MSc. Luu Hanh Nguyen), and 01 Encouragement Prize (Topic: "The relationship between gold price, oil price, and stock market returns in Vietnam" guided by MSc. Luong Tram Anh).

 

 

Under the guidance and encouragement of young lecturers from the Department of Finance and Banking, University of Economics, the students have made efforts and achieved deserving results after a long process of studying and researching. Participating in the competition not only helps students enhance their specialized knowledge but also supports the development of essential soft skills for future global students. Moreover, the competition provides an opportunity for young students to get closer to scientific research and modern research methods, standardize their presentation skills, and access diverse data sources. Through the competition, students face challenges and gradually assert their research capabilities while still in school.

"No pain, no gain"

There is no journey to success that is all smooth sailing, and the journey to conquer the awards at the 8th edition of the "Olympiad in Quantitative and Applied Economics" for the faculty and students of the University of Economics - VNU is no exception. "My student group consists of three members who have certain experience in conducting research projects, but they come from three different departments and two different universities, with significant differences in specialized knowledge. Therefore, it was quite challenging for them to find a research topic that all three of them were interested in. Furthermore, since they were not in the same class and did not have the same schedule, arranging meeting times and group discussions often had to take place in the late evenings. However, they supported each other and knew how to allocate tasks according to each person's strengths, so the work was completed relatively well and on time," shared Dr. Le Hong Thai, lecturer of the Department of Finance and Banking, about the difficulties in guiding the student team during the competition.

In addition, translating knowledge into the competition topics brought many challenges for both the students and the instructors. How to demonstrate the practical significance and contributions in terms of economic and social aspects when presenting scientific research projects is a major challenge not only for the students but also for the guiding lecturers. The secret of Dr. Le Hong Thai is "Link what you are studying with what is happening in real life."

With a teaching method closely tied to reality, delving deep into problem analysis when placed in practical situations, guiding students to come up with solutions from their own perspectives, Dr. Thai has helped students deepen their understanding and easily find solutions to challenging problems in their competition topics. At the same time, it also helps students develop logical thinking, form their essay writing style, and present their ideas in a clear, concise, yet understandable manner.

Deserving "sweet fruits" for the "real warriors"

"The feeling of victory is not just personal happiness but also pride because I have been recognized for the efforts and knowledge I have invested in the competition. Receiving this award is also a great motivation for us to continue developing and pursuing our passion in the field of research," shared Bui Ha Phuong, a student from the QH-2020-E-TCNH CLC 1 cohort (the group that achieved the First Prize), expressing happiness about the outstanding achievements of the students and the instructors at this year's competition.

The students and guiding instructors have been together since the early days, facing the challenges of new quantitative methods, hesitations in writing and presenting research papers in English according to international standards, to the point where they understand and proficiently apply advanced data analysis methods, confidently defending their research projects in front of numerous experts, lecturers, and researchers nationwide. Despite the fierce competition from the competition, the students always demonstrate a high level of determination, putting in their utmost effort and fighting to win.

"I feel very proud and honored of my students. I am particularly impressed with the practical example of the decline in the Luna currency in 2022, vividly illustrating the economic and social significance of the research topic. Furthermore, I am extremely pleased with how the students answered the critical questions posed by the evaluating panel. Their answers were concise, to the point, and focused," Dr. Le Hong Thai couldn't hide his proud smile when witnessing his students' growth and success every day.

The outstanding achievements at the "Olympiad in Quantitative and Applied Economics" once again prove the competence of UEBers in their studies, especially in applied scientific research. The competition not only provides a platform for students to connect with like-minded economics enthusiasts, experienced experts, and researchers but also helps them build a strong network and opens up opportunities for future collaborations. It enables students to improve their skills and prepare the necessary toolkit to confidently embark on upcoming journeys.