According to Tran Huu Cong, deputy director of global product technical services at FPT Software, businesses face a shortage of engineers capable of directly solving real-world application problems in the era of smart technology.

"Only through practical experience can students be ready to meet the immense global human resource demands of technology corporations", he emphasized.

Therefore, Finland Metropolia Vietnam, a collaborative program between FPT University, FPT Group, and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences (Finland), implements a project-centered training model, integrating learning with real-world problems from the start of the program.

Finland Metropolia Vietnam students demonstrate game operation on a web UI platform. *Photo: Finland Metropolia Vietnam*

From the first year, 100% of smart information technology students in the program must participate in project modules and complete technological products at a trial level. In the first semester, each class is divided into groups to implement a project lasting about eight weeks, requiring a product capable of real-world operation.

A notable project involves building a browser-based aircraft simulation game, utilizing a global aviation dataset with tens of thousands of records. By the end of the module, groups must develop products capable of operating in a real environment, rather than just theoretical models.

According to program representatives, the training focuses on how students approach problems, connect data, systems, and user experience, rather than just providing many theories. This allows learners to quickly become familiar with product thinking and how technical components operate within a complete system.

"When transitioning from data processing to web interface development, I realized many of my shortcomings and proactively sought additional design tools to refine the product", shared Quang Tue, an information technology student at Finland Metropolia Vietnam.

According to Dr. Pham Van Dai, Head of the Smart Information Technology Faculty at Finland Metropolia Vietnam, the program structures project modules following software development processes adopted by businesses, such as agile and software development lifecycle (SDLC). This approach helps students quickly adapt to real-world work rhythms and shortens their adjustment period after graduation.

"When students are only accustomed to solving isolated exercises, it is very difficult for them to adapt to a real product development environment, where every technical decision is linked to scalability, operation, and user experience", he stated.

Dr. Pham Van Dai, Head of the Smart Information Technology Faculty at Finland Metropolia Vietnam. *Photo: Finland Metropolia Vietnam*

To address this limitation, the program designs a series of 6-8 project modules over three years with increasing complexity. A distinctive feature of the model is that learners must revisit and improve products developed in previous modules, identifying initial design flaws and adjusting their thinking to optimize system scalability and maintenance.

"Beyond fixing bugs, we also have to consider system scalability and the coordination between different parts of the product. This makes the entire team work more strategically and communicate more", added Thanh Dat, an information technology student at Finland Metropolia Vietnam.

Students practice teamwork skills during project implementation. *Photo: Finland Metropolia Vietnam*

As AI and automation continue to reshape the information technology industry, businesses increasingly value the ability to implement real-world problems, collaborate in teams, and work in modern software development environments. Therefore, Tran Huu Cong views linking education with practical application problems as crucial for students' adaptability after graduation.

He noted that this combination helps students immediately apply their knowledge, thereby bridging the gap between education and practical needs. Equipped with real-world application problems, students can apply knowledge quickly and optimally.

"This is also a key factor helping information technology professionals maintain a competitive edge and meet the increasingly stringent standards of the global labor market in the age of AI", he added.

Additionally, with the goal of providing international quality learning opportunities for Vietnamese students, Finland Metropolia Vietnam has launched a scholarship fund worth up to 30 billion VND for the 2026 admission season. The program applies to two key training fields: smart information technology and business - logistics, international business.

Nhat Le

Readers can learn more about Finland Metropolia Vietnam at:

- Fanpage: facebook.com/Finlandmetropolia.vietnam

- Website: metropolia.edu.vn

- Hotline:

0775 329 184