Vietnam Ministry of Education proposes new science competition rules

The Ministry of Education and Training has released a draft circular to regulate the national science and technology competition for middle and high school students. The new regulations aim to enhance scientific integrity, transparency, and honesty in research projects.

Key provisions include a requirement for students to maintain continuous research logs, either in written or electronic format, to document methods, timelines, and individual contributions. This documentation will serve as a mandatory tool to verify the authenticity of student involvement versus instructor support. The draft also introduces strict controls on Artificial Intelligence (AI) usage; while students may use AI for searching or simulation, they must declare its purpose and scope. Using AI to falsify research processes, create fraudulent data, or replace analytical activities is strictly prohibited.

The draft standardizes the competition into 16 fields and introduces a 20-point evaluation scale based on five categories: research questions, design and methodology, implementation, creativity and potential impact, and presentation. This structure aligns with the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) standards.