Winners announced for 2016 Practical Money Skills competition

The programme received more than 800 entries from nearly 90 universities as students across the country were tasked with creating inspirational phrases and art works to promote financial literacy concepts to their peers.

Twenty of the best entries were on display during the programme’s closing event, with the Hanoi Architectural University being awarded VND10 million ($450) for having the overall greatest student participation in the programme.

The eight best student entries were awarded a share of VND38 million ($1,700) in Visa prepaid cards. The winners were graded on the number of total points they received based on their alignment with the topic of financial literacy, creativity, humor, educational value, and the potential to “go viral”.

The winners come from Ho Chi Minh University of Food Industry and Foreign Trade University in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi Architectural University and Foreign Trade University in Hanoi, Pham Van Dong University in Quang Ngai, Nha Trang University in Khanh Hoa, Danang University of Architecture in Danang and Tay Nguyen University in Dak Lak

“We were incredibly impressed by the way in which students across the country embraced the competition and communicated some rather complex financial ideas in a simple and effective way,” said Sean Preston, Visa country manager for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

“The students in this year’s programme have gone above and beyond in terms of creativity, delivering some truly excellent educational work. We believe that these “student-driven” pieces have provided the community with great inspiration for better managing their finances,” he said.

“With the aim of creating a playground for students to experience, test and learn more about personal financial management, the new format of Practical Money Skills 2016 successfully allowed students to express their creativity in communicating financial literacy messages and art works to their peers,” said Nguyen Minh Triet, permanent vice chairman of CCVSA.

The programme, which has run since 2012 in Vietnam and is the result of an ongoing partnership between Visa and the CCVSA, is aimed to teach university students about the importance of financial concepts such as budgeting, saving, and spending responsibly.

This year, the programme was organised in two parts: one where students submitted slogans, catchphrases, and art pieces, and a second where the best 50 pieces were toured around the country in a series of exhibitions in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Quang Ngai, and Haiphong, reaching nearly 16,000 students.

A range of programme resources are available on the Facebook page and YouTube channels, which have 21,077 likes and 2,018 subscribers with 1,707,092 views respectively. The official programme website www.practicalmoneyskills.com.vn and www.kynangquanlytaichinh.com.vn has achieved 53,625 unique visitors to date, and continues to provide useful advice from programme mascot Mr. Pocket, together with handy financial formulas and other tools.

This programme also marks the second three-year Memorandum of Understanding signed between Visa and the CCVSA for the ongoing delivery of the programme. Since 2012, Visa and the CCVSA have jointly organised road shows to promote financial literacy awareness and to teach students the basic concepts of spending responsibly while learning to save and budget wisely.

RELATED CONTENTS:
	Visa’s national “Practical Money Skills” art exhibition hits the road in Vietnam
	Visa expands electronic payments into Mai Linh taxis
	Visa strives to promote credit card service