FPT Polytechnic adopts running as student development method

Since 2020, when the Personal Development curriculum was first designed, running has been included as a mandatory extracurricular component. According to Nguyen Thi Trang, Head of the Personal Development Department, the focus is not on performance but on cultivating endurance and consistency.

Teachers and students of FPT Polytechnic pause for a photo during a long-distance weekend run at the campus in Hanoi. Photo by Trang Nguyen

"We see running as an exercise in discipline and willpower for each student. On the running track, the only person each runner must overcome is themselves," Trang said.

Unlike many other sports, she noted, running allows students to measure their progress easily. Each session can be tracked by distance and time through running apps, helping them visualize their growth over time.

Students are encouraged to complete 2 km daily as a "discipline exercise." Every weekend, teachers and students gather at Me Tri Park in Hanoi at 5 a.m. to run together. Every two months, the school organizes internal races of 5 km, 10 km, 15 km, and 21 km—milestones viewed as "threshold-crossing" challenges.

A leadership-by-example culture plays a crucial role. "We call this method ‘than giao'—self-education through example. If we can't do it ourselves, it's hard to inspire students to follow," Trang said.

FPT Polytechnic lecturers view running as a method of educating students. Photo by Trang Nguyen

Currently, all lecturers in the department maintain a daily running habit. Since early 2025, both teaching staff and students have joined the FPoly Run 42 km Club, operating in small groups of 10–15 students, each guided by a lecturer. Students must complete 21 km in internal races before progressing toward the 42 km marathon challenge.

Earlier this year, 25 lecturers successfully completed a 42 km run around Hoan Kiem Lake, inspiring hundreds of students. "If those aged 40–50 can conquer a marathon, then students aged 18–20 have every reason to believe they can, too," Trang shared.

The slogan "Surpass the Threshold" has become the rallying cry of FPoly Run. Students can choose when and where to run—mornings at Me Tri Park, afternoons at Hoa Binh Park, or evenings around the dormitory. They may run solo or in groups, sharing results on Strava along with words of encouragement from peers and lecturers.

A team of FPT Polytechnic students participated in the VnExpress Marathon Haiphong 2024. Photo by Trang Nguyen

First-year student Nguyen Cao Ky said: "Since enrolling, running has become my daily habit. My 2 km night run keeps me disciplined, and the 42 km marathon is my goal to surpass the threshold."

On Nov. 30, 206 lecturers and students from FPT Polytechnic will take on the 42 km challenge at the VnExpress Marathon Hanoi Midnight Powered by Puma—the fifth edition of Hanoi's night run. About one-third have already completed a full marathon, while the rest will attempt it for the first time. To date, no other university in Vietnam has had this many members finish a marathon.

Second-year Digital Marketing student Tang Truong shared: "I've maintained a 119-day streak, with two 30 km runs each week. Running alongside over 200 lecturers and friends, I'm not worried—we always run together."

The VnExpress Marathon Hanoi Midnight Powered by Puma is the fifth edition of Hanoi's premier night run. This year's event continues to offer runners a chance to explore the capital's heritage and beauty under the stars. The route passes through Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter, the Opera House, and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, allowing participants to experience the city's timeless blend of tradition and modernity. "Late-stage" registration is now open.