The best of innovative digital technologies for education were the focus of the Digitally Enhanced Learning Summit, delivered in partnership by RMIT University and the Victorian Government's trade facilitation agency Global Victoria.
Close to 400 delegates from government and the higher education sectors in Australia and Vietnam shared insights at the summit, the flagship event in RMIT Vietnam's 20th anniversary Vietnam Leads series.
As Vietnam looks to leverage digital transformation for post-COVID-19 economic recovery, Victorian universities showcased the latest digital innovations for education including virtual laboratories, remote 3D printing and AI-powered learning personalisation.
A panel of speakers, including leaders from Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training and Ministry of Science and Technology, Global Victoria, the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, Australian education technology and innovation hub EduGrowth, as well as RMIT, Deakin University, Swinburne University and Van Lang University discussed how technologies can be applied to deliver effective education solutions for learners in Vietnam and the region.
RMIT Interim Vice-Chancellor and President Dionne Higgins said RMIT was committed to the relationship between Australia and Vietnam, and to the creation of ongoing platforms for policy engagement, collaboration and innovation.
"At RMIT we live by a principle that there should be opportunity for all and that education is often the most powerful lever in changing lives and empowering communities," she said.
"By creating platforms for ongoing discussion and exchange, we will help to shape a more innovative and equitable education landscape in Vietnam, Australia and the region."
Director of International Education and Study Melbourne at Global Victoria Fiona Letos said education was an important pillar of Australia – Vietnam bilateral relations, supporting Victoria's trade and investment activities as well as people-to-people links, and Global Victoria is committed to expanding our cooperation in this area.
"Victorian education institutions have a worldwide reputation for delivering quality education and training and for being at the forefront of digital education and innovation," she said.
"With such advantage, I believe Victoria will be the preferred partner for Vietnam in engaging learners of today and tomorrow."
Speaking at the summit, Vice Minister of the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) Associate Professor Hoang Minh Son said that the education sector in Vietnam and across the world is changing in line with the trends of internationalisation and digital transformation.
He hoped that the Australian government, Victorian government together with Australian universities would continue deepening collaboration with their Vietnamese counterparts in an equitable, effective, and mutually beneficial manner.
"The Ministry of Education and Training wants to work closely with universities to develop universal standards in the tertiary education sector in order to ensure the quality, efficiency and practicality of all programs, especially those delivered online via digital platforms," Vice Minister Son said.
As the closing event of RMIT Vietnam's 20th anniversary celebrations across 2020 and 2021, the summit was a point of reflection of the ongoing policy engagement and Australia-Vietnam partnership in the online and digitally enhanced education space.
RMIT Vietnam Chairman Professor Peter Coloe revealed that efforts thus far have brought together 100 experts, 20 Australian and Vietnamese Government officials and nearly 3000 participants from 300 higher education institutions.
By early 2022, RMIT will continue to spearhead two more workshops on online and digitally enhanced learning.
Coloe said RMIT was honoured to continue its role of a coordinator, facilitator, and trusted partner for MOET and peer universities.
