Exchange Semester 2, 2014
RMIT University Vietnam
A trip down memory lane Meet RMIT Vietnam’s first generation alumni
Focus on research The condom taboo, combining technology and dance, and wealth indicators in rural Vietnam
Making a mark at Microsoft From a young entrepreneur to mapping out a career at a multinational
Exchange RMIT University Vietnam 1
CONTENTS 3 Camera, lights, action for innovation Sharing approaches for student engagement
4 A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE Celebrating RMIT Vietnam’s first generation alumni
6 Action against transnational crime
Cross-border police collaboration to combat global crime
7 Making a mark at Microsoft
Leadership talk
Building professional experience as an intern
“One of the factors which makes us different is our strong connection with industry.”
8 Research in focus
The condom taboo, combining technology and dance, and wealth indicators in rural Vietnam
What makes RMIT Vietnam different?
10 A learning experience for Mai Ly in Marvellous Melbourne
Some of our students tell us it’s the opportunity to expand on the technical skills gained through their university degree, such as personal attributes of leadership, confidence and teamwork fostered across student activities and programs outside of the classroom.
Exchange opportunity helps broaden horizons
11 Green haven in a concrete jungle
Students support the growth of the city’s green space
12 Our community Student, staff, industry and community events
14 Student Q&A
Discovering the cultural differences between Japan and Vietnam
15 Quiet achievers
Keeping the smooth hum of operations at RMIT Vietnam
16 Building blocks
Acknowledging RMIT Vietnam’s founders
As well as receiving an internationally accredited degree, others also say they value the relevancy of their education and being able to “jump straight in” to course content directly related to their chosen field of study. Defining our point of difference is important. One of the factors which makes us different is our strong connection with industry. As well as these links enabling student opportunities for internships and graduate employment, it means we offer highly relevant and informed content equipping our graduates with the skills and knowledge to meet industry needs. Coming up in semester 3, we’re introducing three new business programs across international business, entrepreneurship and management. These are high quality programs delivered in an international context and we’ve worked hard with our industry partners to ensure the content is practical, relevant and informed. Our ongoing dialogue with industry makes this possible and is another example of what makes us different.
Professor Gael McDonald President RMIT University Vietnam
Exchange has been produced by the Press Office and Communications at RMIT Vietnam. RMIT University Vietnam 702 Nguyen Van Linh Tan Phong Ward, District 7 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Tel: (+848) 3776 1300 www.rmit.edu.vn
Exchange RMIT University Vietnam 2
Publisher: Conrad Ozóg Chief Editor: Karen Matthews Content contributors: Catherine Peck, Melanie Brown, Ly Nguyen, Ha Hoang, Karen Matthews, Phuong Pham, Sharon Webb, Linh Nguyen, Van Doan, Tran Tran, Thuy Le. Images: Cam Nguyen, pages 1, 3, 5, 8, 12, 15. Linh Nguyen,
page 2. Phuong Pham, pages 3, 14. Ha Hoang, page 3. Fiona Wiebusch, page 4. Thuy Nguyen, page 5. Chau Nguyen, page 5. Le Cao, page 6. Thuy Pham, page 7. Arabesque Dance Company, page 9. Giovanni Merola, page 9. Mai Ly Nguyen, page 10. Thanh Bui, page 11. Tanya Meftah, page 11. Tuan
Anh Dinh, page 13, 15. Tung Nguyen, page 16. Design and layout: Bratus Cover image: Phoenix Ho, first generation RMIT Vietnam graduate and RMIT Vietnam Career Counselling Coordinator
Senior Appointments
innovation
Camera, lights, action
for
Across all disciplines at RMIT Vietnam, lecturers are using innovative approaches to engage their students and prepare them for life after graduation. Story by Catherine Peck, Melanie Brown and Ly Nguyen The talent of our teaching team has been captured by the University’s Learning and Teaching Unit (LTU), which has been directing and producing video to showcase the many creative and engaging approaches to student learning. Associate Professor Anne Herbert, Director of LTU, explained the purpose behind producing the video series is to develop a bank for sharing good teaching practices across centres and disciplines. “At both Hanoi and Saigon South, lecturers are sharing how they create effective learning experiences for their students,” Dr Herbert said. “It began at the end of 2013 with the revision of the Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching and Learning. “We wanted to model good practice for integrating technology into course delivery and the benefits of blending offline and online learning spaces,” continued Dr Herbert. “One of the most effective ways to engage students and deliver content is to source or create videos, so we secured funding from the RMIT Office of the Dean of Learning and
Professor Beverley Webster Vice President (Academic)
Professor Webster is responsible for the planning, development and integrity of the academic affairs of RMIT Vietnam, including the overall quality of academic research and non-award programs. This includes the development of innovative academic practice, policy and infrastructure.
Teaching and engaged the services of an RMIT Vietnam alumni video production company.” Given the positive response to the first set of completed videos which covered topics such as internationalisation and localisation, Dr Herbert explained that additional funding was secured for capturing video on flipped teaching, using Google Docs for student collaboration, and various ways to enable work integrated learning.
Most recently Professor Webster has come from a position at the University of Melbourne, where she was Director for the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching in the Faculty of Business and Economics. Before that she held senior management roles at the University of Hong Kong, including A/Dean of Research Higher Degrees within the Faculty of Education and Deputy Director for the Centre of Enhancement of Teaching and Learning. Mr RonALD Parks Director, Industry Engagement
Each video is accompanied by tips and ideas for lecturers to transfer ideas to their own teaching. Accounting Lecturer Frederique Bouilheres (pictured), who provided content for a video on inter-teaching, said the videos are a great way to showcase specific teaching techniques. “I’ve really enjoyed sharing the benefits of inter-teaching through video and using this channel to explain how inter-teaching can be an effective behavioural teaching technique to engage students and improve preparation,” Ms Bouilheres said. “I think RMIT Vietnam is a great place to share best practice in teaching and learning and appreciate a variety of ways to help students learn effectively.”
With core specialisations in international business, taxation and transfer pricing, Ron is tasked with defining and implementing RMIT Vietnam’s industry engagement strategies and priorities. This also encompasses business development and alumni engagement. Ron has worked with corporations such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte and KPMG, located in Seoul, California, Bangkok and Central Asia.
Videos available at https://online.rmit.edu.vn/video-bank Tips for using PRS clickers - Associate Professor of Economics Bob Baulch Using problem-based learning - Taxation Lecturer Wayne Marriage Tips for inter-teaching - Accounting Lecturer Frederique Bouilheres Using industry experience and authentic material - Marketing Lecturer Caroline Nguyen Tips for flipped teaching - Professional Communications Lecturer Landon Carnie Using feedback portfolios via Google – Public Relations Lecturer Ramona Slusarczyk Using Piazza for review – Business Information Systems Lecturer Dr Blooma John Developing work skills through CAPSIM simulation program - Accounting Senior Lecturer David Knock Modifying the traditional lecture - Commercial Law Senior Lecturer Anton Kietaibl Exchange RMIT University Vietnam 3
A Trip Down Memory Lane For RMIT Vietnam’s first generation alumni, the decision to study at the country’s first international university led to a rewarding and fulfilling education experience which formed the groundings for success across both their professional and personal lives.
Story by Ha Hoang
This year marks the tenth anniversary of RMIT Vietnam’s first graduates: the group of 40 students known as the University’s first generation alumni. For many in this group, it was an exciting but challenging experience to commence a degree at an international university after having been educated through Vietnam’s school system. Alumni Le Thi Anh Trang, Nguyen Mai Thao and Nguyen Mai Anh Tuan all agreed while they found it to be a huge leap in learning styles, it has been their education at RMIT Vietnam which has led to their career success. The path to study at RMIT Vietnam was a little different for Vietnamese-American Phoenix Ho, who was educated in the United States. Phoenix never imagined her decision to pursue a master degree here in Vietnam would be such a significant turning point in her life. “When I was in Vietnam for some contract work I decided I would undertake a master degree, primarily because I liked studying and it was also a family tradition to have a masters,” Phoenix said.
The decision meant Phoenix would become one of RMIT Vietnam’s first Master of Education graduates.
to students on career-related topics such as interviewing skills, networking and workplace preparation.
“It turned out this short time between 2002 and 2004 while I was studying at RMIT Vietnam would be one of the best experiences in my student life,” she said.
Le Thi Anh Trang was awarded a full tuition scholarship to study a Master of Education at RMIT Vietnam.
“Not only was it about the study but it also gave me the opportunity to understand more about Vietnamese culture and the country’s education system. “It opened my eyes to the opportunities within the education industry here in Vietnam and made me even more determined to fulfil my dream of permanently living and working here.”
“At the time, I was working at the Institute for Education Research for the Ho Chi Minh City University of Pedagogy,” she said. “I had just graduated from university and lacked working experience so initially I found it challenging when starting my masters which was taught in a completely different style compared with what I had previously experienced.
After completing her Master of Education at RMIT Vietnam and just prior to completion of a second master program in the United States, Phoenix was offered a career counsellor position at RMIT Vietnam.
“However, it gave me the chance to examine other ways to approach new knowledge and improve my critical thinking and I found this to be one of the most significant outcomes of my studies which has also helped me to manage change in both my professional and personal life,” Trang said.
It’s now five years since Phoenix began her career at RMIT Vietnam, where she continues to thrive in her role within the Career Development and Employment Unit which involves providing individual or group advice and counselling
“I really value the experience and learning as a result of undertaking my masters at RMIT Vietnam.” Trang works as RMIT Vietnam’s Senior Student Advisor, where she specialises in helping at-risk students to develop improvement plans for their studies as well as advising students on academic matters. Nguyen Mai Thao, who graduated from RMIT Vietnam with a Bachelor of Applied Science in IT and Multimedia, looks back fondly on her time at RMIT Vietnam. “I absolutely loved studying at the small but cozy and beautiful Pham Ngoc Thach campus,” she said. “We were all like a big family where everyone knew and supported each other. “As well as studying together, we would also plays sports at the weekend,” Thao said.
RMIT Vietnam first generation alumni (from left) Mr Nguyen Mai Anh Tuan, Ms Le Thi Anh Trang, Ms Cao Thi Thu Hien, Ms Phoenix Ho, Ms Nguyen Mai Thao, Mr Le Vinh Exchange RMIT University Vietnam 4
“I remember we even had free milk in the common fridges.
Alumni Achievements Nguyen Tran Van Thuy Bachelor of Multimedia Design RMIT Vietnam, 2009 Master of Marketing University of Wales, 2012 Finalist in Vietnam Young Lion Advertising Competition in 2010 and 2011
“I have a twin sister who wanted to study abroad after finishing high school but our parents couldn’t afford this option for both of us,” she said. “I had just finished my senior year at high school when RMIT Vietnam commenced at Pham Ngoc Thach. “I took a risk in convincing my parents to allow me to undertake my bachelor degree at this new international university. “But it’s now obvious that it has been my education at RMIT Vietnam which has led the way to success on my career pathway,” Thao said. “For the past ten years, I have had a dream job where I love coming into work everyday.” Thao is Head of Production for JWT Vietnam, an international advertising agency.
Thuy is the Founder and Sales and Marketing Director of Bobi Craft, a handmade woollen toy and gift manufacturer and trader. Most Bobi Craft products are made by workers who are low-income residents and people with a disability. Bobi Craft currently has a branch in Singapore as well as long-term relationships with international business clients from countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, USA, Japan and Denmark. Nguyen Hong Hai Dang Bachelor of Communication (Professional Communication) with Distinction RMIT Vietnam, 2012
In June 2014, Dang was awarded the Chevening Scholarship which includes funding to study a Master of Science at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. Also in 2014, Dang’s two studies on the condom taboo and individual values in conflict, which she conducted with researchers at RMIT Vietnam, were published in the Journal of Social Marketing and Young Consumers. Nguyen Huyen Chau Bachelor of Commerce RMIT Vietnam, 2008
Another of RMIT Vietnam’s first generation alumni, Nguyen Mai Anh Tuan, graduated with a Bachelor of IT. Tuan now lectures at RMIT Vietnam’s Centre of Technology and said he considers RMIT Vietnam his home of the past ten years. “It’s here where I’ve gained new knowledge and grown in my professional career and now, as president of the alumni association and working as a lecturer, I’m making my own contribution,” Tuan said. Like many other RMIT Vietnam first generation alumni, he considers his time at RMIT Vietnam as the significant starting point for his lifelong career.
Chau is the founder of Pallet Workshop, a creative education environment for children from 4 – 14. In September 2013, Chau was one of 50 people world-wide to represent the Global Shapers Community at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2014 in Davos – Klobster, Switzerland. From March to November 2013, Chau raised more than $12,000 to build a two classroom kindergarten for minority children in Son La Province, Vietnam. See more alumni achievements at www.rmit.edu.vn/profiles/alumni
Located on Pham Ngoc Thach street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, RMIT Vietnam Pham Ngoc Thach was the University’s original campus building and operated between 2001 and 2006. In late 2011, it reopened as a specialised English language learning centre, particularly for people preparing for entry into RMIT Vietnam higher education programs. RMIT Vietnam Pham Ngoc Thach aims to provide specialised and conveniently located English language and other training courses for adult learners, close to the centre of the city. RMIT Vietnam’s first generation graduates included 40 students across five different programs, including Master of Education, Bachelor of Applied Science – IT & Multimedia, Bachelor of Applied Science – Software Engineering, Graduate Certificate, and Bachelor of IT.
Exchange RMIT University Vietnam 5
Action Against Transnational Crime In this era of greatest human mobility, organised criminal networks are reaping enormous profits from the illegal movement of people across borders. Story by Karen Matthews As transnational crimes of people smuggling and human trafficking become more sophisticated, law enforcers from across Asia are joining together to strengthen methods of police cooperation to combat these global crimes. RMIT Vietnam Manager Enterprise and Executive Education Mattia Miani said crossborder engagement provides an opportunity for police agencies to work together and take collaborative action against those committing these pernicious crimes. “It’s about engaging, sharing experiences and asking questions to improve the global criminal justice response to significant international issues such as human trafficking and people smuggling,” Mr Miani said. RMIT Vietnam coordinates the delivery of an innovative three-week managerial level program on transnational crime for middle to senior level police officers from across Asia, in partnership with the Australian Federal Police and the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security, Police General Department for Crime Prevention and Suppression. The initiative, named the Asia Region Law Enforcement Management Program (ARLEMP), has been running for the past nine years with 30 courses delivered in Vietnam, one in Islamabad, Pakistan and another four in Melbourne, Australia.
The program is funded by the Australian Federal Police as part of their effort to create cross-border collaboration in law enforcement agencies. ARLEMP has set the benchmark for professional police management training within the region and now has over 680 graduates. The program provides significant returns on investment notably magnifying the effectiveness of law enforcement in Asia by developing collaborative networks. Each ARLEMP focuses on a transnational crime threat affecting the region with the aim of building law enforcement expertise to combat that threat, with recent themes including foreign bribery and corruption, cybercrime, terrorism and narcotics. In Hanoi earlier this year, the human trafficking and people smuggling program covered the sample case of a 19-year-old woman who paid money in exchange for transportation across borders and the promise of a job as a domestic worker. Upon arrival into the foreign country, the woman was assaulted and forced into prostitution where she remained for six months until being rescued and assisted in the return to her home country. Ms Anita Dodds, the ARLEMP program coordinator and a renowned expert across these issues, explained that most unfortunately, this is an all too common occurrence in Asia and indeed the rest of the world.
“Many such cases take place across Asia and law enforcement agencies, governments, United Nations agencies, private sector and non-government organisations are working together through programs such as ARLEMP to combat these transnational crimes,” Ms Dodds said. “Unlike traditional police training, ARLEMP exposes participants to both general management topics such as global cultural issues, leadership and project management, as well as technical topics, including major policing issues of which cross-border collaboration is critical.” The learning experience for participants continues after the completion of the threeweek program through engagement on a private and secure online network. Ms Dodds said the dividend to regional law enforcement in countering transnational crime through attending ARLEMP is apparent. “Course participants, normally middle to high level managers of regional law enforcement agencies, are specifically selected based on their relevant expertise in the crime type theme,” Ms Dodds explained. “They are considerably upskilled to tackle the problem innovatively and strategically whilst simultaneously building subject matter expert networks within our region.” Participating countries include Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. ARLEMP was recently held for the first time in Ho Chi Minh City in September 2014, on the theme of People Smuggling and Human Trafficking.
Anita Dodds (second from right) with ARLEMP participants
Exchange RMIT University Vietnam 6
Learn about the most recent ARLEMP in Ho Chi Minh City at www.rmit.edu.vn/news
making a mark at
Microsoft Over the past three years, high achiever Pham Hoang Diem Thuy (pictured) experienced success as a young entrepreneur and developed leadership skills in roles across student clubs. Now she is building up her professional experience as a Channel Executive Intern for Microsoft. Story by Phuong Pham
Having heard about the internship program at Microsoft prior to completing a Bachelor of Commerce at RMIT Vietnam, Pham Hoang Diem Thuy said she was nervous and excited at the opportunity to work at a computer software multinational. “Despite having a couple of other great internship opportunities on offer, I remained committed to pursuing an internship opportunity with Microsoft and working with an organisation passionate about making a positive contribution to the communities in which it operates,” she said. “And I believe in the values Microsoft offers to its global community and the fact that there is no other technology which can transform the world faster and deeper than information technology.” As part of her internship placement with Microsoft in Vietnam, Thuy Pham was also offered the opportunity to work at the multinational’s Singapore operations. Thuy Pham said it was rewarding to see the role of technology in a prosperous and socially developed country. “The job itself has also been personally fulfilling,
with innovation and creativity encouraged amongst interns and other junior team members,” she said. “I can’t wait to build on the skills and experience gained through my placement in Singapore and look at the way local businesses in Vietnam can easily apply information technology and software to improve their operations.” Thuy Pham’s journey from school to professional working life started with a venture in running her own small business as well as getting hands-on with student club leadership opportunities. “When I was in my first year of university, I started a business called Shop4Beauty which involved importing fashion accessories from Guangzhou in China which I would then sell online,” Thuy Pham said. Also while undertaking study at RMIT Vietnam, Thuy Pham took on leadership positions including roles as the Vice President of RMIT Vietnam’s Environment Club and the President of RMIT Vietnam’s Student Council. Leading the student representative entity was the beginning of a series of successful
social projects for Thuy Pham and the student groups, including campaigns for student safety as well as fundraising activities for high school students who are disadvantaged. Thuy Pham said she focused on raising the profile of the groups and fostering a positive attitude towards the council by other students. “I set about shifting the priorities of the student council from purely managing student activities to looking at ways the council can work together to enhance work ethic and community involvement among students,” Thuy Pham said. Despite a busy schedule across both academic and student club life, Thuy Pham extended her student experience by taking part in business competitions, placing fifth out of the top 16 finalists in the 2014 Peak Time competition, one of the biggest international student business challenges based in Eastern Europe. Recently having returned from Singapore, Thuy Pham is focused on getting the most she can out of her work experience with Microsoft. “I’m also looking forward to doing some travel to learn about business on a global scale,” she said.
Exchange RMIT University Vietnam 7
in
RESEARCH
focus
Story by Sharon Webb
After being named winners of RMIT Vietnam’s annual research poster competition, three groups of academics are delving further into studies covering the taboo of condoms in Vietnam; advances in combining technology and dance; and indicators of wealth across rural areas. Condoms must come out into the open, researchers recommend An RMIT Vietnam and RMIT Australia research team has recommended shops and pharmacies openly display condoms as a public health measure. The team also suggests the Vietnamese Government may have a role in helping to overcome taboos about displaying and retailing condoms in Vietnam. The team, RMIT Vietnam’s Ms Nguyen Hong Hai Dang and Dr Lukas Parker with RMIT Australia Professor Linda Brennan, found Vietnam’s pharmacies are the major culprits in locking away condoms out of sight – not only because of potential embarrassment but also because they don’t see them as their core business. In addition, the team recommends there should be no market for out-of-date condoms as part of tighter pharmacy standards and regulations. The measures were necessary they said because safe sex practices are a concern: sexually transmitted disease is increasing in Vietnam and the country has one of the highest abortion rates in the world.
Working with Alice Clements from NGO Plan International to investigate issues around the social marketing of condoms, the RMIT team said government and health authorities need to ensure condoms are available in accessible and non-confrontational locations. “Increasing the accessibility and availability of condoms is of paramount importance if some of the substantive problems associated with unsafe sex are to be addressed,” Ms Dang said. “But Vietnam is a society in transition and so are some of the practices that surround traditionally taboo subjects such as sexual behaviour. “Sex outside marriage is not openly countenanced, although it is evident from the rise in the number of STDs that it takes place.” The researchers found condom boutiques were the best outlets for consumers because as specialty ‘destination’ stores they cut through the general clutter of other retail outlets. But they labelled pharmacies and small retailers as “out of touch with the needs of their target market”. “While all condom boutiques and convenience stores put condoms on open shelves, six of the 10
Researchers (from top left clockwise) Giovanni Merola, Paul Verity Smith, Bob Baulch, Linda Brennan, Dang Nguyen and Lukas Parker
pharmacies we observed put them in locked cases or did not display condoms at all, making them the least customer-friendly places for condom shoppers,” they said. “These retailers are performing a form of product market censorship in their merchandising strategy.” On interview, common reasons given by staff to justify their placing of condoms in locked cases included ‘cultural sensitivity’, ‘discretion’, ‘condoms are secondary products’ and ‘people aren’t embarrassed to ask for it’. “However why condoms would be sufficiently important enough to lock away but not important enough to have readily available is something that could or would not be explained to our research team,” Ms Dang said. The researchers admitted that a normalisation of condom retailing in Ho Chi Minh City appears to be occurring, particularly with condom boutiques. And inventive vendors seem to be getting around the disadvantage of the public nature of shopping in Vietnam by setting up carts selling cigarettes and condoms. With a packet of condoms around the same size as a packet of cigarettes, a buyer can get off their motor bike and buy condoms in full view and no-one will know except the vendor. “But whether people actually purchase condoms from these open-to-the-street and brightly lit destination retailers is worth investigating in a further study,” Ms Dang said.
Exchange RMIT University Vietnam 8
Intimacies created when technology meets dance Paul Verity Smith’s research reaches out to the Vietnamese community, grabbing it hard and holding it tight. University academics might describe it as a textbook example of effective community engagement: certainly a dry characterisation of research culminating in a 2013 dance performance that intrigued and absorbed its sell-out Ho Chi Minh City audience. A lecturer in RMIT Vietnam’s Centre of Communication and Design, Mr Smith worked with one of Vietnam’s top dance companies, Arabesque. He and choreographer Ms Ngo Thanh Phuong created Intimacies: Did you remember to lock the door?, a performance where three dancers controlled the lighting and images surrounding them as they performed. The dancers, Ms Doan Minh Thu and Mr Mai Anh Khoa, accompanied with solos by Phuong, also improvised with live video: delayed, manipulated and then looped, creating a series of repeated images to challenge the audience’s sense of time. Mr Smith’s system of interactive technology incorporated a computer program appropriately named Isadora, designed by Mark Coniglio, founder of Berlin-based Troika Ranch Dance Company. Computerised performance control was programmed by former RMIT
Vietnam student Mr Tran Van Chinh, who worked tirelessly for a year to master the programming and ensure it worked perfectly in performance. “The dancers wore accelerometers measuring their gestures and movements,” he said. “They also wore photosensitive sensors reading the amount of light falling onto their bodies.”
that said, the dancers’ movements are not entirely impromptu. “It’s my job, with the choreographer and dancers, to design parameters to create something that has emotional impact,” he said. “There is a plan – but I have created something the dancers can use to improvise with, not a mechanical stage hand.”
This information was transmitted to the computer via a wireless radio in the dancers’ costumes, with floor pads enabling them to dance and control the projected images simultaneously.
Dance purists may question why this performance direction is necessary.
It sounds complicated but like all good facilitation, during the performance technology was behind the scenes, allowing the dancers to star.
“If we’re in a world where mobile phones allow people to Skype friends far away, this technology must be incorporated.
Mr Smith’s plan to engage the audience is guided by his inspiration, German composer and polemicist Richard Wagner. “His vision of a theatrical opera was as ‘gesamtkunstwerk’ – something that would completely immerse the audience in an environment, appealing simultaneously to all the senses,” he said. “It was a method of completely taking audiences out of themselves. “It also links with the idea of virtual reality; that term was credited to a US computer whiz of the 1980s who invented a computer generated environment giving you a sense of being completely immersed. “But the term was really invented in the 1920s by French playwright Antonin Artaud, meaning ‘reaching into the soul’.” Mr Smith sees his interactive technology as “an instrument for dancers to play as they dance”;
“People are looking for something new,” Mr Smith said.
“The fascination with video technology and interactivity is pervasive and of its time.” But some things are timeless – including the need to repair equipment damaged by vigorous dancers. That job has fallen to a young Vietnamese man in Ho Chi Minh City’s district five. Nguyen The Huy works from his home, designing and repairing electronic circuits and in his hands, the expensive Canadian sensors live again. “I met Huy by chance on the street where I live,” Mr Smith said. “At the back of an old store selling mostly fans a man was making loudspeakers by hand using an old analogue multimeter, which Vietnamese people seem to prefer to the digital ones. “My father could do this but since I was a boy I have never met anyone who could.” Mr Huy first built a floor pad connector for the computer; then he came to performances and found he could make the sensors better – in Ho Chi Minh City. No doubt he will be involved in Paul Verity Smith’s next venture: building a sensate space with 10 beam break detectors sensing the dancers’ locations and changing the performance environment.
figure 1 - location of survey villages
New analysis: fans show rural family wealth RMIT Vietnam researchers using a new analysis technique have found that the number of fans owned by farming families in rural areas is one of the main indicators of their wealth. The research will be submitted for publication in The Review of Income and Wealth journal and may be of interest to the World Bank. Assistant Professor Giovanni Merola and Associate Professor Bob Baulch, both from RMIT Vietnam’s Centre of Commerce and Management, said they were surprised to find in their interpretation of survey results from 530 households that consumer durables were the key wealth indicators. “The surveys were of households in Thanh Hoa in north-west Vietnam and Huaphanh in northeast Laos,” Assistant Professor Merola said. “The differences in wealth were not indicated by people owning productive assets such as farming equipment but by the ownership of a few household appliances such as fans and to a lesser extent, refrigerators. “Also, a home’s roof turned out to be an indicator of wealth. “These things tell us a lot about the living standard of families in these areas.” Assistant Professor Merola said it’s difficult to measure the wealth of families in areas such as these through more conventional measures.
“People there don’t always have money transactions, and expensive items such as cars are rare,” he said. “We were interested in comparing Vietnamese and Lao social and economic conditions in rural areas, and applying this new analysis technique to the data from the two surveys. “This type of survey can be useful because it doesn’t involve long questionnaires and uses specific assets to study people’s standard of living. “We think this analysis technique is more efficient for analysing this kind of data than others,” Assistant Professor Merola said The data included information on the materials used to build family homes, whether they had a roof and floor, and the number of other family possessions - motorbikes, cookers, water heaters, televisions and satellite dishes. Farming tool ownership was also surveyed. Analysis results confirmed that Vietnamese families were a little more affluent than those in Laos. The researchers presented their findings at the 7th Vietnam Economist General Meeting in Ho Chi Minh City in June this year. “We had some good feedback there and we want to get more from the academic community after publication,” Assistant Professor Merola said. “The World Bank is using this kind of analysis because it helps estimate the wealth of communities.”
Exchange RMIT University Vietnam 9
A Learning Experience for Mai Ly in
museum, ACMI, just across from Flinders St Railway Station.
Marvellous Melbourne
“Melbourne’s CBD is like the old quarter in Hanoi but less chaotic!”
Luckily, Nguyen Mai Ly’s first impressions of Melbourne were mainly wrong.
Mai Ly decided to do the exchange because she had always yearned to study abroad. But she admitted she should have done more homework before going.
Story by Sharon Webb
Mai Ly (pictured), an RMIT Vietnam exchange student, landed in Melbourne on a hot summer’s Valentine’s Day and initially found it dry and deserted. “But in fact, Melbourne is a city of culture, of hidden stylish coffee shops in laneways, of festivals all year round, where people are polite, calm and welleducated,” she said. “Whenever I remember the nine months I spent there, I think of all the friends I made.
“The biggest contrast is that you have more relaxation time: there is no rush doing assignments,” Mai Ly said. “The lecturers don’t control whether you are in class or not and you have more time to do other things; you can be easily distracted so you need to be self-motivated. “The biggest lesson was to be proactive in my coursework and push my teammates.
Mai Ly, a Bachelor of Commerce student at RMIT Vietnam Hanoi, recently completed two semesters at RMIT Australia on her first international trip.
“It was a challenge but after I learnt how to deal with it I understood people better.”
In Melbourne however, Mai Ly’s learning was not limited to studying. “Every day I learnt how people behave on trains, sitting and standing neatly, making way for old people and women,” she said. “I watched how people made way on the escalator for the ones in a hurry, how vehicles stop when people cross the road - simple behaviours making the community comfortable for everyone.” And she learnt about Marvellous Melbourne, as its residents often call the city. “You can always find a spot for yourself: solitude in RMIT’s Swanston library or joy with friends in Korean or Thai restaurants near Melbourne University,” she said. “One thing Vietnamese people will enjoy is that you can have cuisine from any country authentically with my favourite area being where the Italians live, Lygon Street, with its pasta, pizza and gelato. “I usually take my friends around the magnificent Melbourne Museum or the cool cinematography Exchange RMIT University Vietnam 10
But study, she found, was not too different.
“My landlord and her Vietnamese friends became my aunts and uncles, treating me like family and my student friends from RMIT, Monash, La Trobe, Melbourne and Deakin Universities built a tight network to support each other, something you need if you go abroad.”
After graduating she wants a career in online and content marketing, ideally moving towards a start-up or business development function.
Read about the options to study overseas at www.rmit.edu.vn/ international-mobility
“I didn’t know what to expect, for example I should have learnt more about the public transport system and about how much money it takes to survive each month,” she said.
“In Vietnam you know most of your classmates but in a new country you work with total strangers,” she said.
Most memorable was organising a summit with student union leaders from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam for potential leaders of the ASEAN communities in Victoria. Mai Ly learnt about their cultures, lifestyles and the way they worked, shared and led. She said she will treasure the memories of people she describes as the direct opposite of Melbourne’s cold and windy winters. “The Vietnamese woman I stayed with was kind and warm-hearted; she showed me how Australian-Vietnamese live and maintain traditions through family. “Vietnamese communities are huge in Melbourne and Sydney and the children speak Vietnamese well even though they’ve attended Australian schools since kindergarten.” Mai Ly knows that the exchange experience took her out of her comfort zone; the travel bug has bitten. “My perspective on Vietnam and the world is now totally different,” she said. “I know I should travel more and further, to see things from different points of view.”
Green haven in a concrete
jungle
Within the sprawling mass of housing, commerce and industry across Ho Chi Minh City, there’s a team of environmentally and socially responsible young people constructing pockets of green space among the concrete.
Story by Karen Matthews
Led by a local social enterprise named the Green Youth Collective (GYC), the initiative aims to address the challenges facing the densely populated city such as a lack of green space, food safety as well as broader issues of the limitations in career options for young individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“It’s helping to develop leadership skills, a sense of environmental awareness as well as expand the options for the future professions of these inspiring young people, through careers in organic urban gardening, landscape architecture, permaculture or environmental education,” Ms Meftah said.
GYC’s training programs empower young residents to contribute to environmental sustainability and the production of healthy and accessible food through the construction of urban gardens on unused rooftops and wall spaces across the city.
RMIT Vietnam students are getting involved in the work of GYC through the University’s Specialist Public Relations Writing and Practice course.
“We work with hundreds of young people from areas in and around Ho Chi Minh City including the Thao Dan centre for street children in Go Vap district, the Anh Linh school for street children in district seven, the Life Project in district eight, just to name a few,” GYC co-founder Tanya Meftah explained. “Through our training programs, these young individuals are able to set-up and manage their own organic garden on a rooftop, wall or balcony.
With a brief to help raise awareness of GYC in the community, second year students Bui Thi Dan Anh, Tran Thuy Linh and Huynh Ngoc Duy An have delivered a pitch to the social enterprise for an organic festival. It’s an event designed to provide a space for urban garden growers to sell produce as well as build community awareness and engagement with the work of GYC. Group member Bui Thi Dan Anh said there’s a growing consumer demand in Vietnam for fresh, healthy and organic food.
“Our research indicates there’s an increasing number of people concerned about food quality and its impact on their health,” Dan Anh said. “There’s an emphasis on quality rather than price with concerns around the chemicals used as part of current growing practices. “Our proposal to GYC is for a festival showcasing and selling organic produce, displaying information on how to construct an urban garden, as well as selling meals prepared by local suppliers using organically grown produce.”
As part of the recommendation, the group also suggests GYC engage with school students through fun and engaging urban garden programs, such as gardening competitions and visits to established gardens. “It’s a great opportunity for GYC to share resources and educate students on urban gardening, with these messages going home to families,” Dan Anh said. The group presented its final recommendation to GYC in early September and looks forward to working with the social enterprise to progress their ideas.
Exchange RMIT University Vietnam 11
Our com From industry connections to family fun days, the RMIT Vietnam community embraced the series of events on offer over the past few months. Story by Linh Nguyen and Van Doan
Explore, experience, engage Workshops, competitions, networking nights and a career expo were all part of the annual Career Week festivities at Saigon South in early July. Career Week is a five-day program supporting students through connections with industry, career topic presentations as well as a range of fun and engaging student activities.
Linking leaders in logistics Leading academics, researchers and practitioners specialising in logistics and supply chain management from across 25 countries joined in Ho Chi Minh City for the 19th International Symposium on Logistics (ISL) to share insights on the design of responsible and innovative global supply chains. Held for the first time this year in Vietnam, the event was jointly organised by RMIT Vietnam, RMIT
Exchange RMIT University Vietnam 12
Australia, and the Nottingham University Business School, supported by Cardiff Business School, the University of Hull. RMIT Vietnam hosted two days of the symposium at its Saigon South site where delegates took part in sessions covering technical, organisational, business, and social issues in logistics and supply chain management, operations and planning.
The week culminated in a career expo, attended by more than 1,200 students and 40 major employers. It also included the launch of a career mentoring program, which aims to help students gain insights into industry by matching them with mentors from the business world. RMIT Vietnam Hanoi career week runs from 27 to 31 October 2014.
mmunity A day of family fun A great time was had by all during RMIT Vietnam’s annual family fun days, held on 6 July at Saigon South and 13 July at the Little Park in Hanoi. Staff and their families enjoyed a day of entertainment, games and refreshments, with magicians, face painting and balloons all on offer for the young and young-at-heart.
A clean and green community RMIT Vietnam Hanoi students have so far spent three Saturday mornings cleaning up Ngoc Khanh Lake and its surrounding area near the University’s Hanoi site, as the first initiative in a pro-environment program started by RMIT Vietnam Lecturer Aiman Abousher.
An ongoing commitment, staff and students are leading the clean-up effort for a cleaner and greener environment for Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, Thien Quang Lake, Giang Vo Lake and Truc Bach Lake.
FOLLOW the RMIT Vietnam community RMITUniversityVietnam Exchange RMIT University Vietnam 13
Student
Q & A
Taro Iijima Diploma of Commerce
Interview by Phuong Pham
Why RMIT Vietnam? I began my journey to RMIT Vietnam just after I graduated from high school in Japan. My father gave me two choices: to go to a Japanese university or to study abroad. I decided that studying abroad would equip me with lifetime benefits so that’s why I’m here. One more reason for studying here was to learn English. When I first arrived in Vietnam two years ago, I could barely speak a word.
What do you like about Vietnam? My true interests lie in the cultural gaps between Vietnam and Japan, particularly in cuisine. I find learning and understanding a new culture very promising and challenging at the same time, but it motivates me to stay and study here.
What’s your favourite course? Marketing Principles. I’m keen on understanding theories in marketing, particularly how to attract target audiences, how to sell products and ultimately, what makes a successful marketing strategy.
What do you do when you’re not studying? I love eating, especially Vietnamese street food so I usually hang out with my friends at well-known places in District 1 or 3.
Where would you like to travel in Vietnam? Da Nang and Nha Trang.
Exchange RMIT University Vietnam 14
The team at Saigon South
Quiet Achievers Moving to a new office? Require a room setup for an event? Temperature needs to be adjusted in the classroom? Accidentally left your desk drawer keys at home? Story by Tran Tran
For help with these everyday requests, staff can thank the quiet achievers within RMIT Vietnam’s dedicated maintenance team who work behind the scenes to ensure the smooth and efficient hum of operations and facilities across both Saigon South and Hanoi. At Saigon South, the team look after general maintenance which includes building maintenance, relocations, and event support as well as maintaining and operating mechanical and electrical systems such as the air conditioning system, lifts, access control, water treatment, fire safety system, and camera surveillance. The team in Hanoi is responsible for managing services such as security and cleaning, working with the building owner for maintenance, overseeing space requirements as well as preparing for University events. In 2013, the maintenance team supported 600 events and workshops for staff and students at Saigon South and another 200 in Hanoi, which involved helping to set and pack up events as well as supervising and liaising with suppliers. Hanoi’s Facilities Manager Mr Nguyen Hong Hai said his team’s strength is in multi-tasking. “With a small team with many tasks, we’re committed to being flexible and attending to the multitude of requests we receive on a daily basis,” he said. “Tasks are shared among the team and we do our best to offer excellent and efficient service to staff and students where needed.” Saigon South’s Minor Works Manager Mr Le Ngoc Hung describes his team as a group of mason bees. “You can see them everywhere on campus as they move from one building to the other to support staff and students,” Mr Hung said. “The team considers the University a second home and they constantly reserve their highest commitment to maintain it,” he said. “We’re proud when we see students, staff, parents and visitors enjoy the beautiful grounds, the well-organised furniture, and the daily smooth operations.”
The team at Hanoi
While the team’s efforts may be often behind the scenes, the maintenance team play an integral and significant role in the smooth running of everyone’s work and study environment. Exchange RMIT University Vietnam 15
Building blocks Story by Thuy Le Beanland Building is the new name for RMIT Vietnam’s Academic Building One at its Saigon South site. In early June 2014, the building was renamed in honour of one of the University’s founders, Emeritus Professor David Beanland AO, a former vice-chancellor and president of RMIT University and former director of RMIT Vietnam. Professor Beanland had a significant role and vision towards the internationalisation of RMIT, making an inspirational commitment to establishing Vietnam’s first international university. Beanland Building started operating in 2005 with four floors with a fifth floor opening in November 2008. The Engineering Lab opened in 2010 with sponsorship from Intel Vietnam and the following year saw renovations to the Beanland Library and Learning Commons on levels three and four. Beanland Building has been recognised as leader in green design across Vietnam, winning the 2010 National Energy Efficiency Award by the Ministry of Industry and Trade as well as an energy saving award in the Saigon Times Top 40 Awards 2010.
RMIT Vietnam President Professor Gael McDonald (from right), former RMIT Australia Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner AO, Professor David Beanland AO and his wife Heather Beanland
www.rmit.edu.vn Exchange RMIT University Vietnam 16