RMIT Vietnam hosts inaugural conference on access and inclusion in higher education in Vietnam

Tiếng Việt

RMIT Vietnam hosts inaugural conference on access and inclusion in higher education in Vietnam

The first-of-its-kind 2-day conference in Vietnam brought together equity, diversity and disability management groups, policy makers and practitioners, counsellors, advisors, and health professionals to identify and remove barriers for people with a disability participating in higher education and training.

The ‘Accessibility & Inclusion Practices in Higher Education in Vietnam’ conference at RMIT University Vietnam was organised based on the inclusive and accessible practices with special supports and services for participants with different needs.

RMIT Vietnam Vice President (Academic) Professor Rick Bennett said that the conference offered theoretical knowledge and practical experience from experts across the country and around the world.

“This really is a unique opportunity for our community to improve our knowledge through presentations, artwork, posters, displays and a book launch,” Professor Bennett said. “It plays a key role in supporting practitioners and the sector with an opportunity for professional development and encourages discussion and debate which informs the sector and ensures that we are all working towards an improved practice model.”

RMIT Vietnam Vice President (Academic) Professor Rick Bennett said that the conference offered theoretical knowledge and practical experience from experts across the country and around the world. Speeches of his and other speakers were presented in sign language for audience with hearing difficulties.

An estimated 1 in 25 people in Vietnam are visually impaired, and 15-20 per cent of the world’s population is thought to have a language-based learning disability (LBLD). The RMIT Vietnam Equitable Learning Service was established in 2013 to give every student access to equitable learning materials they can digest to ensure no student is disadvantaged, and to make the system fair for everybody.

Since the service was established, RMIT Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education) and Vice President Professor Belinda Tynan said the university has seen students with visual impairments and LBLD "achieve great success through accessible learning materials" with the right tools and mindset.

RMIT Vietnam Bachelor of Business (Business Information Systems) graduate Nguyen Tuan Tu, the first student with a significant visual impairment to study at RMIT Vietnam, shared his journey at the University which demonstrated how committed RMIT Vietnam is in supporting students with disabilities.

Starting at RMIT as an English student, Tu tried many different strategies to aid his studies, all with varying degrees of success.

“The biggest challenge I had was to get fully involved in class activities and understand the teaching materials,” Tu said. “However, being aware of the circumstances, I had set out to design my own learning strategies and helped many lecturers and staff members learn how to support students like me properly.”

Since his graduation in 2017, Tu has continuously supported RMIT in various projects to support people with disabilities, and is looking for opportunities to share his experience with other schools and organisations to help raise awareness.

The conference covered various topics including access and inclusion in higher education, student voices and student journeys, digital access and management, transition into employment, inclusive teaching and universal design for learning, and the RMIT Diversity and Inclusion Framework and Equitable Learning Services.

Through a presentation by Director of Sao Mai Centre for the Blind Mr Dang Hoai Phuc, participants also learnt about the higher education support program in Vietnam which addresses the challenges and difficulties creating barriers for visually impaired students to equally and effectively access higher education.

Director of Sao Mai Centre for the Blind Mr Dang Hoai Phuc (left) presented about the higher education support program in Vietnam which addresses the challenges and difficulties creating barriers for visually impaired students to equally and effectively access higher education.

In the 20 years that followed the landmine explosion that took Mr Phuc’s sight at the age of nine, he has led many key projects for the blind community including establishing the distance computer training network in 2003, developing a library of online accessible materials and assistance software, and creating a higher education support program.

Over the course of the 2-day event, participants heard valuable insights from University of South Australia Senior Lecturer, digital access specialist and author Dr Scott Hollier, Malaysian Foundation for the Blind CEO and Co-Founder Mr Silatul Rahim Dahman, the United Nations Development Programme Disability Rights Officer in Hanoi Ms Dao Thu Huong, Senior Learning Designer in the field of accessible e-learning Dr Ruchi Permvattana, and RMIT University Equitable Learning Services Advisor Dr Tori Jackson.

Valuable insights were shared by University of South Australia Senior Lecturer, Edith Cowan University Adjunct Senior Lecturer, digital access specialist and author Dr Scott Hollier at the conference.

The event was hosted by RMIT University Vietnam at its Saigon South campus on 8 and 9 January in collaboration with Sao Mai Centre for the Blind.

Story: Ha Hoang

Campus and community

13 January 2020