Upon graduating from RMIT University in Vietnam with a Bachelor of Commerce in 2009, Nhu has worked in a variety of sectors, including marketing and public health, before transitioning into the education and training industry.
As the former Education Program Manager and Founding Member at Young Engineers, her mission is to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Vietnam. Nhu decided to take up the role four years ago, not only because she felt inspired by the organisation’s vision, but also because of the shared goals and enthusiasm of the management, who are her long-standing friends from RMIT.
“Our goal is to bridge the gap in STEM education between Vietnam and the world, to foster a generation well-equipped with technical knowledge as well as strong critical thinking skill who are ready for the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution,” Nhu said.
Working in STEM education sparked her interest in education technology (EdTech). Nhu saw the value in continuous learning and furthering her formal training in education, and therefore attempted to get a scholarship to help her achieve her goal.
“I applied for a Chevening Scholarship twice, and my hard work paid off at the second attempt. The scholarship enabled me to pursue a Master of Science in Education at the University of Bristol, with a specialism in learning and technology”, she said.
It was through this Master’s degree that Nhu developed a stronger understanding of the use of educational technology to support learning and teaching. The contemporary course structure allows her to try out different educational technologies such as online teaching and learning technologies, robotics and immersive technologies, as well as to engage in debates to critically examine the integration of technology into learning.
“A highlight of my study was developing my own idea for a mobile application that uses augmented reality to support children and their parents to learn about science and to connect with nature,” Nhu shared.
“The design idea for this app stems from my interest and professional experience in STEM education.”
Nhu wishes to apply the knowledge and skills she has gained into initiatives to develop learner-centred technology to transform the way we teach and learn.
“Studying education in the UK helped me grow immensely, both professionally and academically,” she said. “In the long term, I will strive to pioneer new ways of integrating technologies into education to enhance the experience for teachers and learners, improve access to education and ensure continued learning for everyone.”
Story: Ha Hoang
