RMIT top graduate leverages digital media skillsets for a brighter future

Tiếng Việt

RMIT top graduate leverages digital media skillsets for a brighter future

Nguyen Quy Nhat Ha, a Bachelor of Design (Digital Media) graduate, has been recognised with an RMIT Vice-Chancellor’s Award for her excellent academic results and commitment to driving positive change for the future.

Nguyen Quy Nhat Ha (pictured left) is the recipient of the 2024 RMIT Vice-Chancellor’s Award at the Saigon South campus of RMIT Vietnam.

As a student, Ha’s commitment to learning was reflected in her 3.8 GPA, graduating at the top of her class in the Bachelor of Design (Digital Media) program.

Ha values a sense of community and taking initiative to create impact. During her presidency at the RMIT Visual Art Club, Ha organised several events to serve the art enthusiasts of RMIT.

In early 2023, Ha was part of an RMIT student team that participated in one of the most reputable and high-calibre competitions in advertising and design in the world, the D&AD New Blood Awards. Her team achieved a remarkable feat by winning a Wood Pencil award for their project titled “Oopsie!”.

In the form of a mobile collection of gamified short comics, “Oopsie!” aims to reassure mothers and fathers who are experiencing postnatal depression that it is perfectly acceptable to make mistakes along the parenting journey.

According to RMIT Digital Media Program Manager Mr Ricardo Arce, “this accolade is the first award of its kind for any university in Vietnam.”

Mr Arce said this achievement has helped enhance and promote the Digital Media program and encouraged other students to strive for excellence.

After D&AD, Ha led a team of students to collaborate with RMIT lecturer in Professional Communication Dr Lena Bucatariu and RMIT Wellbeing to produce the video “Are you a potato?” for the RMIT Wellbeing Fair 2023 to raise awareness among staff and students who experience impostor syndrome.

As the Manager of Equitable Learning and Accessibility within the Wellbeing team at RMIT Vietnam, Ms Carol Whitney said: “Ha's leadership and dedication to this project has inspired others to engage in conversations surrounding mental health and wellbeing, fostering a more inclusive and supportive campus environment.”

Ha (pictured right) pitched the pilot of an episodic animation for her final assignment.   

Not only engaging in building up the community within RMIT and enhancing the University’s reputation, this Bachelor of Digital Media graduate is also eager to join social programs to widen her perspective.

Ha recalled: “Between August and October 2021, I was the project manager and illustrator for ‘Homemade with Heart’, a competition hosted by the USAID and Humanity & Inclusion organisation for people who invented homemade devices to aid people with disabilities.”

As an illustrator, Ha helped visually demonstrate the submitted inventions to help the general public understand them better, bridging the gap between the inventor and the audience.

In 2021, she was briefly a graphic designer and mentor for Bedtime English – a group dedicated to helping young Vietnamese learn English effectively.

“Between 2019 and 2020, I was a member of the 8760+ Project - a charity group that sought to help local Vietnamese shelters.”

Ha presented her final animation at her major project exhibition.

Impressed by her commitment to both the RMIT community and society, Mr Arce said: “During my experience as Ha’s lecturer at RMIT, I have seen many of her qualities shine: being exceptionally passionate about her studies, she has made positive impacts on the program with her outstanding course outcomes and was always eager to take initiative in various activities outside of the classroom.”

Ha celebrated her outstanding achievement with her beloved ones.

In her Vice-Chancellor’s Awards winner speech at the recent Graduation ceremony in RMIT Saigon South campus, Ha shared to her fellow graduates: “I feel so proud to be in the same movement with all of you to change the world for the better. And of course, to make the change, we need to believe that we can do such things”.

“The journey ahead is not going to be easy. But there's no reason to focus on how tall the mountains are, instead, believe in your righteousness that bring you joy”.

Meet Nguyen Quy Nhat Ha - Vice-Chancellor's Award winner, RMIT Class of 2024

About the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards:

The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards are awarded to two outstanding graduates from RMIT Vietnam in Hanoi and Saigon South campus respectively who have achieved excellent academic records and made distinguished contributions through service to the University community and to society during their time at RMIT Vietnam.

Story: June Pham

Campus and community

13 April 2024