RMIT University backs Vietnam with new AU$250m strategic investment fund

June 03, 2023 - 16:19
Today, in the presence of the Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Anthony Albanese MP, RMIT University announced the next phase of its Country Commitment to Vietnam, including a AU$250 million strategic investment fund.  
(From left to right) Pro Vice-Chancellor and General Director of RMIT Vietnam Professor Claire Macken, Prime Minister of Australia the Honourable Anthony Albanese MP, Vice-Chancellor and President of RMIT University Professor Alec Cameron

This fund will see RMIT invest in education, research, partnerships and campus infrastructure and, as Vietnam’s leading international university, contributing to the country’s social and economic goals. 

The first outcome of this fund will be RMIT’s Hanoi Industry and Innovation Hub, creating a gateway between local Vietnam-based partners and international expertise. 

The Hub will support collaboration between Hanoi’s communities, Government and industries on key priorities, including smart and sustainable cities, regional collaboration, emerging technologies and social innovation. In addition to RMIT’s renowned undergraduate and postgraduate offerings, the Hub will cultivate a higher skilled and more adaptive workforce through short-form education solutions and workforce training. 

Established in 2000, RMIT Vietnam is the first international university in the country and currently has over 12,000 students, 1,000 staff and 20,000 alumni.

The Prime Minister of Australia was greeted by RMIT students and alumni during his visit to RMIT’s Hanoi campus on 3 June 2023.

“As Australia’s largest higher educational institution in-country and recognised as the exemplar of international education in Vietnam, we’re proud of the contribution that RMIT has made to Vietnam over the past 23 years,” said RMIT’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Alec Cameron. “Education has the power to transform lives, communities and economies, so we’re committed to partnering with Vietnam for the long term, to support its rise to a high-income country by 2045.”     

In the 50th year of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam, this significant investment by RMIT will play a key role in supporting the ambitions of the Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy to double two-way investment between the two countries.

RMIT student Tran Thanh Van presented her work to the Australian Prime Minister at RMIT’s Hanoi Industry and Innovation Hub.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Mr. Nguyen Tat Thanh said: “In the past 50 years, Australia has always been a trusted partner of Vietnam in all fields, especially in education. It's great to see the impact that an Australian university like RMIT has made in Vietnam to help strengthen people-to-people relations between the two countries. I genuinely appreciate the commitment to Vietnam that RMIT has shown over two decades and believe with the significant investment fund recently announced, RMIT will continue to play a key role in supporting Vietnam to achieve its development aspirations.”

E-paper