When sustainability becomes part of the learning journey

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Tiếng Việt

When sustainability becomes part of the learning journey

The RMIT Student Award for Excellence in Sustainability recognises sustainability as a mark of excellence and a worthy academic achievement.

Students are no strangers to sustainability. They plant trees, organise cleanups, join green clubs and swap plastic bottles for prizes. Green activities are everywhere. But there is still a gap. Students often see these initiatives as extracurriculars, separate from their coursework. Students usually participate in one-off events- something that looks good on a resume but does not reflect their day-to-day habits. They might participate in a weekend cleanup but still toss everything into the same rubbish bin at home.

This creates a disconnection. Too often, students perceive sustainability as an add-on, not something they live. Students know it's important, but they have not made it part of their thinking. This is where RMIT comes in. RMIT weaves sustainability into actual learning, not just with scattered activities. In an RMIT Sustainability & Creativity course, students created a suite of communication materials for SmartSolar, a locally based sustainability start-up. The project aimed to help potential customers better understand how solar energy can support environmental sustainability while also providing a cost- and time-efficient energy solution.

15 June 2026

Six people stand in a classroom, with three students holding certificates in front of a screen displaying “2025 RMIT Vietnam Student Award for Excellence in Sustainability.”

Recognising sustainability excellence in the classroom

Projects like the partnership with SmartSolar take an innovative approach to sustainability. Through research and creativity, students identify wicked problems, address gaps through local collaborations, and create scalable solutions for greater impact. RMIT University believes such projects should be recognised and has, therefore, created the RMIT Student Award for Excellence in Sustainability. The award encourages students across all programs to recognise and celebrate work that demonstrates sustainability as a core principle across fields of study and professions.

To enter the award, students submit existing assignments that exemplify sustainable thinking, whether environmental, social or economic, for evaluation. The award validates the meaningful work students are already doing, highlighting their commitment to sustainability.

The award welcomes students from every discipline. Current project leader, Associate Professor Justin Battin, shared, “This award is not limited to any discipline. As long as you can demonstrate that you have completed an assessment that uniquely and innovatively contributes to sustainable practice, your work can be recognised. Inclusivity is what sets this award apart.” Business students, designers, and engineers are all invited to show how their work contributes to sustainable practice. In the previous two years, students from Design Studies, Professional Communication, Fashion Enterprise, Digital Marketing, and Robotics and Mechanical Engineering have all been recognised.”

Beyond the checkbox

As a university committed to impact, RMIT has consistently sponsored sustainability focused workshops, industry events and competitions. With this award, RMIT University wants students to see how their course work can make a genuine difference in addressing sustainability challenges. Through this award, students can see how their coursework makes a genuine difference in addressing sustainability challenges. More than a nice-to-have, sustainability is a fundamental part of an RMIT education.

Authors: Mai Tran Ha Vy, Nguyen Le Bang Linh, Luong Trang Anh, Nguyen Minh Chau

When sustainability becomes part of the learning journey