RMIT Vietnam hosts landmark TEDx event

Tiếng Việt

RMIT Vietnam hosts landmark TEDx event

TEDxRMIT, the first student-organised TEDx event in Vietnam, was successfully hosted at RMIT Vietnam's Saigon South campus on 29 July.

Inspired by the worldwide phenomenon TEDx Talks, the event featured six guest speakers who introduced new ideas and stimulated discussion on the theme "Thriving Generation".

The brainchild of three RMIT Vietnam students, the event was planned and executed by a group of student volunteers over a period of 25 weeks, led by Bachelor of Business (International Business) student and TEDxRMIT President Chau Pham Bao.

The TED slogan “ideas worth spreading” inspired Chau to organise the event and, in doing so, expose students to original topics and different ways of thinking.

“We want to not only inspire people but also empower them in the most practical ways,” Chau said.

"The students from RMIT [will] benefit greatly from coming to our event. They have a chance to encounter worthy ideas that can change their mindsets and shape their perceptions."

“They say if you can't do great things then do small things in great ways.

“That quote pretty much shaped our very initial objective for TEDxRMIT, and that is to put together an event that 100 people really enjoy, rather than something that 1000 people kind of like.”

TEDxRMIT targeted the next generation of professionals and leaders in Vietnam. An audience of 130 strong attended the event, where a number of well-known speakers like Madame Ton Nu Thi Ninh spoke directly to the “Thriving Generation” of Vietnam.

TEDxRMIT student organisers gather after the event to celebrate its success

A member of Vietnam’s future generation of leaders, Chau clarified what the theme meant to her and the other organisers.

“Thriving generation means a mission to us. As young people who are practically the future of our country, we feel the responsibility on our shoulders at an early age,” Chau said.

“Not just the responsibility to make something out of ourselves, not just the responsibility to innovate a better tomorrow, but also the responsibility to advocate and promote happiness and peace.

“For our group, we start simple – we spread ideas.”

More TEDx events are on the horizon for RMIT Vietnam following the success of Chau and her team of organisers, who are encouraging more students to get involved.

"I just hope that what we made happen today can become an inspiration for everyone else to do something really meaningful for their university life, and organizing another TEDx event can be it," Chau said.

Story: Daniel Eslick

Campus and community

05 August 2016