Microsoft education director speaks at RMIT Vietnam CODE event

Microsoft education director speaks at RMIT Vietnam CODE event

On 10 June, more than 80 local and international education professionals attended a public talk by Microsoft Asia Pacific’s Education Director Don Carlson at RMIT Vietnam’s Saigon South campus.

The event was hosted by RMIT’s Centre of Digital Excellence – or CODE – a university initiative launched in 2016 to promote digital best practice across Asia. CODE was founded on the pillars of digital impact, inclusion and imagination, and it furthers this mission through a series of projects and public talks.

Mr Carlson’s presentation addressed all three CODE pillars through a focus on emerging changes in the field of education. Entitled Educational digital transformation: can it keep pace with the business sector? his talk described the considerable shifts that have been made in industry across the past century, and what these changes may indicate for the future of education.

Don Carlson (centre), Education Director for Microsoft Asia Pacific, with RMIT Vietnam President Professor Gael McDonald (left) and Samantha Winter (right), Academic Registrar from RMIT Melbourne. Don Carlson (centre), Education Director for Microsoft Asia Pacific, with RMIT Vietnam President Professor Gael McDonald (left) and Samantha Winter (right), Academic Registrar from RMIT Melbourne.

Mr Carlson began his presentation by describing the “digital revolution” that has transformed all aspects of commercial enterprise. He shared examples of technological changes that have disrupted entire industries while introducing new opportunities, such as the automobile revolution in the early 20th century. He noted that a similar kind of large-scale revolution is now occurring in education in the digital sphere.

He then shared suggestions for successfully achieving digital transformation in the education sector. Future-focused thinking, he said, is critical when considering technological improvements: leaders should focus not just on the “how” of achieving change, but of the “why” behind the changes. Mr Carlson also encouraged educational leaders to consider the human resources necessary to bring these changes to fruition; he said that change is driven not just by technologies, but by the people who establish and use them. 

Luncheon attendees responded to Mr Carlson’s presentation with enthusiasm and engagement. The event successfully furthered RMIT Vietnam’s goals of promoting digital excellence through CODE, and it helped spark ideas that will impact communities throughout the region.  

Story: Heather Swenddal

15 June 2017

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