RMIT student awarded prestigious scholarship at Spikes Asia Creative Academy

RMIT student awarded prestigious scholarship at Spikes Asia Creative Academy

RMIT University student Do Nguyen Chi Mai was thrilled to win the Gold Prize at the Vietnam Young Lion 2019, but now she looks to be unstoppable, having also recently been awarded a prestigious scholarship through the Spikes Asia Creative Academy held last two months in Singapore.

In its sixth consecutive year, the Spikes Asia Creative Academy is a program hosted by Cheil Worldwide and Spikes Asia. This year, Chi Mai was chosen as one of 15 students across the Asia Pacific region to participate.

During the program, Chi Mai was taught and trained by CEOs, managers and representatives from the biggest communications and creative agencies across the Asia Pacific region. Together with handpicked students from 10 other Asian countries, she has learnt problem solving skills from detangling challenges that she would ordinarily not be exposed to.

“The challenges encouraged us to come together, to bring our communications knowledge to create campaigns that help change the world. Also, I felt lucky to listen to the guest speakers here to deliver innovative, exclusive knowledge based on their personal experiences,” Chi Mai said. 

Chi Mai at the Spikes Asia Creative Academy Chi Mai at the Spikes Asia Creative Academy

In part, Chi Mai attributes her success to her time at RMIT University. Having studied Professional Communication at both Hanoi and Melbourne campuses in Vietnam and Australia, she was able to equip herself with practical, real-world experiences. Chi Mai was given opportunities to solve client briefs by her second year and had exposure to unique case studies from both countries. This method of learning helped her become familiar with solving briefs in international competitions.

Given how valuable Chi Mai found the Spikes Asia Creative Academy experience, she plans to take part in other competitions just like it to gain more opportunities that will help her expand her knowledge and challenge herself in this field.

For students considering entering international competitions, Chi Mai advised: “Timing and your ability to manage your working schedule are really important. Do not make mistakes in your work. You should focus on delivering error-free work before you can achieve excellent results. Follow guidelines, manage your schedule, [and] practice solving tests and presentation.”

In the future, Chi Mai’s dream is to help solve social problems when working in the communications field for agencies and NGOs in Vietnam.

Chi Mai and other students Chi Mai and other students

Story: Dung Trinh

01 November 2019

Share

  • Scholarships
  • Career development
  • Achievements
Engage

Related news

news-4-design-education-through-digital-heritage.jpg

Rethinking design education through digital heritage
Icon / Small / Calendar Created with Sketch. 20 Nov 2025

As global heritage faces threats from war, urbanisation and climate change, a race to digitise culture has emerged and Vietnam is beginning to find its place.

Three young people looking at a phone

Jokingly serious: How Gen Z uses memes to discuss gender
Icon / Small / Calendar Created with Sketch. 18 Nov 2025

To Gen Z, memes aren’t just silly entertainment – they're becoming a vehicle to express opinions about major social issues, such as gender debates.

nguyen-mai-phuong-thumb.jpg

Composing a future for forgotten songs
Icon / Small / Calendar Created with Sketch. 04 Nov 2025

In a quiet village nestled in Vietnam’s northern mountains, the lullabies of a grandmother and the soft notes of a gourd lute once echoed through stilt houses. For RMIT Vietnam Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar Nguyen Mai Phuong, those melodies from her childhood were a call to action.

Two people holding up speech bubble signages

Why does Vietnam need a “Stop Scams” campaign?
Icon / Small / Calendar Created with Sketch. 31 Oct 2025

According to RMIT lecturer in Professional Communication Dr Bui Quoc Liem, Vietnam needs a national campaign to turn communication into a shield against cyber crime.

Load more +