COVID-19 disruption delivers innovation in university sector

COVID-19 disruption delivers innovation in university sector

The COVID-19 global pandemic has had far-reaching effects across every nation, every economy and every industry sector around the world. As Vietnam emerges from the pandemic, well ahead of the pack, the local university sector is reviewing what worked well with online delivery and is looking at changes in education that could last for years.

As COVID-19 emerged as a global health issue earlier this year, the education sector was faced with the question of how students could continue their studies.

After a period of week-to week uncertainty as to whether its three campuses in Vietnam could open, in March, RMIT announced it would move all courses online until the end of June. The move was designed to create stability and help support students’ academic success. But even earlier that, in February, the University’s expansive pre-higher education English language courses had rapidly and successfully switched to online mode.

As COVID-19 emerged as a global health issue earlier this year, the education sector was faced with the question of how students could continue their studies.

After a period of week-to week uncertainty as to whether its three campuses in Vietnam could open, in March, RMIT announced it would move all courses online until the end of June. The move was designed to create stability and help support students’ academic success. But even earlier that, in February, the University’s expansive pre-higher education English language courses had rapidly and successfully switched to online mode.

RMIT Vietnam Chairman Professor Peter Coloe said that while this is a time of great disruption, there is a lot we can share from our experiences with others in the Vietnam education sector as they too consider online delivery.RMIT Vietnam Chairman Professor Peter Coloe said that while this is a time of great disruption, there is a lot we can share from our experiences with others in the Vietnam education sector as they too consider online delivery.

Strong readiness

What made these transitions possible was RMIT Vietnam’s direct access to RMIT’s global expertise in online learning and teaching for many decades.

RMIT Vietnam Chairman Professor Peter Coloe said the organisation had been delivering high-quality education for more than 130 years in Melbourne, Australia. RMIT Vietnam is celebrating 20 years in the country in 2020, and has a deep well of knowledge and expertise because it is part of a global university meeting international standards.

Professor Coloe said, “In Australia, RMIT is accredited with the highest-level Australian Government authority for quality and governance, known as the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). This ensures our international teaching standards are of the highest quality and we work hard to maintain these standards.

“As a testament to our excellent standards, one of our leading academics, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning and Teaching at the College of Business and Law, Professor Claire Macken, was recently invited by TEQSA to host a series of webinars for teachers about quality online learning.

Professor Coloe said, “From Australia to Vietnam and other parts of Asia and Europe where RMIT has a presence, it’s been extraordinary to witness our 94,000 students and 12,000 staff switch to complete online delivery in just a matter of weeks. Our ability to adapt comes from years of building our global technology footprint and having some of the best educators in their fields.”

Professor Coloe emphasised that “while this has been a time of great disruption, there is a lot we can share from our experiences with the Vietnam education sector.

“We’re encouraged to see how well our students adapted to online learning, after a little reluctance, and the benefits they have discovered from the increased flexibility and accessibility,” he said.

RMIT Vietnam Executive Dean (Academic & Students) Professor Bennett said that the quality of our education, the current and topical content, and the exceptional quality of our teaching staff all remains firmly in place as part of our RMIT commitment to an amazing student experience.RMIT Vietnam Executive Dean (Academic & Students) Professor Bennett said that the quality of our education, the current and topical content, and the exceptional quality of our teaching staff all remains firmly in place as part of our RMIT commitment to an amazing student experience.

Quality assurance is a must

RMIT Vietnam Executive Dean (Academic & Students) Professor Rick Bennett said that when the University switched to online delivery during the lockdown, it first reviewed all 190 courses offered and found the majority could still be delivered very successfully through a variety of best practice approaches to online teaching.

With more than 100 years of experience from Australia, including RMIT Online, and always putting the students at the centre of the learning equation, Professor Bennett emphasised that RMIT’s online classes were taught by the same experienced and qualified teachers as with face-to-face classes.

“The access to high-quality material and study resources is also the same. It is only the method of delivery that is different and, arguably, more dynamic than previously. Students continue to receive feedback on their studies from the work they do online and for homework. They also continue to receive specific advice for how to improve their skills and how to progress.”

As the first semester comes to an end, and the pandemic risk decreases, the university has announced that Semester 2 will be offered face-to-face, but with an additional 30 courses offered purely online.

“We’ve found students have displayed enormous resilience and adaptability to this new way of learning and many students have expressed that they have enjoyed the flexibility even more than face-to-face.”

Professor Bennett said, “We do a lot to keep students connected and engaged with both their studies and with other students.”

“This includes rich and detailed course material with narration from a lecturer, discussion of the key ideas of the lesson through online forums and online drop-in sessions with a lecturer which are recorded and available for others.

“We considered the whole student experience and offered an online equivalent – like access to the library, study support, career advice and student wellbeing.”

To provide a high-quality online education, the whole student experience, not just classes and assignments, must exist and be available online, said Professor Bennett. To provide a high-quality online education, the whole student experience, not just classes and assignments, must exist and be available online, said Professor Bennett.

Student experience stays in the spotlight

Professor Coloe said the pandemic has forced new ways of thinking which will be felt for years to come.

“We adapted rapidly and continuously. We have been reminded that education is so much more than just a lecturer standing in front of a group of students. It takes exceptional teachers, high quality materials and engaged students to deliver positive outcomes – and regardless of how the learning takes place, the results can change the lives of students forever.”

Bachelor of Fashion (Merchandise Management) student Truong Kieu Trinh said that her decision to study online had been surprisingly beneficial.

“Online learning truly has given me some benefits. I can save more time and prepare everything carefully before attending classes. When the lecture finishes, I can find the recording on Canvas and listen to it again if I failed to catch what the lecturer said in the session. I can expand my skillset in knowing how to work and study online. I think this skill is very important in this 4.0 era,” she said.

Story: Sue Nelson & Ha Hoang 

29 May 2020

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