Australia-Vietnam cooperation thrives in English language training

Australia-Vietnam cooperation thrives in English language training

For over 10 years, RMIT University in conjunction with Australia’s Department of Home Affairs have delivered English language training for Vietnamese government agencies. This year marks the first time the courses have been switched to online, and seen continued success.

Since 2010, the Australian Department of Home Affairs and RMIT have cooperated to provide English language courses to over 1,100 government officials across Vietnam, helping them enhance their capacity to communicate with foreign travellers and regional colleagues where the common language is English.

Following the decade-long success of the program, the partners have recently decided to extend the cooperation and aim to cater for about 500 learners from 2021 to 2023.

The latest round of courses, which concluded this June, includes officers from the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security, the Vietnam Border Defence Force, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, the Supreme People’s Procuracy of Vietnam and the Vietnam Coast Guard.

For the first time in over 10 years, the teachers and learners had to switch to online mid-course along with the rest of classes offered by RMIT in Vietnam due to COVID-19. They also held a nationwide closing ceremony online.

The latest round of English language classes in the 11-year collaborative program saw classes switch to online mid-course for the first time due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The latest round of English language classes in the 11-year collaborative program saw classes switch to online mid-course for the first time due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Ms Ronnie Hill, Head of Department for New Initiatives at RMIT’s School of English & University Pathways recalled: “We had a group of beginner students and their teachers in Da Nang who rose to the challenge with enthusiasm. It was clear to see from the comments at the closing ceremony, follow-up emails and messages that all the participants highly valued their time with the program.”

Delivered by educators from RMIT’s School of English & University Pathways, the courses offered range from General English to English for Workplace Communication and IELTS Preparation.

The curricula are tailored for each government agency and complemented by state-of-the-art technologies and an experienced team of international educators.

Ms Urica Lopez, Director of the School of English & University Pathways said: “English is the world’s lingua franca, and communication is the key to finding common ground. Through these courses, we want to empower learners with the language they need to affect change on a global level. This also provides an opportunity for us to work together to further impact in Vietnam.”

Since 2010, the Australian Department of Home Affairs and RMIT have cooperated to provide English language training to over 1,100 government officials across Vietnam. (Pictured: The closing ceremony of an in-person class in 2020) Since 2010, the Australian Department of Home Affairs and RMIT have cooperated to provide English language training to over 1,100 government officials across Vietnam. (Pictured: The closing ceremony of an in-person class in 2020)

According to Ms Kylie Ellis, Counsellor (Home Affairs) from the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, the program has “contributed to Vietnam’s capacity to manage the increasing numbers of foreign tourists and business travellers across its borders, and to respond effectively to illegal movement of people and goods”.

“The success of RMIT’s English Language Training helps promote the strong and effective bilateral cooperation between the Australian Department of Home Affairs and the Vietnamese government,” Ms Ellis added.

Story: Ngoc Hoang

30 June 2021

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