RMIT University backs Vietnam with new AU$250m strategic investment fund

This fund will see RMIT invest in education, research, partnerships and campus infrastructure, as Vietnam’s leading international university, contributing to the country’s social and economic goals.    

Speaking at the RMIT campus in Hanoi, Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Anthony Albanese MP, said: “Today I very much welcome the announcement of an additional AU$250 million commitment from RMIT. That is a vote of confidence in Vietnam's future.”

The first outcome of this fund will be RMIT’s Hanoi Industry and Innovation Hub, creating a gateway between local Vietnam-based partners and international expertise.

The Hub will support collaboration between Hanoi’s communities, Government and industries on key priorities, including smart and sustainable cities, regional collaboration, emerging technologies and social innovation. In addition to RMIT’s renowned undergraduate and postgraduate offerings, the Hub will cultivate a higher skilled and more adaptive workforce through short-form education solutions and workforce training.

Established in 2000, RMIT Vietnam is the first international university in the country and currently has over 12,000 students, 1,000 staff and 20,000 alumni. 

“As Australia’s largest higher educational institution in-country and recognised as the exemplar of international education in Vietnam, we’re proud of the contribution that RMIT has made to Vietnam over the past 23 years,” said RMIT’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Alec Cameron.  

“Education has the power to transform lives, communities and economies, so we’re committed to partnering with Vietnam for the long term, to support its rise to a high-income country by 2045.”    

In the 50th year of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam, this significant investment by RMIT will play a key role in supporting the ambitions of the Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy to double two-way investment between the two countries. 

Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Mr Nguyen Tat Thanh said: “In the past 50 years, Australia has always been a trusted partner of Vietnam in all fields, especially in education. It's great to see the impact that an Australian university like RMIT has made in Vietnam that helps strengthen the people-to-people relations between the two countries.

“I genuinely appreciate the commitment to Vietnam that RMIT has shown over two decades and believe with the significant investment fund recently announced, RMIT will continue to play a key role in supporting Vietnam to achieve its development aspirations.”