Upskilling learners to adapt to changing digital economies

These were some of the topics tackled at a two-day conference, hosted by RMIT’s Business School in Vietnam.

At the ‘Designing Digital Economies - Pathways for Emerging Markets Development’ event, keynote speakers from RMIT University, Professor Jason Potts and Associate Professor Chris Berg explored how emerging markets can harness the potential of digital technologies to foster sustainability, inclusivity, and prosperity.

RMIT Dean of The Business School, Professor Robert McClelland said he witnessed the power of collaboration between academia and industry firsthand.

“The marriage of rigorous academic research with real-world insights has the potential to drive profound changes and unlock new possibilities for emerging markets. This conference demonstrates our commitment to promoting these crucial connections,” said Professor McClelland.

Co-founder of RMIT’s Blockchain Innovation Hub, Professor Potts said “Digital economies bring a profound reset to the global world.

“This is an opportunity for rapidly developing economies because they are going through a process of institutional reform and fundamental rebuilding and redesign, and evolution of economic infrastructure.”

RMIT’s Senior Program Manager, Dr Nguyen Thanh Binh hosted a panel discussion with industry experts in blockchain, AI and digital economy, including Mr Le Thanh from Coin98 Finance, Mr Le Quang Nam from SSG Management Solutions Joint Stock Company, and Dr Nguyen Tan Son from RMIT Vietnam.

The panel all agreed – there are opportunities for emerging economies like Vietnam to be a leading force in digital economies.

With a young population and good environment for technological adoption in Vietnam, the panellists hoped talent would no longer be a challenge.

“The salary right now in Vietnam is competitive with other markets but the quality of talent is not catching up with the price,” said Co-founder of Coin98, Mr Thanh.

He hopes RMIT can help to solve the challenge.

The question of how academic research can help navigate challenges in the transition to digital economies sparked the conversation. There is great potential, but there is also room to grow in collaboration between research institutions, universities and industry.

In closing, RMIT Vietnam Pro Vice-Chancellor and General Director, Professor Claire Macken Professor Claire Macken said, “Our work doesn't end here. The connections formed, the knowledge shared, and the questions raised are the seeds of future endeavours.

“It is our responsibility to carry these conversations forward, to continue exploring the frontiers of the digital economy, and to apply our insights for the betterment of society. 

“In the spirit of D3, let us remain committed to decentralisation, automation, and platforms as we navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape. Together, we have the power to drive meaningful change, to bridge gaps, and to pave the way for a brighter, digitally enabled future for emerging markets.”

About Digital3

RMIT University officially launched Digital3 in November 2022 - a new approach to business education linking industry and research to address ways of working in the rapidly growing digital economy.

Digital3 aims to upskill learners through impactful professional development, equipping them with new skills and real-world solutions to confidently participate in the digital economy.

The new initiative brings together knowledge from RMIT’s world-leading research centres, which are experts at Web3 - a supercluster of digital technologies that includes blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and Virtual Reality, among others.

Story: Ha Hoang