HCMC Digital Transformation Center and RMIT sign MoU in digital capacity building

Tiếng Việt

HCMC Digital Transformation Center and RMIT sign MoU in digital capacity building

On 5 June 2024, the Ho Chi Minh City Digital Transformation Center and RMIT University Vietnam signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for digital capacity building for HCMC.

The MoU signing ceremony was proposed during the official visit of the Chairman of the HCMC People's Committee Phan Van Mai to RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia in May 2024.

The MoU draws on the strengths of RMIT University in Australia and Vietnam as well as the development needs of the HCMC Digital Transformation Center (HCMC-DXCENTER), and was approved by the HCMC People's Committee.

Representatives from RMIT and HCMC-DXCENTER at the signing ceremony

The MoU signing ceremony between HCMC-DXCENTER and RMIT University took place on 5 June 2024 at the headquarters of the HCMC People's Committee..

Specifically, RMIT Vietnam will support HCMC-DXCENTER to implement three key initiatives.

First, enhancing HCMC's digital capacity through the development of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) over five years, focusing on three key pillars of the national digital transformation strategy: Digital Government, Digital Economy and Digital Society. These courses are designed to cater to a diverse group of learners, including government officials, business leaders and citizens.

Second, establishing the Centre of Excellence (COE) within HCMC-DXCENTER. The aim is to align with global standards and local objectives, focusing on developing research models tailored to HCMC's unique needs and challenges.

Third, developing a research cluster focused on initiatives to make HCMC a smart and sustainable city. This includes identifying key achievements and areas for improvement, examining successful smart and sustainable city models across the Asia-Pacific region, and providing policy recommendations tailored to HCMC's unique context.

Vice Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee Nguyen Van Dung (third from left) spoke at the signing event.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the HCMC People's Committee Nguyen Van Dung mentioned the memorandum of understanding previously signed by the HCMC People's Committee and RMIT University in January 2021 to foster collaboration in a number of key areas for the city’s development. This was an important premise for the signing of the memorandum of understanding between HCMC-DXCENTER and RMIT.

Mr Dung affirmed that HCMC highly values the relationship with RMIT, saying that this growing relationship will help the two sides achieve more success in their cooperation.

Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1973, Australia and Vietnam have expanded their relationship across economic, political, and social sectors. In 2024, the two nations elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. One of the six pillars in their joint declaration is supporting science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

As Vietnam's dynamic economic engine, HCMC is aiming to become a leading sustainable and liveable urban centre in Asia. The cooperation between HCMC-DXCENTER and RMIT University is expected to contribute significantly to that goal.

Ms Saskia Loer Hansen, Interim General Director of RMIT University Vietnam, said “As a university we can support our partners in Vietnam in developing different aspects of the economy. This includes digital transformation, broadening and enhancing education standards, a wide range of activities around smart and sustainable cities, and working with emerging technologies.”

“We are particularly pleased to be able to expand on those aspirations in our collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee,” she added.

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Media Release

05 June 2024