Innovation meets impact at Higher Education Horizons 2025

Tiếng Việt

Innovation meets impact at Higher Education Horizons 2025

RMIT Vietnam’s Higher Education Horizons 2025 symposium brought together educators, innovators and industry leaders to explore how purposeful innovation can truly enhance student learning outcomes.

At a time when educational institutions are grappling with the rapid rise of generative AI (Gen AI) and shifting learner expectations, the symposium offered a timely and practical response. Organised by the Students and Education Portfolio, the event brought together hundreds of participants from across Southeast Asia and beyond, including contributors from University of Technology Sydney and RMIT University in Australia. The central question driving the symposium was how to ensure educational innovation improves the learning experience.

The event showcased a range of interconnected approaches, from learning design and accessibility to emerging technologies and industry partnerships, all aimed at improving student outcomes. Attendees engaged with real projects, working prototypes, and evidence-based strategies already transforming classrooms across the region.

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The symposium showcased real-world innovations, from AI in education to inclusive learning and industry collaboration.

In her welcome remarks, Professor Julia Gaimster, Strategic Advisor to RMIT Vietnam Pro Vice-Chancellor and General Director, reflected on the success of last year’s event and the growing momentum behind this year’s edition.

“Today promises to be full of practical collaboration, peer learning and all the things that we try to encourage our students to do,” she said.

“I hope you will leave inspired and equipped with actionable strategies to enhance your educational practices.”

Integrating GenAI into education with purpose and integrity

The keynote address by Associate Professor (AP) Amanda White from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) was a highlight of the event. A nationally recognised educator and recipient of the Australian Awards for University Teaching, AP White delivered a compelling talk on the strategic integration of GenAI into higher education.

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Associate Professor Amanda White OAM from the University of Technology Sydney (Australia) shared insights on strategically embedding GenAI into higher education.

“GenAI is a powerful tool, but like a smartwatch, it should be used strategically, not universally,” she said. “We need to think about where it fits within our scheme.”

AP White urged educators to guide students in using AI as a coach rather than a crutch. She quoted Professor Angela Duckworth, author of the bestselling book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, during her commencement speech to 2025 Penn GSE graduates: “I worry that students are using AI as a crutch. I worry because the human brain is like a muscle, use it or lose it, train it to gain it.”

Her keynote addressed common fears and misconceptions, including concerns about AI-generated work being mistaken for cheating, the rise of “AI slop” in assignments, and calls to ban AI altogether. She proposed a three-part framework for purposeful Gen AI integration in education, focusing on transparency and trust, alignment with learning outcomes, and equity and accessibility. Transparency and trust involve clear communication about when and how AI is used. Alignment with learning outcomes ensures that AI tools support, rather than replace, skill development. And equity and accessibility highlight the importance of making AI beneficial for all learners, including those with diverse learning needs.

A case study from her first-year accounting course at UTS illustrated the framework in action. With over 1,800 students, AP White redesigned a reflective writing assessment task using GenAI tools, resulting in deeper engagement and improved performance, particularly among students with learning differences.

“Educators must model resilience, empathy, and critical thinking – skills AI cannot teach”, AP White emphasised.

Collaborative learning and real-world impact

Beyond the keynote, participants engaged in eight hands-on workshops across two parallel sessions.

Among them, the Learning Futures team introduced “AI horizon scan: What’s new and what’s next”, a dynamic session that went beyond ChatGPT to explore reasoning models, deepfake detection, and VR integration. As participants rotated through stations to try out cutting-edge tools, they were challenged to think about how we can prepare students for a future shaped by digital humans and instant video creation.

In “Weaving accessibility & learning design”, Melanie Casul from Wellbeing and Linh Nguyen from Learning Design team shared a case study of a blind student at RMIT Vietnam, showing how co-designed learning plans, combining human support and digital tools, can help bridge the digital divide.

Dr Tuan Chu, Associate Program Manager from The Business School, led a session on transforming the Business Graduate Folio. He showcased a semester-long model of industry collaboration, including micro-internships and real-time business challenges, offering a scalable approach to authentic capstone experiences.

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Panel insights highlighted the value of lifelong learning, flexible delivery models, and co-created learning spaces that mirror real-world challenges.

A panel discussion brought together voices from academia and industry, including AP Amanda White, AP Donna Cleveland (RMIT Vietnam) and Mr Tuong Tran (HEX). Their insights underscored the importance of lifelong learning, blended and hybrid models, and the need to co-create learning environments that reflect real-world challenges.

“Learning is a team sport, students feel better when they learn together,” AP White said. She also noted the importance of redefining learning beyond grades: “Hopefully that might even drive us to the point where students want to learn for the sake of learning.”

RMIT Vietnam Dean of School of Communication & Design AP Donna Cleveland highlighted the University’s commitment to adapting blended learning. She cited Photography 101, a 100 percent asynchronous course and winner of three Platinum LearnX Awards, as a leading example.

“The course has won many global awards and students themselves have recognised the value,” she said.

HEX’s Country Director of Vietnam and Cambodia and Regional Lead of Southeast Asia, Mr Tuong Tran spoke about the accessibility benefits of hybrid learning and the lessons learned from failed innovations like MOOCs.

“Completion rates were abysmal,” he admitted. “HEX developed EXQ, a framework combining mindset, skill set, and toolkit, with AI now playing a central role. The way that we are traditionally running tests, exams, closed book environment is not how the real-world works,” Mr Tuong said.

Higher Education Horizons 2025 was more than a showcase of innovation; it was a call to action. The event demonstrated that meaningful change in education requires collaboration, evidence-based practices, and a commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.

As Professor Gaimster noted, “our aim is to move beyond hype towards inclusive, accessible strategies that truly work.” With contributions from award-winning educators and forward-thinking institutions, the symposium offered a roadmap for purposeful innovation that puts student success at the heart of higher education. Building on the success of its 2024 debut, Higher Education Horizons is poised to become a cornerstone event for Southeast Asian educators navigating the evolving landscape of learning and teaching.

Story: Ha Hoang

Campus and community

23 October 2025

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