RMIT Vietnam delivers English training for UN peacekeepers

Delivered by RMIT’s School of English & University Pathways and funded by the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, the course forms part of the peacekeepers’ pre-deployment training as they prepare to operate a field hospital in South Sudan.

Participants included a diverse cohort of personnel, from nurses and surgeons to the hospital’s senior leadership. The program focused on general English while integrating medical terminology and other specialised language based on the UN Peacekeeping Handbook.

Australia has played a long-standing role in supporting Vietnam’s peacekeeping efforts, including funding English language training to help personnel operate effectively in international missions since 2014.

Colonel Alana Burkitt, Australian Defence Attaché to Vietnam, said the initiative highlights the strength of bilateral defence cooperation. “Australia is proud to support Vietnam’s peacekeeping contributions through practical initiatives like English language training, which helps ensure personnel can collaborate effectively in complex, multinational environments and deliver critical services on the ground.”

Mr Hossein Davari, Director of the School of English & University Pathways at RMIT Vietnam, said the University was committed to delivering impactful, real-world education.

“This program reflects the power of education to support international cooperation, strengthen operational readiness, and contribute to this important mission by equipping peacekeepers with the communication skills they need to perform their duties confidently and professionally,” he said.

“We are proud to support Vietnam’s peacekeeping efforts and to contribute, in a meaningful way, to initiatives that advance global stability, humanitarian service, and cross-border collaboration.”

This marks the first time RMIT Vietnam has delivered English training for peacekeepers, building on its large-scale English programs for Vietnam People’s Army officers. The ongoing English training cooperation reinforces RMIT’s role in supporting capacity building initiatives that serve both Vietnam and the global community.

Story: Ngoc Hoang