The event, organized by RMIT Vietnam’s Student Experience and Learning Division, attracted hundreds of delegates from across Southeast Asia and beyond, including speakers from the University of Technology Sydney and RMIT University in Australia. The central question throughout the entire conference was how educational innovation can truly improve the student learning experience.

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Workshop to share practical innovations from AI in education to inclusive learning and collaboration with businesses

The event showcased a range of connected approaches, from learning design and accessibility to emerging technology and industry partnerships, aimed at improving student outcomes. Attendees experienced real-world projects, working prototypes and proven strategies that are transforming classrooms across the region.

Integrating AI Gen into Purposeful Education

The keynote address by Associate Professor Amanda White from the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) was one of the highlights of the conference. An influential educator who has received a national award for university teaching in Australia, Associate Professor White delivered a compelling talk on the strategic integration of generative AI (Gen AI) into university education.

“Gen AI is a powerful tool, but like a smartwatch, it should be used strategically, not just on the go. We need to think about where Gen AI fits into the education system,” she said.

Associate Professor White called on educators to guide students to use AI as a support tool instead of relying on it. She quoted Professor Angela Duckworth, author of “Grit: How to Achieve Success,” in her speech to the class of 2025 of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (Penn GSE): “I worry that students will use AI as a crutch. I worry that because the human brain is like a muscle, students have to use it to strengthen and develop, otherwise it will gradually disappear.”

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Associate Professor Amanda White shares her experience in strategically applying Gen AI to higher education

Her speech also addressed common concerns and misconceptions surrounding Gen AI, from concerns that AI-generated products are considered cheating to the phenomenon of “AI slop” - garbage created by AI in exercises, as well as calls for a complete ban on this technology in education.

Associate Professor White proposed a framework for integrating Gen AI in education with clear goals. The framework consists of three parts: transparency and trust, alignment with learning outcomes, and equity and accessibility. Transparency and trust require clear communication about when and how AI is used. Alignment with learning outcomes ensures that AI tools support skills development, not replace them. And the final part - equity and accessibility - highlights the importance of making AI a useful tool for all learners, including those with diverse learning needs.

She used a first-year accounting class at UTS as an example of how this framework could be applied to teaching practice. With over 1,800 students, Associate Professor White redesigned the paper summarizing personal experiences using the Gen AI tool, thereby helping students engage more deeply with the content and improve outcomes, especially for students with different learning styles.

Collaborative learning and practical impact

The conference also featured eight panel discussions organized by RMIT expert groups.

Among them, the Future of Education research group's “ Exploring AI Horizons: Current and Future Trends” panel discussion introduced technologies other than ChatGPT, including inference models, deepfake detection tools, and VR integration.

In the panel discussion “Connecting Accessibility and Learning Design”, Ms. Melanie Casul (Health and Mental Health) and Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Linh (Learning Design) shared the case of a blind student at RMIT Vietnam. Accordingly, they pointed out that co-designed learning plans, combining human support and digital tools, can help bridge the gap that the digital world brings.

Dr. Chu Thanh Tuan, Deputy Head of Department from the Faculty of Business, led a discussion on the innovation of the graduate portfolio of Business students. He introduced the semester-long industry collaboration model that includes short internships and challenges to solve real-life business situations, providing a replicable approach to the practical final project.

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Panel discussion highlights the value of lifelong learning, flexible teaching models and co-creative learning spaces

The panel discussion brought together representatives from academia and industry, including Associate Professor Amanda White, Associate Professor Donna Cleveland (RMIT Vietnam) and Mr. Tuong Tran (HEX). The speakers' sharing emphasized the importance of lifelong learning, multi-modal and blended learning models, as well as the need to co-create learning environments that reflect real-world challenges.

The Higher Education Vision 2025 conference is not just about introducing new technologies, but also about calling for action. It affirms that bringing about real change in education requires collaboration, proven methods, and a commitment to inclusion and accessibility.

Le Thanh

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/hoi-thao-ve-tam-nhin-giao-duc-dai-hoc-2025-doi-moi-gan-voi-thuc-tien-2455415.html