19 August 2009
Make your summer one to remember
RMIT students will work this summer on a project to find ways to bring clean, affordable water to the poor in the Mekong Delta. Photographs by Steven Rhall.
Students from RMIT's Melbourne and South Saigon campuses worked on plans to redevelop the paediatric wards of the Da Nang General Hospital in central Vietnam during the mid-year break.
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What will you do over summer? Will you watch TV or go to the beach – or will you help redevelop a paediatric ward in Ho Chi Minh City, redesign brochures for a children’s hospital, or bring clean water to the poor?
These are the projects RMIT University students have the chance to participate in as part of a regular intensive work integrated learning experience program in Vietnam.
Students undertaking the projects receive marks that are the equivalent of a standard study load.
They also have the option to enrol in an additional course – Cross-Cultural Communication – and earn a total of 24 credit points in just a few weeks’ study.
Information sessions about this summer’s projects are being held later this week. Undergraduate students in most disciplines are eligible to participate.
During the midyear break, a team of 25 students from RMIT’s Melbourne and Saigon South campuses worked on creating a marketing plan for the Long Hoa Orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City and another 24 created a redevelopment plan and designs for the paediatric wards of the Da Nang General Hospital in Central Vietnam.
Architecture student Aidan James worked on the paediatric wards project to get some real-life experience in his field.
“That experience is invaluable as it is hard to get involved in a project like this at this point in your study,” Mr James said.
New friendships, experiencing the Vietnamese culture and having his designs considered by the hospital were the best things to come from doing the subject, he said.
Ray Ingwersen found his involvement in the Long Hoa Orphanage water bottling plant led him to broaden his knowledge of work opportunities outside his sphere of business and made him think in a more global way.
Mr Ingwersen said he enjoyed the cultural exposure as well as living and working in a different country, and meeting the people on the project.
“I was attracted by the idea of a new experience in a different culture and practising my skills in business and accounting,” Mr Ingwersen said.
“I was able to work on a project in my area of study and gain an understanding of the complexities of the project, while seeing the economic development of both RMIT Vietnam and Vietnam.”
The summer Vietnam trip runs from Friday, 22 January, until Thursday, 5 February. Preparation will be done during October and November.
Student info sessions
- City – Wednesday, 19 August, 11.30am - 12.30pm, 5.03.001
- Bundoora –Thursday, 27 August, 11am -12pm, 206.02.005
Staff info sessions
- City – Monday, 24 August, 12.30pm - 1.30pm, 56.03.93
- Bundoora – Thursday, 27 August, 12pm - 1pm, 206.02.005
