Upskilling learners to adapt to changing digital economies

The two-day Digital3 conference was hosted by RMIT’s Business School in Vietnam. At the "Designing Digital Economies - Pathways for Emerging Markets Development" event, keynote speakers from RMIT University, Professor Jason Potts and Associate Professor Chris Berg, explored how emerging markets can harness the potential of digital technologies to foster sustainability, inclusivity, and prosperity.

Participants garner insight into interesting academic developments across four key themes: artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, smart cities, and digital transformation at Digital3 conference. Photo courtesy of RMIT

RMIT Dean of the Business School, Professor Robert McClelland, said he witnessed the power of collaboration between academia and industry firsthand.

"The marriage of rigorous academic research with real-world insights has the potential to drive profound changes and unlock new possibilities for emerging markets. This conference demonstrates our commitment to promoting these crucial connections."

The co-founder of RMIT’s Blockchain Innovation Hub, Professor Potts, also said that digital economies bring a profound reset to the global world.

This is an opportunity for rapidly developing economies because they are going through a process of institutional reform, fundamental rebuilding and redesign, and the evolution of economic infrastructure.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, RMIT’s Senior Program Manager, hosted a panel discussion with industry experts in blockchain, AI, and the digital economy, including Le Thanh from Coin98 Finance, Le Quang Nam from SSG Management Solutions Joint Stock Company, and Dr. Nguyen Tan Son from RMIT Vietnam.

The panel all agreed that there are opportunities for emerging economies like Vietnam to become leading forces in digital economies.

(From L) Panelists Le Thanh, co-founder of Coin98 Finance, Dr. Nguyen Tan Son, RMIT’s Senior Program Manager, Le Quang Nam, Chairman of the Board of SSG Management Solutions Joint Stock Company, and Dr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, RMIT’s Senior Program Manager. Photo courtesy of RMIT

With a young population and a good environment for technological adoption in Vietnam, the panelists hoped talent would no longer be a challenge.

"The salary right now in Vietnam is competitive with other markets, but the quality of talent is not catching up with the price," said the co-founder of Coin98. He hopes universities such as RMIT can help solve the challenge.

Talking about how academic research can help navigate challenges in the transition to digital economies, the panelists said that there is great potential, and there is also room to grow in collaboration between research institutions, universities, and industry.

In closing, RMIT Vietnam Pro Vice-Chancellor and General Director, Professor Claire Macken said: "Our work doesn't end here. The connections formed, the knowledge shared, and the questions raised are the seeds of future endeavors. It is our responsibility to carry these conversations forward, to continue exploring the frontiers of the digital economy, and to apply our insights for the betterment of society."

She also stated that, in the spirit of D3, they should remain committed to decentralization, automation, and platforms as we navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape. "Together, we have the power to drive meaningful change, to bridge gaps, and to pave the way for a brighter, digitally enabled future for emerging markets."

Professor Claire Macken (L), RMIT Vietnam Pro Vice-Chancellor and General Director, presented the Best Paper Award. Photo courtesy of RMIT

RMIT University officially launched Digital3 in November 2022, a new approach to business education linking industry and research to address ways of working in the rapidly growing digital economy.

Digital3 aims to upskill learners through impactful professional development, equipping them with new skills and real-world solutions to confidently participate in the digital economy.

The new initiative brings together knowledge from RMIT’s world-leading research centers, which are experts at Web3, a supercluster of digital technologies that includes blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and Virtual Reality, among others.