Many success stories were shared at the Applied Problem-Based Learning Forum related to higher education in HCM City last week.
Organised by USAID BUILD-IT project which is implemented by Arizona State University, the forum attracted over 100 leaders and others from academia, industry and local governments across Viet Nam.
Participants discussed collaborations for teaching innovation and sustainable faculty development programmes that promote applied project-based learning in classrooms.
They spoke about their perspectives and experiences related to changes they have seen over the past decade and how the changes have influenced and aligned with the ever-changing demands of the workforce in Viet Nam.
To help university faculties become more adept in this manner of instruction, BUILD-IT created and implemented the Certified Facilitator and Master Teacher Training programme that helps adopt problem-based learning in classrooms and prepare them for the industry 4.0 workforce.
Over the past few years the BUILD-IT playbook series has been developed with collaborations with and input from partners and is designed to provide a quick start guide and compilation of best practices that have been implemented in Viet Nam by six partner institutions.
Having successfully implemented in six partner universities, impacts of BUILD-IT’s Applied Problem-Based Learning model includes the ability to effectively utilise modern pedagogy and instructional methods in STEM courses; application of relevant educational theory and practices in the Vietnamese educational context to increase student engagement; effective instructor presentation, communication and facilitation techniques; articulating the need for education change in Vietnam using written and oral communication methods; and identifying and outlining opportunities to collaborate with STEM faculties on student projects.
The BUILD-IT Alliance focuses on creating a model for innovative technology and engineering higher education.
The BUILD-IT public-private eco-system is designed to produce graduates who can solve problems and engineer solutions and value for Viet Nam’s social and economic development. — VNS