Skip to main content
Open search form

Place and Community Framework

International locations

Jump to section Barcelona: European hub for smart and sustainable cities
Click chat icons for related community insights

Barcelona: European hub for smart and sustainable cities

The home of RMIT Europe and a key part of our international network.

RMIT Europe, RMIT’s hub in Barcelona, Spain, established in 2013, is the gateway which links European research, industry, government and enterprise to innovation and talent in Australia and Asia. The site helps strengthen RMIT’s global reputation and grow our global network of industry and alumni.

Key attributes

  • From 2017 RMIT Europe has leveraged its location in the heart of Barcelona’s innovation district 22@ for opportunities connecting with the Melbourne Innovation Districts.
  • Partnership with Eurecat – leading technology centres in Southern Europe for research, and industry engagement. The partnership also includes a Joint Research Unit in Digital Manufacturing for metals and alloys.
  • Strategic partnerships with City and Regional governments.

Content focus

  • Facilitation of research partnerships (R&D funding) across disciplines such as: – Smart cities – Sustainability – Urban design – Entrepreneurship – Digital industries.
  • RMIT Europe also connects RMIT students to experiences in Europe such as study tours, study abroad and exchange, internships, online business challenges, mentoring, and dual masters study.
  • RMIT Europe delivers local impact by establishing our presence as a connected ecosystem for research, education and engagement and driving an agenda around sustainable development and digital transformation.

Strategic opportunities

  • Explore ways to capitalise on RMIT Europe’s Barcelona location to amplify impact across applied research and deliver impact elsewhere in Europe.
  • Leverage RMIT’s location network for greater impact by connecting European expertise in sustainable development and digital transformation to meet Vietnam’s growing demand for support in those areas.

Barcelona: Examples

The Media-TIC building in Barcelona’s innovation and technology district 22@ ​​is the work of architect and RMIT adjunct professor Enrique Ruiz Geli.

Ho Chí Minh City: Flagship Vietnam campus

Bringing Australian education to Vietnam as the basis for an enduring international partnership.

Our Ho Chí Minh City campus was developed in Saigon South following the establishment of RMIT Vietnam in 2001. The campus hosts a broad range of programs in areas including IT, business, fashion merchandising and economics. Containing open grounds, green-space, sports facilities and student accommodation, the campus provides students from Vietnam and neighbouring regions with access to an international education. Some programs provide opportunities for students to spend time studying in Australia.

Key attributes

  • Vietnam experienced strong growth from 2000-2015 with an average GDP of 6.9%, close to the highest in the world.
  • The 20th anniversary celebration in 2020 further cemented RMIT’s impact in the country and region, as the largest Australian investment in Vietnam. •Strong relationships with government and industry partners including GE, Samsung, Viettel, Intel, Ericsson, Siemens and Google.
  • Growing alumni network of +14,600 including prominent individuals and influential leaders in government and industry. World-class facilities and clear status as prestige player in the Vietnam market.

Current focus

  • Broad range of programs offered in areas including:
    – In formation Technology
    – Business – Communic ation and Design
    – Economics
    – STEM
    – Pathways and English programs

Strategic opportunities

  • Opportunity to re-examine how RMIT is supporting the digital and economic agenda in HCMC in alignment with the RMIT Vietnam Growth Strategy goal to embed ourselves in regional ecosystems.
  • Establishment of a first Knowledge Hub in HCMC as a trial for 5 years to integrate RMIT with community and industry, while promoting RMIT’s brand and distinguishing factor as a leading international university in the region. Knowledge Hub may include: study hubs, meeting rooms, boardrooms, seminar spaces, conference spaces, student computer workspaces, a small café, informal lounge and reception.
  • Strengthen and focus on growing relationships with local industry at Pham Ngoc Thach Street site in central Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon North).

Ho Chi Minh City: Examples

Academic Building 2 at RMIT’s Saigon South campus.

The Recreation & Events Complex at RMIT’s Saigon South campus.

Hanoi: Campus in Vietnam’s cultural heart

Furthering our commitment to Vietnam through partnership and contribution to Vietnam’s cultural heart.

Established in 2000, RMIT Hanoi City first began offering programs in 2004. Although the campus has been in operation for close to two decades, it continues to occupy leased space, sharing facilities with other tenants. The Hanoi campus is leased space within a central Hanoi office building, shared with other tenants.

Key attributes

  • Strength in creative arts programs
  • Partnerships with Ogilvy, dentsu, BrandUp, J. Walter Thompson, VTO, Samsung

Current focus

  • English
  • Information Technology
  • Commerce and accountancy
  • Professional communication
  • Creative arts

Strategic opportunities

  • Hanoi is the cultural capital of Vietnam – RMIT should focus program offerings to include DSC around sustainability and culture.
  • Put more resources and effort into Hanoi to make it a “poster child” by constructing the Knowledge Hub and a focus on sustainability and/or Australian Indigenous design and heritage.
  • There may be an opportunity for RMIT to partner with an appropriate developer to pursue a long-term lease in a standalone building (preferably in central old Hanoi if possible) that talks to the urban nature of RMIT. The space should offer flexible a non-specialist and adaptable space adapting to future needs of students.
  • Explore and utilise an industry partner shop front model, allowing our locations to adapt course offerings to be flexible to the needs and interests of students.
  • Potential partnerships with Aurecon, Commonwealth Bank and ANZ, all which have presence in Hanoi.

Hanoi: Examples

Danang: Foreign Language Training Centre

A catalyst for future economic development of Danang.

RMIT Foreign Language Training Centre was established in 2018, teaching English in Danang, the 3rd largest economic centre in Vietnam. The campus has 1 building and 1,000m2 of gross floor area.

There is a strong opportunity for RMIT to develop its English centre to become a Knowledge Hub with our strong industry partnerships in the region. RMIT Danang can take inspiration from RMIT Barcelona as a shopfront with industry and a research centre.

There is also a high demand for vocational training in Danang and other neighbouring cities in Central Vietnam. RMIT is uniquely placed to look into opportunities to bundle learning and capability building using our different products and pathway offerings between RMIT Vietnam and Melbourne.

There are currently no international universities in Central Vietnam, providing RMIT with opportunities to offer foundation studies or pathway courses to support students to then move onto higher education degrees in the other two big cities.

International partnership arrangements

RMIT has a presence in other places beyond RMIT’s campuses, through partnership agreements with international universities which allow students to complete an RMIT-accredited qualification in their own country or region. While these programs are delivered by other institutions in their own campuses, RMIT can still influence positive impact on students and communities through the agreements with partners. Many of these programs also include exchange and inbound arrangements, where Australian onshore students complete blocks/semesters of study there and local international students complete blocks/semesters here, in Melbourne.

  • China – Shanghai University of International Business and Economics (SUIBE)
    In conjunction with RMIT University, the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics (SUIBE) offers a range of programs in international economy, logistics and trade, with staff competent in bilingual teaching. Teaching is carried out by both SUIBE and RMIT teachers in Shanghai.
  • Hong Kong – Hong Kong Arts Centre
    In partnership with the Hong Kong Arts School (HKAS), RMIT offers a unique setting for students to draw on a vast spectrum of artistic practices. Through this partnership, we offer fine art programs with academic levels ranging from bachelor degree to master degrees.
  • Hong Kong – School for Higher and Professional Education, Vocational Training Council
    RMIT began our partnership with the School for Higher and Professional Education (SHAPE), Vocational Training Council (VTC) in 2003. Bachelor programs in engineering and applied science are taught by RMIT and SHAPE teaching staff at the campuses of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education.
  • Singapore – Singapore Institute of Management (SIM)
    Since our partnership began in 1987, RMIT University and the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) have graduated more than 47,000 SIM-RMIT students. Our partnership with SIM brings together two institutions committed to excellence in education in the fields of business, management, marketing, logistics and supply chain management, construction management, communication design and professional communication and, the newest offering, aviation management. Singapore – Kaplan Higher Education Institute RMIT University commenced its partnership with Kaplan Higher Education Institute (Kaplan Singapore) in 2015 with the initial offerings in the fields of Engineering
  • Sri Lanka – Brandix Corporate Campus
    RMIT’s School of Fashion and Textiles offer a Bachelor-level qualification in Fashion and Textiles to individuals aspiring for a career in the clothing industry, in conjunction with the Brandix Corporate Campus in Sri Lanka.

 

Jump to section

Community Conversation

Login to join this discussion