The Australia Awards Fellowships (AAF) is a prestigious scholarship program funded by the Australian Government, established to promote educational cooperation, enhance academic exchange, and develop professional capacity between Australia and partner countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The 2023 AAF Program was implemented with Deakin University – one of Australia’s major universities. Deakin University serves as the Australian Host Institution, providing in-depth support for program members (Fellows) in learning, living, and professional development.
The AAF Full Program is comprehensively designed, focusing on equipping knowledge and skills related to digital transformation in higher education, blended learning design and management, inclusive education, learning outcomes assessment, and educational policy and governance. The project specifically supports Fellows in building Implementation Action Plans for direct application in the educational context of the partner country after concluding the program in Australia. This is a short-term exchange activity aimed at strengthening academic cooperation and developing professional networks between Deakin University and partner educational institutions.
The Deakin University academic team guiding and accompanying the program members included: Associate Professor Wanty Widjaja, Professor Ly Tran, Dr. Huyen Bui, Associate Professor Bonnie Yim, Associate Professor Bardo Fraunholz, and Dr. Diep Nguyen. Also supporting the program were research students Trang Le, Thinh Huynh, and Thao Nguyen. This team was responsible for academic guidance, workshop organization, professional consultation, and supporting Fellows in building post-program implementation plans.
SCOPE OF COOPERATION AND PARTICIPATING PARTNERS
Fellows are lecturers, staff, or experts selected from educational organizations of partner countries to participate in the AAF Full Program at Deakin University.
In Vietnam, the Fellows participating in the program are leaders and lecturers from educational institutions and professional organizations. Within the framework of the selected project coordinated by Deakin University (Australia), the Fellows in Vietnam comprised 15 leaders, staff, and lecturers, including 10 leaders, staff, and lecturers from Phu Xuan University (PXU). Additionally, the program included Fellows from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi University, and BK-Holdings Company.
Partners are educational institutions in the partner countries – where the members return to implement the blended learning model, applying the learning content and action plans developed in Australia. In Vietnam, Phu Xuan University is one of the key partners, where the Fellows will directly implement digital transformation and educational development plans.
The AAF Full Program has a broad impact scope across the Asia-Pacific region, with the participation of partner countries such as: Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, along with Pacific Island nations and South Asia. The diversity of participating countries affirms the project’s significance and spread in promoting regional educational digital transformation.
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES AND KEY SCHEDULE
- Phase 1 – Kick-off – Before Departure (online): An online introduction to the program, necessary procedures (visa, insurance, accommodation, travel), and an overview of the activity plan.
- Phase 2 – Orientation in Australia – Kick-off at Deakin University: Welcome activities, campus tour, setting up learning accounts, detailed program introduction, and project content orientation.
- Phase 3 – Workshop Series & Experiential Learning: At the Deakin Burwood campus, Fellows participated in a series of in-depth activities:
- Workshops on educational digital transformation, course, and module design.
- Experiential learning on the university’s online learning system.
- Specialized lectures on higher education, inclusive education, policy, and educational governance.
- In-depth coaching on learning outcomes assessment, learning design, and digital transformation leadership.
- Classroom observation (STEM subjects, embedded systems, and other educational subjects).
- Workshops and professional group discussions, individual consultation sessions.
- Phase 4 – Building the Implementation Action Plan: Fellows worked with the Host Institution team to build a detailed Implementation Action Plan, appropriate to their national educational context.
- Phase 5 – Presentation and Summary: Fellows presented their Implementation Action Plans, received professional feedback, and then participated in the final program summary and evaluation session.
- Phase 6 – Implementation in Partner Country: Fellows returned to their home institutions to implement the model and plan developed. Deakin University continues to provide support through online consultation and research assistance. Activities take place at partner educational institutions and online.
PROGRAM RESULTS AND SIGNIFICANCE
The AAF Full Program brought many significant practical values, including enhancing the professional capacity of Fellows in the fields of educational technology, digital teaching, and learning method innovation. The project also promoted digital transformation at partner educational institutions through feasible and context-appropriate Implementation Action Plans. More importantly, the program contributed to building a long-term cooperation network, creating a foundation for consultation, academic exchange, and research between Deakin University and educational organizations in partner countries, thereby spreading the blended learning model, contributing to improving the quality of education and promoting international integration.