The MIT-JWEL project and the collaborative efforts to enhance the world-class experience for first-year students at VinUni
On May 17th, the MIT-JWEL project team arrived at VinUni to explore and discuss activities related to the first-year student experience at VinUni. During this 3-day working visit, four key projects of VinUni were presented and discussed.
This trip of the MIT experts was initiated in 2021. In that year, VinUni’s top-level leadership team made a working visit to leading universities in the United States, including a visit and meeting with MIT’s Open Learning Center. After the process of exploration and discussion, VinUni became a member of MIT-JWEL in 2022.
MIT-JWEL project team arrived at VinUni to explore and discuss activities related to the first-year student experience at VinUni
MIT-JWEL (MIT Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab) supports the development of innovative and transformative educational solutions, creates new learning environments, and improves access to quality education. The project focuses on understanding and applying advanced teaching methods, building a technological foundation for education, and promoting collaboration among global educational institutions.
MIT-JWEL offers a range of programs, projects, and courses to support teachers, educational leaders, and education managers. The activities of MIT-JWEL include consulting, training, research, and creating experimental models for effective educational methods. The project also creates opportunities for collaboration with global educational organizations, such as VinUni, to share resources, experiences, and knowledge from MIT and connect experts to foster educational development and innovation.
As a member of MIT-JWEL, VinUni participates in the Ideas Exploration Project with four student experience project teams (lasting for 6 months) focusing on the following main topics: work-study program, student council operation model, active learning pedagogy, OASIS course, and entrepreneurship program.
VinUni’s four project teams include:
- College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) – OASIS course
- E-ship lab – Entrepreneurship Program
- Student Affairs Management (SAM) – Student Experience
- Teaching & Learning Excellence Center (TLEC)- Active Learning Pedagogy
In this visit, the delegation from MIT-JWEL to VinUni included Dr. Anjali Sastry, Faculty Director of MIT-JWEL, Associate Dean of MIT Open Learning, and Senior Lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management, as well as Dr. Glenda Stump, MIT Education Research Scientist. Both experts have extensive experience in researching, designing and delivering student experiential activities.
During the three-day working sessions with each team, MIT-JWEL reviewed, explored focus areas, analized and provided consultation for improvement and enhancement on quality of those areas; shared MIT’s resources and connect VinUni to MIT’s experts with relevant experience. They also discussed other collaborations such as micro master credentials, implementation of innovative school for open learning.
Dr. Glenda Stump – MIT Education Research Scientist discussed with VinUni team
During MIT’s first visit to Vietnam and VinUni, the MIT experts expressed their impression of the rich and comprehensive experiential models provided for first-year students at VinUni, considering it remarkable for a young university. They also praised the enthusiastic and dedicated involvement of the project owners and recommended that VinUni explore ways to give student more autonomy and freedom so that it can better align with the core value of EXCEL, fosters excellence, and promotes operational efficiency
Dr. Anjali Sastry – Faculty Director of MIT-JWEL shared MIT’s resources and connect VinUni to MIT’s experts with relevant experience
The MIT project team emphasized that this action plan will facilitate the continuation and progression of the ideation process into the next phase.
