Originally launched three years ago, the Research Development Program (RDP) is a community-based initiative launched through the Vietnam Knowledge Network iVANet with the aim of connecting, honouring, and developing the careers of Vietnamese post-graduates and new PhD candidates.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong (first left), the founder and operator of the iVANet-RDP

Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, a lecturer at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia and founder and operator of the iVANet-RDP, said that the past three years has witnessed the scheme arrange 15 online seminars. The purpose of these events is to connect Vietnamese doctors working at home and abroad with thousands of Vietnamese students of various ages, occupations, and career stages.

The seminars largely focused on four major areas, including the nature of doctoral studies, the development of research skills, the development of soft skills during research, and career development.

Guests featured in the programme include well-known professors. Indeed, approximately 40% of workshop participants are in the process of studying for a master's degree, 40% are graduate students, whilst 20% are PhD graduates who are living and working in the nation as well as in other countries globally.

Upon sharing the idea of establishing the RDP, Dr. Huong said that she understands both the advantages and disadvantages faced by Vietnamese students and researchers in their home country and abroad. In September, 2017, when participating in a discussion on iVANet, Dr. Huong and two other researchers, Trinh Ngoc Anh of the Banking Academy and Nguyen Thi Lan Huong of the National University, raised a proposal aimed at starting an online programme specifically for Vietnamese researchers through iVANet.

The proposal went on to receive plenty of positive responses from researchers and scholars nationwide, along with those based in many countries worldwide. As a result, iVANet - RDP was first launched on October 27, 2017, with the first online seminar focusing on the topic of how to make the scientific path feel less lonely for participants.

Just over a year since its initial launch, the scheme had organised eight online seminars featuring practical and useful content for those pursuing a research and teaching career. Most notably, the founding team of the programme also features many new members who are researchers in the field of natural sciences.

According to Dr. Huong, despite facing numerous difficulties over the past three years, all RDP members are determined to continue developing the programme as it heads in a more professional and sustainable direction.

The RDP group also hopes to co-operate with Vietnamese universities and other scientific research development agencies both at home and abroad as a means of contributing to the training and development of human resources of international standards, something which is needed in the country.