Technology As Innovator

The Coat of Arms was officially designed in 1986 to coincide with the 1987 Centenary Year of RMIT and to be an ongoing symbol for the University. Approved by the College of Arms, the Coat of Arms is held to be a mark of great dignity and embodies a rich symbolic language.

The crest of wattle which defined this Coat of Arms as uniquely Australian and the sprigs of Commonwealth, the floral emblem of Victoria, proclaim a nationalistic spirit.

The shield itself symbolizes the immutable strength of education.

The ancient lamp on the shield, which has featured prominently in former Badges of the University, continues as a clear symbol of enlightenment. St. Edward’s Crown, used in accordance with the permission granted by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, is boldly highlighted on the chevron.

In chief on the shield are two four-pointed stars representing enlightenment and skill.

‘Perita Manus Mens Exculta’, the RMIT motto, meaning ‘a skilled hand and a cultivated mind’, continues to be most relevant to the variety of programs offered by the University.

Supporters of the Coat of Arms are the Lion and the Kangaroo. The rampant Lion is derived from Supporters to the Coat of Arms of Lord Melbourne, Prime Minister of Great Britain, after whom Melbourne was named in 1837. The Kangaroo Supporter is an emblem of Australia. The Coat of Arms thus uses emblems to acknowledge the Royal Patronage, indicate a pride in Australia and proclaim Melbourne as the foundation city of the University.

Symbols of enlightenment are skill point to RMIT’s concern for future year and the important role of the University in serving the community.

Reference

Wikipedia, RMIT University

“An anarchic, messy, snobbish herd!”

Many times I’ve heard complaints from college students, especially those on their internship about their employers, bosses and co-workers. The complaints are about them (the working people) not being as professional, process-compliant, collaborative, positive, forward-thinking as what is described in text books. The students and fresh graduates are so frustrated that they either go for higher education or form their own group of interest for self-employment.

Before going on, I’d like to explain ‘the perfect world’. Most text books are written with reference to the operation of world’s top firms. Coca-Cola, Microsoft, NASA… Text books describe these enterprises’ operation, try to explain their essence, have case studies around them. Why? Because they are the best and are the models. Do you know who work in there? The genies who move Mount Fuji.

Let’s get back to the story above. The fact is, the employers have gone through a quasi-similar educational system. They are fully aware of ‘the perfect world’. Why they choose to behave differently is because of the C-o-n-t-e-x-t. It would cost them all their arms and legs if they buy all the process, infrastructure, management system from world’s top and ‘standard’ firms. It would be a delirium if their hire all people who think forward, say positive, know how to collaborate, comply with process and act professionally. It’s about business, about making money, about ensuring that the price of the product remains competitive while meeting satisfactory levels of quality. They do know what they are doing.

You can do it better. Oh yes, you can.

“A flock of horsy brats!”

Even more often I’ve seen sneers from more experienced white-collars towards the naive youngsters. Yes, it’s good that they’re experienced enough to understand all the constraints of the industry and tricks of the environment, in order to act in a way of cost-saving, effort-optimizing, price-competing. The perfect world just doesn’t exist anyway.

It’s right at this point that they are trapped within their own self-limitation. The perfect world is right there, visualized via the Coke we’re drinking, the Windows version we’re playing at, the bank from where we beside with joy from; or can even be the invisible but tremendously powerful cash flow that determines our career paths. Their aspiration has been buried under their self-made constraints. They’re happy with the current state that they have lost the will to fight – fight against one’s self – for more organized management, more mature process, more glamorous branding, more natural way of charging ten times more from Rockefellers.

Experience gives a lot, but it also silently takes lots away.

Utopia is there, for those who dare to aspire and know how to reach.

Written as per requested by Duy Nguyen and Tan Pham

What does lifelong learning mean to you?

1. Power?

Learning satisfies my thirst for knowledge. The next question might arise is: what can knowledge bring?

“Scientia potentia est – Knowledge is power.” Sir Francis Bacon

I am yet so infant to see what power he referred to, but up until now I am able to see the Tao of how knowledge has been transforming my mind, behavior and outlook – for the better.

2. Growth?

Only when my learning is lifelong, I may not cease to grow.

It is observable that sometimes I am seen as ‘obsessed of learning’. It’s not that I am frenzy. I normally try to stuff things to my head until the point of overwhelming. It is then when an event triggers synthesis and takes me to the next level of enlightenment. Most of the time when I understand more, I see more of what I don’t know.

My sense of ‘growth’ is idealistic. Everytime I traverse through each area, the outlook shifts from one idealism to yet another. Yet, my behaviors become more practical and meaningful to the community.

Trivia

“Vì sự học là trọn đời” – from an ad
“For learning is lifelong” – Translation by Tài