MultiUni
What is MultiUni?
This is a new model for education to improve the learning opportunities for Vietnam. The goal is to offer low-cost high-quality courses that are not otherwise available in local universities or training centers.
Who is behind MultiUni?
We are a group of volunteers who are passionate about innovating the field of education, for the benefit of individuals and employers. We are educators, students, professionals, and companies. You can find some of us on Facebook.
Join the mailing list if you’re interested in contributing.
How is MultiUni different from universities or training centers?
MultiUni is run by and for the community. Similar to BarCamp and the unconference concept, the participants themselves decide what and how to teach. You could call it an “unschool.”
We believe that the curriculum taught in traditional education institutions is restricted when trying to satisfy the demands of students, employers, and the market. In fact, in many top schools in Vietnam, the curriculum is actually mostly decided not in Vietnam, but in foreign countries. While Vietnam does need such international standards, this comes at a heavy price: choice and adaptation to Vietnam’s needs. Students get established mainstream courses but miss out on courses based on new, innovative, or niche knowledge.
In fact, we can have both high quality and flexibility. The MultiUni community chooses the courses and finds the materials and experts to lend their support.
Who pays for this?
MultiUni is organized and promoted by volunteers. For some courses, teachers donate their time and effort. Companies want to offer classes and workshops. We also find sponsors to provide or fund facilities, physical materials, and other expenses. There may come a time when student fees will be needed to expand course offerings but we’re trying to avoid this for as long as we can.
Courses
What is the format for the courses?
It varies. There are single lectures, short workshops, intensive courses, and university-length courses.
Some sessions will be in Vietnamese, others in English, and others in both.
What courses do you offer?
In short, whatever volunteers want to organize. There is a wealth of free online course materials from top universities, such as MIT, the OpenCourseWare Consortium, Stanford, and many others to base courses on. All that’s needed is one or more people to decide that a course is worth learning.
In practice, the selection of courses is often motivated by the needs of employers, and thus the need of jobseekers. There are many companies out there, especially high-tech, who cannot find the people that they need to hire. Clearly, one solution is to organize and promote courses that will expand the pool of trained employees available for hire.
A sample of courses that have been taught or are in planning: iPhone application programming, Android development, the Scrum development methodology, the Facebook Platform, Ruby on Rails.
How are the courses unique?
This is the innovative part: the courses do not necessarily have a teacher. Many courses are led by a teacher. But many others are organized and structured by one or more volunteers, who can also be students of the course as well. Using free online course materials, it’s a no-brainer to set up a syllabus, schedule, video lectures, required readings, assignments, and class discussions. From there, volunteers can organize study groups of students willing to support each other — even grade each other’s assignments — and optionally arrange experts willing to support the course whenever the need arises.
Or, courses can follow a more traditional format with lecturers instead of video lectures and assignments graded by the teacher or teaching assistants. Again, free online course materials can be used by the teacher to prepare the course.
What benefits will I get from participating in a course?
You will learn subjects not taught elsewhere in Vietnam. A sample of courses that have been taught or are in planning: iPhone application programming, Android development, the Scrum development methodology, the Facebook Platform, Ruby on Rails.
This will expand your job potential. We know employers right now that want to hire people trained with the above skills. In fact, companies often collaborate with MultiUni to offer courses and stay in contact with students for future work possibilities.
Additionally, many teachers come from overseas bringing their international experience. Courses are often taught in English, giving you exposure to this important language of commerce.
Of what quality will the courses be?
Over time, the quality of courses will be very high. Why? Because students choose what to learn. Instead of a closed group of academics or a foreign organization deciding a particular curriculum or course for students, the “market” decides which courses are winners or losers. Bad courses will simply stop being taught and great courses will be in great demand.
Moreover, we expect many courses to be based on free online course materials from top universities, such as MIT, the OpenCourseWare Consortium, Stanford, and many others. Video lectures are from renowned professors. Syllabi, schedules, and assignments are proven through use.
How much do the courses cost?
Free or very little. MultiUni is organized and promoted by volunteers. For some courses, teachers donate their time and effort. We also find sponsors to provide or fund classrooms, physical materials, and other expenses. There may come a time when student fees will be needed to expand course offerings but we’re trying to avoid this for as long as we can.
Will I get a certification after the course?
Yes, upon request, MultiUni will give you a certificate for each course you have successfully completed. Some of the courses may have grades, depending on how that particular course is organized. In the future, we plan to work with traditional educational institutions where you are enrolled to give you credit for your studies.
How can I enroll in MultiUni?
Very simple. No need for documentation, no need to visit any office. Just choose a course on the web site and fill out the application or registration form when it’s available. It’s a good idea to subscribe to announcements in the box at the top-left to be notified of new courses.
Support
How can I help?
First, you should join the mailing list. There are many ways you can be part of the MultiUni mission:
- Spread the word about courses
- Think of new courses that MultiUni should offer
- Organize a course: find free materials online, decide if the format will be teacher-led or study group, put the materials together, and optionally find an expert to teach or support the class
- Teach (it’s easier than you think when you re-use free online course materials)
- Be a teaching assistant
- Encourage your company to offer courses, workshops, or special lectures
- Find sponsors and classrooms
If you have any questions or ideas, contact us.
How can schools help?
A school can host a course in one of its classrooms and let its students and teachers know about the course. This will enhance the education of the school’s students by offering them additional learning options at little or no cost.
The school can further connect with the community outside its walls by encouraging its teachers to offer or support courses that the community wants. Support can be as simple as answering questions by email, if students still can’t find the answers after collaboration.
Schools can also work with MultiUni to arrange for the granting of credits to students for completed courses.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
How can companies help?
A company can host a course at its facilities and let its employees know about the course. This will give employees additional training at little or no cost.
A company can share its expertise in the form of courses or workshops beneficial to the community.
Besides the benefit of recognition, companies would gain access to a bigger pool of trained jobseekers before committing to hiring anyone.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.