When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Tasmanian shores, the switch to online learning by the University of Tasmania was almost seamless.
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After operating with some online courses and elements for decades, turning students away from campus and offering online education to its remaining international students helped to soften the blow.
However, it was not always a smooth ride, and UTAS teachers learned a lot about what worked - and what didn't.
Those experiences and learning will form the basis of an international conference that will be hosted by UTAS in Tasmania for the first time.
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The Australia-ASEAN Academics Forum will bring academics from UTAS, along with delegates from a number of South East Asian universities to collaborate and learn from each other.
UTAS researcher Dr Vinh To was successful in securing a federal government grant to host the forum, which she said would foster strong collaboration between Tasmania and South East Asia.
Dr To, from Vietnam, said she found out during her research, and through her personal and professional networks, that online learning was a new concept to SE Asia.
She said that those universities in her network had struggled to adapt to a learning from home environment and hoped her UTAS colleagues could share their tips and experiences during the forum.
Sharing their experiences would not only help the ASEAN countries, but also the UTAS researchers, Dr To said.
"We are in a position to share our experiences because we have been doing it [online learning] for decades at UTAS," she said.
Dr To said she wanted to apply for the grant, which she did last year, to help support her personal and professional networks.
"As someone who is from Vietnam, I am always looking for opportunities to help develop and support the people there."
Dr To said she had been overwhelmed by the applications from people wanting to be part of the forum.
The conference will be held online, hosted in Tasmania, in June, with a follow up session scheduled in September.
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