BarCampSaigon: Proposal for RMIT Vietnam as venue
This page introduces BarCamp to the RMIT International University Vietnam community, in particular the Computer Science & Information Technology program.
We believe RMIT Vietnam would be an ideal venue to host the very first BarCamp event in Vietnam thanks to its renown and its excellent facilities. Hosting BarCamp there would benefit the technology community in Vietnam and surrounding countries, current and future IT students as well as staff at RMIT, and IT employers in Vietnam.
One of the organizers of the conference, Huy Le (v80629), is currently a lecturer at RMIT.
BarCamp is an international network of user-generated conferences — open, participatory workshop-events, whose content is provided by participants — primarily focusing on technology. Topics typically include programming, web design, technology usage, education, entrepreneurship, etc.
The first BarCamp was held in Palo Alto, California, USA, from August 19-21, 2005, with 200 attendees. Since then, BarCamps have been held in over 350 cities around the world on all continents. The second-year anniversary in Palo Alto was attended by over 800 people.
More information can be found at the Wikipedia entry for BarCamp.
What happens at a BarCamp?
The key difference between BarCamp and other conferences is audience participation: there are no preset schedules and attendees are the ones leading presentations or discussions. Everyone is there to teach, learn, share, and have fun. BarCamps of the past have been wildly successful in introducing new startups, new products, new ideas, and connecting like-minded people in the world of technology.
The procedural framework consists of sessions proposed and scheduled each day by attendees, mostly on-site, typically using white boards or paper taped to the wall.
While loosely structured, there are friendly rules at BarCamp. All attendees are encouraged to present or facilitate a session. Everyone is also asked to share information and experiences of the event, both live and after the fact, via public web channels including (but not limited to) blogging, photo sharing, social bookmarking, wiki-ing, and IRC.
Who comes to a BarCamp?
BarCamps are open to everyone interested in technology: students, professionals, enthusiasts, corporate sponsors, employers, recruiters, the media, etc.
How much does it cost?
Besides space, venues typically provide basic services. Free network access, usually WiFi, is crucial.
Attendance is typically monetarily free and generally restricted only by space constraints. Participants are asked, though, to sign up in advance.
BarCamps rely on securing other sponsorship for office supplies, beverages, and food.
When and how much space?
The tentative date for the first BarCamp Saigon is Sunday, November 16, 2008 from 9am to 5pm.
Given an anticipated attendance of around 150-200 participants, we would like to have 10 rooms available with projector and whiteboard. We also need a main room for assembly, announcements, and to post up a schedule: the RMIT cafeteria areas would work well.
How will this benefit RMIT?
First, RMIT would receive the appreciation of IT professionals and enthusiasts in and around Vietnam.
As BarCamp is an increasingly popular and unique international technology conference, hosting BarCamp would help RMIT be recognized as an outreaching center for education and technology in Vietnam and South-East Asia. As the first host, RMIT will continue to be mentioned as the seat of the first BarCamp for years to come.
We have an active effort to bring press attention before, during, and after the event.
How will this benefit current RMIT students & staff?
RMIT students and staff will have the opportunity to learn, teach, and share their enthusiasm for technology at the conference. They will meet experts in the industry and make relationships with other like-minded folks. They will see what technology companies and other programmers are currently doing in industry.
They will also come in contact with current employers in the area, who will sponsor the event and/or send their own employees to participate, thus enhancing their exposure to future employment.
How will this benefit prospective RMIT students?
Prospective students interested in the IT program at RMIT will have a chance to come and see the campus and facilities, meet some of the existing students and staff at RMIT, and recognize RMIT as a center for education and technology in Vietnam, involved in the community.
How will this benefit the tech community in Saigon?
Technology professionals and enthusiasts in Vietnam and surrounding areas will find an inclusive community of like-minded individuals to teach to, learn from, and share with. They will know about the latest developments in the industry, increase the visibility of their own projects and ideas, and meet prospective employers.
How will this benefit IT employers?
IT employers in the area will come in contact with the most motivated and collaborative IT professionals and enthusiasts.
Who stands to lose?
No one :)
What about the details of the conference?
We are actively looking into BarCamp needs for wifi internet access, equipment, catering, cleaning, security, and parking. We will collaborate with the venue's event coordinator and the respective departments to handle all logistics of the event.
See our current organization checklist at BarCampSaigonChecklist for details.
Any other questions?
One of the organizers of the conference, Huy Le (v80629), is currently a lecturer at RMIT and is available to respond to any question or issue. He has attended a BarCamp in Silicon Valley in California last year and in Cambodia a month ago.
For more information, visit the main web site and the current wiki web site.
