A semester of global research: showcasing HDR excellence across three continents

A semester of global research: showcasing HDR excellence across three continents

From Ho Chi Minh City to Barcelona to Melbourne, DSC’s HDR Symposia spent the first half of 2026 engaging with RMIT’s global community of Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates through formal PhD examinations, milestone reviews and work in progress presentations.

Across Asia, Europe and Australia, the College of Design and Social Context's Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates showcased their work through the Practice Research Symposium (PRS) and the Urban Futures and Social Change Symposia.  

Convened from March through to June, these symposia saw HDR candidates, supervisors and expert critics to present, engage with and celebrate research across DSC’s breadth of creative practice and non-creative practice research disciplines.  

With PRS Asia returning to Ho Chi Minh City in September, look back on a standout semester and see what’s ahead in Semester 2. 

PRS Asia, Vietnam

RMIT University Vietnam's School of Communication & Design hosted the year's first PRS in March, hosting HDR candidates from across RMIT's Schools of Design, Architecture & Urban Design, and Media & Communication and external critics and examiners. 

Among the many candidates taking part were two PhD candidates, Pooja Nansi (School of Media & Communication) and Donn Holohan (School of Architecture and Urban Design), who presented their research for examination.  

A keynote on the Living Archive and Creative Practice Research project, presented by Professor Jazmin Llana (De La Salle University), Professor Fei Che (Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology) and Associate Professor Kok Yoong Lim from RMIT Vietnam’s School of Communication & Design, explored how archives hold time, politics and memory in creative practice. 

Workshops on design research and community voice rounded out a program that set a strong tone for the year ahead. 

A person stands in a gallery, giving a speech with small models around themDonn Holohan’s examination. Credit Tin Nguyen and Kai Le

PRS Europe, Barcelona

April saw PRS Europe return to Barcelona as part of the city's year-long program as the World Capital of Architecture for 2026. Opened with remarks from RMIT Europe’s CEO, Dr Marta Fernandez Bertos, the symposium focused on the theme of delivering meaningful, sustainable and beautiful built environments.  

Associate Professor Gilles Retsin (The Bartlett School of Architecture) delivered a keynote on architecture, production and scale, followed by a panel featuring Professor Alisa Andrasek, Professor Roland Snooks and Dr Sille Pihlak (Dean, Faculty of Architecture, Estonian Academy of Arts).  

A collection of photos showing panel discussions and activities from PRS Europe

PhD candidate Francesca Vanelli, enrolled in a cotutelle PhD with Politecnico di Milano via the RMIT led REDI Program, successfully completed her PhD examination, a milestone for RMIT's growing network of international partnerships.  

Vanelli’s research explores how flood adaptation can be addressed through a systemic and participatory approach, integrating urban design, governance and community engagement to enable more coordinated and inclusive decision-making across scales.  

PRS Australia and the Urban Futures and Social Change Symposia

June delivered the biggest program yet for PRS Australia.  

RMIT hosted a record 13 PhD examinations across the Schools of Architecture and Urban Design, Design, Media and Communication, and Fashion and Textiles, alongside 100 milestone and progress review presentations.  

RISING Melbourne x RMIT Sound Artist in Residence, and Pulitzer Prize-winning Diné composer/artist, Raven Chacon headlined a panel on sonic resistance and sovereignty, followed by a discussion with Yorta Yorta curator, Dr Kimberley Moulton, and Yuin-Walbunja School of Design candidate, Hayden Ryan.

Raven Chacon speaking at the Design Hub Raven Chacon: Sovereignty and Sonic Resistance at Design Hub

The symposium also included a range of sessions on podcasting, generative AI and design examination. The week brought fresh debate and ideas from RMIT experts in collaboration with candidates and interdisciplinary peers from across the College of Design and Social Context.  

Running alongside PRS, the Urban Futures and Social Change Symposia welcomed new Social Change Chair, Associate Professor Jing Qi, and delivered a strong program of panels and workshops on research integrity and communicating research to broader audiences.  

The week closed with the HDR Poster Competition, congratulating winners Shinjita Das, Michelle Gissara, Abdulla Baslom and People's Choice winner Kriti Agarwal. 

Winners stand lined up with their certificates.Prize winners for the Urban Futures & Social Change Symposia HDR Poster Competition

What’s next?

The semester one DSC HDR Symposia program has displayed the depth and reach of RMIT's research community. 

The next stop is PRS Asia in Ho Chi Minh City, September 2026, opening Semester two with a new round of examinations, milestones and ideas. 

Learn more about PRS and Urban Futures & Social Change.

15 July 2026

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15 July 2026

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