In the morning of Nov. 24, 2017, the AsiaCall 2017 Conference on the application of IT in language teaching and learning opened at The HCMC Open University, lasting for 2 days from Nov. 24 to 26, 2017.

The HCMC Open University together with The Asian IT Application in Language Teaching & Learning Association, ASIACALL held the conference to promote the application of technology in teaching, improve teaching techniques and innovate teaching methods for teachers in Asian countries. Also, many research was publicized at the conference. The conference aims to give language researchers, teachers in Vietnam, other Asian countries as well as all over the world a chance to learn from one another, to exchange knowledge, and to make good use of technology in teaching, learning and researching.

The conference welcomed three keynote speakers, who are leading specialists in technology-application in teaching:

• Assoc. Pro., Dr. Robert Murphy, from Kitakyushu University, Japan.
• Mr. Mark Ngoy, Director General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Cambodia.
• Assoc. Pro., Dr. Nguyễn Văn Long, Vice Rector of University of Foreign Language Studies, University of Da Nang.

And many other speakers from in and out of Viet Nam.

There are also reports by scholars from more than 20 countries and regions: China, Australia, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, The Philippines, Japan, Iran, Britain, The United States, Belgium, Korea, Hong Kong, Nepal, Macau, France, Oman…and by many Vietnamese research writers.

The main theme of the conference was mentioned, analysed, and discussed in details. The reports essentially focus on the following research fields: Developments teaching and learning by cell phones; Language Teaching Policy; Use of Technology via Internet; Challenges in Online Training, Application of Technology in Training Teachers, Teaching and Learning Methods by employing traditional and online approaches.

Attending the opening ceremony include:

From AsiaCall:

- Pro. Dr. Andrew Lian – President of AsiaCall.

- Assoc. Pro., Dr. Pham Vu Phi Ho - Vice President of AsiaCall, in charge of administration.

• - Dr. Anian Lian – Vice President of AsiaCall, in charge of Research and Innovation, Editor-in-chief of AsiaCall online publication.
• Prof. Kalyan Chattopathyay – Vice President, in charge of communication, network and events.

From The Ho Chi Minh City Open University:

• Dr. Le Thi Thanh Thu – Chairwoman of the School Board of Directors.
• Assoc. Pro., Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha – Vice President of the HCMC Open University.
• Dr. Nguyen Thuy Nga – Dean of Faculty of Foreign Languages, Head of Organization Committee of AsiaCall 2017.

Sponsors include:

• Mr. Le Hoang Nam – Marketing Manager, Dai Truong Phat Company.
• Mrs. Mguyen Bich Phuong – representative of Macmillan Publisher.
• Mrs. Uyen Pham – representative of Cambridge ESOL.
• Mr. Paul Grainger - representative of National Geographic Publisher.

Addressing at the conference, Assoc. Pro., Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha – Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Open University gave greetings to all the guests, participants. He highly appraised the academic roles and values of the conference and believed that this was one of the significant occasions in communicating and exchanging knowledge among participants, esp. those with plenty of teaching experience from many countries. He also sent best wishes for a successful conference and hoped the guests would enjoy their useful time in Viet Nam, in Ho Chi Minh City and at the HCMC Open University. 

Speaking at the seminar, Pro. Dr. Andrew Lian sent his thanks to the HCMC OU for organizing the 15^th AsiaCall 2017, and to all the participants in the conference.

After 1-day pre-conference and 2.5 days, more than 150 participants have worked very hard for discussing, sharing practical experience, contributing much to both the theory and practice of learning & teaching with technology, which helps enhance and improve the quality of teaching and learning in Asia as well as in the world.