Assoc. Prof. Maren Viol
Originally from Germany, Maren gained her PhD from Edinburgh Napier University in the UK in 2016 with a thesis exploring commemorative narratives of the anniversary events of the fall of the Berlin Wall. She also holds an undergraduate degree in International Hospitality Management from Stenden University in the Netherlands and an MSc in Tourism and Events from the University of Sunderland in the UK. Maren has taught on tourism, hospitality and events management courses in the UK and Vietnam and has held various department and programme leadership roles. Maren is also a Senior Fellow of Advance HE. Her research interests include commemoration, memory studies, semiotics, tourism education and sustainable tourism. Maren has published award-winning research in globally leading academic journals and presented at international conferences.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Doctor of Philosophy (2011-2016)
Edinburgh Napier University, UK
Thesis: Collective memory and identity narratives at the 20th and 25th anniversary events of the fall of the Berlin Wall
- Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2012-2013)
Edinburgh Napier University, UK
- Master of Science in Tourism and Events (2010-2011)
University of Sunderland, UK
- Bachelor of Business Administration in International Hospitality Management (2006-2010)
Stenden University, Netherlands
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
- British University Vietnam
Senior Lecturer (2023 – present)
Programme Lead – Tourism Management (2023 – present)
- Glasgow Caledonian University (UK)
Lecturer (2020-2022)
Programme Leader MSc International Tourism and Events Management (2021-2022)
- British University Vietnam
Senior Lecturer (2016-2019)
Programme Leader BA(Hons) Tourism Management and BA(Hons) Events Management (2016-2019)
- Edinburgh Napier University (UK)
Graduate Teaching Assistant (2011-2016)
RESEARCH AREAS / FIELDS
- Critical tourism and events studies
- Sustainability in tourism and events
- Tourism higher education
RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
- Davies, N., Robbins, L., Baxter, D., Viol, M., Graham, A. & Halas, A. (2023) ‘Investigating the recovery of community events in Scotland, post-COVID-19’, International Journal of Event and Festival Management, 14 (4), 537-558, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEFM-03-2023-0024
- Viol, M., Todd, L. & Anastasiadou, C. (2023) ‘The semiotic paradigm for deconstructing event design and meaning’, Event Management, 27 (7), 1063-1079, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3727/152599523X16847420514728
- Viol, M., Anastasiadou, C., Todd, L. & Theodoraki, E. (2023) ‘Deconstructing commemorative narratives: The anniversaries of the fall of the Berlin Wall’, Leisure Studies, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2023.2215468
- Viol, M. & Southall, C. (2023) ‘A conceptual framework for understanding Western-centrism in transnational education in tourism’, Current Issues in Tourism, 26 (1), 1-5, DOI: 10.1080/13683500.2021.2019203
- Nguyen, B. L. & Viol, M. (2022) ‘Factors influencing decision-making of millennial travellers participating in community-based rural tourism experiences in South-East Asia’, in Stylidis, D., Kim, S. & Kim, S. (eds.) Tourism Marketing in East and South-East Asia, Egham: CABI, 22-38.
- Viol, M. & Southall, C. (2021) ‘A conceptual framework for understanding Western-centrism in transnational education in tourism’, Current Issues in Tourism, 1-5, DOI: 10.1080/13683500.2021.2019203
- Viol, M., Todd, L., Theodoraki, E. & Anastasiadou, C. (2018) ‘The role of iconic-historic commemorative events in event tourism: Insights from the 20th and 25th anniversaries of the fall of the Berlin Wall’, Tourism Management, 69C, 246-262, DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2018.06.018
- Viol, M. (2015) ‘The use of wikis within the virtual learning environment to support collaborative working and their influence on students’ learning experience’, Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice, 3 (2), 50-57, DOI: 10.14297/jpaap.v3i2.156
RESEARCH & CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS / EXHIBITIONS
- Bui, N. Y. & Viol, M. (2025)
Bridging the Green Gap: Expert Insights on Drivers and Barriers to Adopting Sustainability Labels in the Vietnamese Hospitality Sector
7th International Conference on Tourism Development in Vietnam
Hue, Vietnam - Nguyen, T. L. & Viol, M. (2025)
The Effectiveness of Heritage Transformation from Visitors’ Perspectives: An Example of Hoa Lo Prison Relic
7th International Conference on Tourism Development in Vietnam
Hue, Vietnam - Viol, M., Postma, D. & McMillan, L. (2025)
AI and creativity in event concept development: Vietnamese event management student perspectives
7th International Conference on Tourism Development in Vietnam
Hue, Vietnam - Romy, A. & Viol, M. (2025)
Exploring Art Tourism in Southeast Asia: A Case Study on Fine Arts and Place Attachment in Vietnam
7th International Conference on Sustainable Globalization
Colombo, Sri Lanka - Kim, C. A., Viol, M. & Russell, K. A. (2024)
Screen to green: The power of K-drama and social media in shaping sustainable tourism behaviors
4th International Joint Conference on Hospitality & Tourism
Nha Trang, Vietnam - Viol, M. & Southall, C. (2023)
Decolonising the tourism curriculum – experiences of faculty in Asian transnational education contexts (keynote address)
3rd Critical Tourism Studies Asia Pacific Conference
Hanoi, Vietnam - Viol, M. & Nguyen B. L. (2023)
Ethical consumers post-COVID-19: Sustainable travel behaviours of young Vietnamese tourists
3rd Critical Tourism Studies Asia Pacific Conference
Hanoi, Vietnam - Viol, M. & Southall, C. (2018)
Western-centrism in internationalised tourism higher education curricula: Perspectives from Vietnam
Critical Tourism Studies Asia Pacific Inaugural Biennial Conference
Yogyakarta, Indonesia - Viol, M., Theodoraki, E., Anastasiadou, C. & Todd, L. (2014)
Researching narratives of collective memory and identity: The case of the commemorative events of the fall of the Berlin Wall
International Conference on Remembering in a Globalizing World
Le Chambon sur Lignon, France - Viol, M., Theodoraki, E. & Anastasiadou, C. (2013)
The impact of commemorative events of the fall of the Berlin Wall on collective memory (re)constructions
Post Conflict, Cultural Heritage and Regional Development: An International Conference
Wageningen, Netherlands
AWARDS & HONOURS
- Best Overall Journal Article Award (2024)
‘The semiotic paradigm for deconstructing event design and meaning’
Event Management Journal - Final Year Research Student Prize for Research Excellence (2015)
Edinburgh Napier University - Interim Research Student Prize for Research Excellence (2014)
Edinburgh Napier University - First Year Research Student Prize for Research Excellence (2012)
Edinburgh Napier University - Best Postgraduate Student (2011)
Association for Tourism in Higher Education (ATHE)
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