Dr. Paul DJ Moody appointed as the Discipline Lead of the School of Communications & Creative Industries

With the rapid growth of the communication industry and the increasing demand for skilled professionals in this sector, British University Vietnam (BUV) has appointed Dr. Paul Moody as the new discipline lead of the School of Communications and Creative Industries.

The communications and creative industries have emerged as pivotal sectors, serving as a prerequisite for businesses to connect with their target audiences swiftly and effectively.

Consequently, there is an increasingly growing demand for highly adept individuals capable of navigating the dynamic landscape of this market.

Bringing a wealth of film, television, media production, and higher education experience to his new role, Paul D.J. Moody assumed leadership at the School of Communications and Creative Industries (SCCI) at BUV as of March.

Dr. Paul DJ Moody

With a robust background in teaching, higher education management, and an unwavering commitment to research, Dr. Moody brings fresh perspectives and insight into BUV’s academic framework, further advancing the university’s mission of delivering world-class education to Vietnamese students.

Before starting his new journey at BUV, Moody taught at prestigious UK universities and colleges, including the National Film and Television School, University of London Goldsmiths’ College, the Royal College of Art, London College of Communication, and the London Film School.

Beyond the UK, he taught at Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), Ramon Llull University (Barcelona), and has collaborated extensively with the Polish and French national film schools on post-graduate programmes.

Paul Moody (left) with colleagues and students of the French national film school, La Femis

His 23 years of higher education, fund management, and talent development experience sit within a 34-year media production career that includes continuing involvement in feature films, television drama, documentary, arts, advertising, and promotional production.

Moody has produced and worked on projects for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Film Four, Universal Pictures, ARTE, ARD/Sender Freies Berlin, Bayerischer Rundfunk, the UK Department of Employment, and commercial organisations such as Pfizer and Budweiser.

His doctoral research films are preserved at the British Film Institute archive, and he is currently working on a series of historical and musical documentaries.

Paul Moody (right) with French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet

From the outset of his career, Moody has dedicated significant time and effort to expanding his knowledge and exploring the fields of communications and creativity.

Before gaining his PhD from the UK’s Royal College of Art in 2023, Moody gained his bachelor’s degree in communication studies with sociology, from Goldsmiths, University of London in 1985 – where he made his first films – and a diploma in professional film and television production in 1989 from the Northeast Media Training Centre in Gateshead.

He was awarded a fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2016 and gained a diploma from the one-year European Audio-Visual Entrepreneurs programme in 1997.

Moody has stated his decision to join BUV after years of international experience is due to its strong potential for the future development of the communications and creative industries.

He perceives Vietnam as a new and exciting destination and an ideal environment for nurturing creativity and innovation in the communications and creative industries.

“I chose to join the BUV family because I saw similarities in the approach to education, reputation, and long-term vision of the university to higher education I had delivered elsewhere,” said Moody.

“My new role allows me to participate in making profound decisions in building a dynamic learning environment in which students acquire specialised knowledge and benefit from opportunities for practical training and development of real-world skills.”

Leveraging his experience in fundraising and ensuring financial stability for research projects, the new discipline lead of SCCI expressed his commitment to actively seeking opportunities for collaboration with international businesses and organisations to provide students with internship and job opportunities, ensuring the best preparation for them after graduation.

“With the excellence of our faculty and state-of-the-art facilities, the SCCI is committed to providing a quality learning and research environment, enabling students to realise their fullest potential and transform their interests and passions into successful careers,” Moody added.

Currently, SCCI courses at BUV are awarded by the Arts University Bournemouth and Staffordshire University.

Among them, the Professional Communication (Business, Design and Strategy) course is awarded by Arts University Bournemouth, a top art university in the creative industry in the UK and awarded gold by TEF (Teaching Excellence Framework) and HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England) for its excellent teaching framework.

Designed to cater to the needs of the Vietnamese market, the curriculum places a strong emphasis on practical applications, ensuring students are well-equipped after graduation.

Through flexible training programmes and quality faculty, the SCCI stands as a beacon within BUV’s educational system, significantly contributing to BUV’s success in the higher education landscape.

British University Vietnam is the first and only international university in Vietnam to award bachelor’s degrees from the University of London, Staffordshire University, University of Stirling, and Arts University Bournemouth.

Source: Vietnam Investment Review