Dr. Aiwa Romy
Hailing from Kerala, South India, Aiwa completed her Bachelor’s degree in Travel and Tourism from Pazhassiraja College, Calicut University, Kerala in 2014. Following graduation, she moved to Malaysia to pursue her MSc. in Tourism by research from Taylor’s University (2014-2017) , and continued there until the completion of her Doctoral studies in 2021. During her period at Taylor’s, she engaged with various teaching, research, as well as departmental activities under the Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management. Thereafter, she worked as an Invited Faculty and Visiting Resource Person at State and Central Universities in India.
Since her Master’s, she established her expertise in qualitative research and elevated her interpretive skills. Aiwa’s research interests include exploring niche areas in tourism, tourists’ behaviour, perceptions, and preferences. Besides that, she is an independent researcher, speaker, and thinker who works towards inculcating ethical thoughts and qualitative behaviour in daily life.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Doctor of Philosophy (2017 – 2021)
Taylor’s University, Malaysia
Thesis: Women bikers in India: An ethnography on contemporary motorcycle subculture and motorcycle tourism - Master of Science (MSc.) Tourism (2014 -2017)
Taylor’s University, Malaysia - Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Travel and Tourism Management (2011-2014)
Calicut University, India
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
- British University Vietnam (BUV)
Lecturer (2024 – Current)
- Central University of Andhra Pradesh (CUAP) (India)
Invited Faculty (2021, 2023)
Voc Tourism and Travel Management - Mahatma Gandhi University (India)
Visiting Resource person (2021 – 2022)
School of Tourism Studies, MGU - Taylor’s University (Malaysia)
Tutor (2014 – 2019)
Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management
RESEARCH AREAS / FIELDS
- Qualitative Research Methodology
- Ethnography, and Sub-cultural Studies
- Niche Tourism
RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
- Romy, A. & Dewan, M. (2020)
The Bikerni: An ethnographic study on women motorcyclists in modern India. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change. Doi: 10.1080/14766825.2020.1849242 - Thomas, T. K., Mura, P., & Romy, A. (2018)
Tourism and the ‘dry law’ in Kerala – exploring the nexus between tourism and alcohol. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change. doi:10.1080/14766825.2018.1471085
RESEARCH & CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS / EXHIBITIONS
- Romy, A. (2022).
Disruptive methods in Qualitative Research – (Workshop)
2022 3rd Asian Tourism Research Conference
Christ University, Bangalore, India - Romy, A. (2021)
Thought of Young Minds – (Keynote Address)
2021 2nd Asian Tourism Research Conference
Far Eastern University, Manila, Philippines (Online) - Romy, A. (2022)
Due to desire or trend? Exploring the socio–psychological motivations behind the choice of stay-cations during the pandemic – (Paper presentation)
2022 National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM)
Hyderabad, India (Online) - Romy, A. (2019)
Women Bikers in India: An Account of Current Scenario
2019 Indian Tourism and Hospitality Congress (ITHC)
Vythiri Village Resort, Wayanad, India - Romy, A. (2015)
Fear of Outbound Tourists in the Event of Tragedies: A Review
2015 9th Graduate Research Colloquium
Taylor’s University, Malaysia
RESEARCH PROJECTS
- Country-level Case Researcher, India (2022-2023)
Documenting linkages between farmers and the tourism and hospitality industry in Asia and the Pacific ($4000) Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) (Mahatma Gandhi University, India) - Team Member (2015-2016)
Tourism Industry Sector Study, Mega Science Framework Study
Commissioned by the Academy of Sciences, Malaysia (Taylor’s University, Malaysia) - Administrative Assistant (2014-2015)
Environmentally and Socially Responsible Tourism Capacity Development Programme, funded by the European Union (ESRT-EU) (Taylor’s University, Malaysia)
AWARDS & HONOURS
- Honoured as Distinguished Alumni (2020)
De Paul English Medium Higher Secondary School, Angamaly, India - Taylor’s Vice-Chancellor Award (2017)
Taylor’s University, Malaysia - Best Paper Award (2015)
Graduate Research Colloquium, Taylor’s University, Malaysia - Tutorship Scholarship (2014)
Taylor’s University, Malaysia - Central Sector Scholarship (2012)
Central Government of India
- Share
Read more 
Teaching Fellow
James McGaughranRaised and educated in the United States, James completed a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Colorado (USA) as a double major in Political Science and Environmental Studies. Subsequently, he completed a Master of Strategic Leadership and Communication from Stephens College in Missouri (USA). James then travelled, worked and volunteered in India and Nepal before […]
Lecturer
Dr. Adrian WengAdrian joined BUV Hanoi in 2020, having previously taught at RMIT Vietnam for more than 10 years. Before teaching, he worked as a Training Manager in KPMG Malaysia, an international accounting firm headquartered in the Netherlands. Adrian also worked as a stock analyst and a real estate negotiator in Kuala Lumpur before finding his calling […]
Lecturer
Dr. Cao Thuy LinhDr. Cao Thuy Linh earned her Ph.D. in Business from Feng Chia University, Taiwan (AACSB-accredited) with a full scholarship, along with an MSc in International Business. She got a bachelor’s degree in International Business and Economics in Foreign Trade University, Vietnam. She has extensive teaching experience at FPT University and British University Vietnam, delivering modules […]
Teaching Practitioner
Nhu Huong TraTra Nhu is an illustrator and printmaker creating welcoming and inclusive visual solutions. As an art coordinator and educator, Tra organizes workshops, fairs and community events in Vietnam and the UK. Tra earned a Bachelor of Professional Communication from RMIT University and recently graduated with a MA Illustration from University of the Arts London. From […]
Teaching Fellow
Programme Lead - Computer Games Design & Programming and Games Art
David has lived and worked as an educator in Vietnam for over a decade and has always focused on creating a fun, inclusive and engaging environment for his students. David currently holds a Masters’s degree in Computer Science, a PGCHE and an FHEA. He has taught a variety of programming languages including C#, C++ and […]
Senior Teaching Fellow - Academic Ambassador
Lee McMillanRaised and educated in the UK, Lee holds a TEFL, PGDBJ and an MA Degree in History from the University of Glasgow. Lee moved to Vietnam in 2015 working as an IELTS teacher, examiner and VTV4 presenter before starting her role at BUV in 2018 under part time employment as an English teacher. In 2020 […]
Associate Lecturer
Programme Lead - Software Engineering
Born in Scotland, Fraser completed a Software Engineering degree (Bachelor of Engineering with Honours) from Edinburgh Napier University in 2013. With a primary focus on machine learning and genetic algorithms. After graduating, Fraser worked as a software developer in the oil and gas industry and as a cloud-based consultant developing and customizing customer relationship management […]
Senior Teaching Fellow
Hoang Bao LongBao Long is a lecturer, researcher, entrepreneur and interaction design expert specializing in game design, interaction design, user experience and psychology. He is also interested in entrepreneurship and startups, applying human-centered design to developing products to solve modern social life problems. Outside of teaching, he also is co-founder of LacBird Co. – a game company […]
Senior Teaching Fellow
Discipline Lead - Business (University of London)
Born in Canada, raised and educated in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Mark completed a B.Sc. (Econ) at the University of Buckingham, England. Following graduation in 1984, he worked with an Economics Consultancy for a year before returning to Buckingham as a tutor. While completing his Master’s degree, he worked his way up to Lecturer before leaving […]
Senior Lecturer
Dr. Giovanni MerolaRaised and educated in Rome, Italy, Giovanni completed a double major Bachelor degree in Statistics and Economics from the university La Sapienza in Rome. He completed his Masters and Ph.D. in Statistics at the University of Waterloo in 1994 and 1998, respectively. He was associate professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalunya in Spain, then […]
