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 
Dean (Higher Education)
Dr. Mark WheatonRaised and educated in Australia, Mark completed a bachelor’s degree in economics as a mature student at Adelaide University. Following graduation in 1983, Mark commenced employment as an Accountant for a subsidiary of BHP, in Sydney. Many positions followed working in government and banking until the year 2000 when he establishes a successful accounting business. […]
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 […]
Lecturer
Head, English Department
Raised and educated in Volgograd, Russia, Yulia completed a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Volgograd State Pedagogical University in 2003, followed by a Master’s Degree in Language Education in 2005 from the same university. A full-time postgraduate student, Yulia developed her Master’s research into a doctor’s degree and completed her PhD thesis in Cognitive Linguistics […]
Lecturer
Programme Lead - Digital and Social Media
Adrian 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 […]
Senior Teaching Fellow
LTM Maredi (In Memoriam)Maredi was raised and educated in South Africa. He studied Accounting at the University of Johannesburg where earned a Bachelor of Commerce and Honours in Accounting in 2006. He worked at Deloitte from 2007 to 2009 in assurance as part of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) program where he successfully completed the […]
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President
Professor Rick BennettRaised and educated in London, Rick completed undergraduate studies in the Fine Arts before working for 7 years within the UK film & television industry specialising in TV commercials and music video production. After emigrating to Australia in 1990, Rick worked at the University of New South Wales (in Sydney) where for 24 years he […]
Lecturer
Dr. Dang Quang VinhVinh graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Vietnam National University – Hanoi in 2009. He earned his PhD in Computer Science from Université de Lorraine in 2018, completing his thesis under the supervision of Prof. François Charoy and Dr. Claudia Ignat at Inria Nancy Grand-Est, France. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree […]
Senior Lecturer
Dr. Shashi ChaudharyShashi, born and raised in Nepal, completed a Bachelor’s degree (BA) in Economics and Mathematics and a Master’s degree (MA) in Economics from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. He started his career in higher education as a Lecturer in Economics at the School of Business, Pokhara University, Nepal, where he worked for two years before moving to […]
Head, The Graduate School
Assoc. Prof. Marton RaczBorn and raised in Budapest, Hungary, Marton completed his studies in Economics and Gender Studies before earning his PhD in Management from the University of Leicester, UK. He has previously held academic positions in the UK at the universities of Leicester, Essex, and City St George’s, and most recently, he served as Rector at International […]
Teaching Practitioner
Le Hoang Thu HuyenHuyen earned her bachelor’s degree in television journalism from the Academy of Journalism and Communication in Vietnam. Following graduation, she decided to broaden her experience from broadcast journalist at Vietnam Digital Television (VTC) to reality show production. She participated in three sessions of Vietnam’s Next Top Model and Vietnam International Fashion Week with Multimeda JSC […]
