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)
- Share
Read more 
Associate Professor
Head, Centre for Research and Innovation
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mike Perkins is the Head of the Centre for Research & Innovation at British University Vietnam, Vietnam. He holds a PhD in Management from the University of York, where he explored performance management in local policing services. His current research focuses on performance management, academic integrity, and the impact of Generative AI […]
Head of School, School of Computing & Innovative Technologies
Assoc. Prof. Ali Al-DulaimiAn instructor with a Ph.D. and around 25 years of cross-disciplinary experience, with a long list of skills and certificates. Throughout his international career, Assoc. Prof. Al-Dulaimi held different roles: teacher, lead teacher, head of department, lead instructor, research team leader, and Quality & Project manager. Using his solid academic foundations and extensive professional experience, […]
Lecturer
Dr. SasikumarRaised and educated in India, Sasi completed a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Anna University. Following graduation, in 2011, he completed a Master of Technology in Information Technology. He completed his PhD in 2023, titled “A Novel Machine Learning Paradigm for Pattern Extraction from Multivariate Data Sources Using Big Data Analytics” in […]
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 […]
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 […]
Associate Lecturer
Alex Gaja OrtegaAfter completing a Master’s Degree in Architecture and various other academic, professional and research experiences in Spain, Poland, France and Japan, in 2015, Alex arrived in Vietnam, where he developed his career both in design consultancy for international offices and higher education. Among his recent professional milestones worth highlighting is the Cityscape Awards in 2019 […]
Lecturer - Academic Ambassador
Programme Lead - International Business Management
Raised and educated in Chennai, INDIA, Varun completed a bachelor’s degree in Defense & Strategic studies from University of Madras. Following graduation in 2003, he completed a master’s degree in Mass communication & Journalism in 2005. He started his career as a Lecturer from Chennai. Varun completed National Eligibility Test in 2012 to become certified […]
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 […]
Lecturer - Academic Ambassador
Dr. Madura Thiwanka PathiranaDr. Madura Thivanka Pathirana is a Sri Lankan and Australian academic specializing in sustainable tourism and business management. He holds a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, UK, and currently serves as a Senior Lecturer at Edith Cowan University Sri Lanka. In 2025, he completed a Research Fellowship in […]
Senior Teaching Fellow
Jonathan NealeMr Neale has been CEO of two consultancies and successfully restored over 23 different businesses to profitability before entering higher education. He taught in the UK and Abu Dhabi before coming to Vietnam. His first degree was from Dalhousie University (Canada), he later completed an MBA at Heriot-Watt University (Scotland) and a PGCE at York […]
