Assoc. Prof. Maren Viol
Originally from Germany, Maren 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 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. Since then, she has taught on tourism, hospitality and events management courses in the UK and Vietnam and has held programme leadership roles at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Maren is also a Fellow of Advance HE. Her research interests include commemoration, memory studies, semiotics, tourism education and sustainable tourism. Maren has published her research in academic journals and book chapters 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)
Discipline Lead Tourism and Hospitality (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
- 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
- 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
- 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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