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)
- 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 […]
Lecturer
Dr. Anam AshrafSoftware Engineering Lecturer with over 5 years of academic and industry experience. Holds a PhD in Management Sciences and Engineering from China (2025), and earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Software Engineering from NUST, Pakistan (2015). Her research focuses on UX/UI design and user-centered computing. She has worked on software projects aimed at improving […]
Teaching Fellow
Programme Lead - Computer Games Design & Programming and Games Art
David has lived and worked as an educator in Vietnam for the past 8 years and has always focused on creating a fun, inclusive and engaging learning environment for his students. David currently holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and a Post Graduate Certificate for Teaching in Higher Education. He has taught […]
Teaching Fellow
Julien PsomasAs Julien was studying for his BA Hons in Marketing in bonny Scotland, he discovered hospitality, its rhythm, its multicultural pool of talents, its long shifts, and the passion behind all this. Beside his studies, he worked in banqueting in St Andrews and later as a bartender. Julien quickly became team leader and got the […]
Associate Lecturer
Programme Lead - International Hospitality Management
Olivier de Chauliac is a French professional working in the hospitality, tourism and service industry for several years. Coming from a family anchored deep into the hospitality industry with a 3-stars Camping, a 200ha of Vineyard in the South of France and a hunting lodge, Olivier always had a passion for this industry and particularly […]
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
Discipline Lead - Business (Management, Marketing)
Coming from the serene coastal town of Port Dickson, Malaysia. Dr. Ash embarked on an academic journey that culminated in remarkable achievements. She secured a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master of Science in International Marketing Management from the Robert Gordon University (RGU), UK. Her thirst for knowledge led her to Postgraduate Studies […]
Lecturer
Dr. William ShiueWilliam Shiue is a Lecturer at the School of Business at the British University Vietnam. He earned his Ph.D. in Strategic Marketing from King’s Business School, King’s College London (AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA accredited), an M.Sc. in Management and Systems from New York University, and a B.Sc. in Finance from The Pennsylvania State University. William’s […]
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 […]
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 […]
