Professor Rick Bennett

Professor Rick Bennett

Professor Rick Bennett
Raised 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 was based within the School of Design Studies before leading a new online education department and managing the curriculum design and teaching of more than 40 fully online courses in art and design, ultimately leading to production of the first fully-online Masters (coursework) program at UNSW.
Rick’s research over the last 20 years has explored advances in digital technology and the interdependence between design professions and design education and potentials for online offerings. This resulted in invitations to numerous talks worldwide, significant research grants and publications, as well as prestigious awards. Notably, in 2004, he was awarded the Australian Council of University Art and Design Schools – Australian Teacher of the Year.
In 2015, Rick relocated to Vietnam as Dean, School of Communication & Design at RMIT University. In 2018, he was later appointed as RMIT Vietnam Executive Dean (Academic & Students) before moving to the British University Vietnam (BUV) in 2022, as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

  • Doctor of Philosophy (2004 – 2009)

The University of Sydney, Australia

Thesis: Drawing on the Virtual Collective: Exploring Online Collaborative Creativity

  • Master of Higher Education (1994 -1998)

The University of New South Wales, Australia

  • Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Fine Arts (1981-1984)

Bristol Polytechnic, England (UK)

 

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

  • British University Vietnam (BUV)

Professor (2022 – Current)

Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Vice President

  • RMIT University (Vietnam)

Professor (2015 – 2022)

Executive Dean (Academic & Students) (2019 – 2022)

Vice-President (Academic) (2018-19)

Dean, School of Communication & Design (2015-2018)

  • University of New South Wales (Australia)

Assoc. Lecturer to Assoc. Professor (1990 – 2015)

Head, College of Fine Arts Online

 

RESEARCH AREAS / FIELDS

  • Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
  • Online Learning & Teaching
  • Graphic Design, Foundation Design Theories

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

  • Polaine, A., & Bennett, R. (2010)

Creative Waves: Exploring Emerging Online Cultures, Social Networking and Creative Collaboration Through e-Learning to Offer Visual Campaigns for Local Kenyan Health Needs. In Collaborative Technologies and Applications for Interactive Information Design: Emerging Trends in User Experiences, Rummler, Scott & Ng, Kwong-Bor (Eds.), Hershey, PA: IGI Global. ISBN: 978-1-60566-727-7

  • Martini, N., Harrison, J., & Bennett, R. (2010)

Creating Waves across geographical and disciplinary divides through online creative collaboration. In Interaction in Communication Technologies & Virtual Learning Environments, Ragusa, Angela, T. (Ed), Human Factors, IGI Global, pp 9-25.

ISBN: 978-1-60566-874-1

  • Bennett, R. & Dziekan, V. (2005)

Online Collaboration in the Creative Process: Working With the Most Interactive Community of Designers We Have [N]ever Met.

Designs on E-Learning International Conference Proceedings: The University of the Arts, London, England, ISBN: 1-903455-09-X

 

RESEARCH & CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS / EXHIBITIONS

  • Bennett, R. (2021)

Barriers to Online Education for Higher Education in Vietnam – (Keynote Address)

2021 Auscham Education Conference Vietnam (Online)

  • Bennett, R. (2014)

Global Classrooms, Local Benefits

2014 International Conference on Global Education for Digital Natives (Keynote Address)

Tamkang University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.

  • Bennett, R. (2011)

Creative Outreach Through Computing in Education

Global Learn Asia Pacific 2011 Conference (Keynote Address)

The Sebel Albert Park Hotel, Melbourne, Australia.

  • Bennett, R.  (2013)

The Banglos Project – Design Exhibition

Ayala Museum, Makati, Manila, Philippines.

  • Bennett, R.  (2011)

DasManila – Design Exhibition

Royal Botanic Gardens

Sydney, Australia.

 

RESEARCH GRANTS

  • McIntyre, S., Bennett, R., & Watson, K. (2009)

Australian Learning & Teaching Council (ALTC)

Learning to Teach Online: Developing high-quality video and text resources to help educators teach online. ($219,000)

  • Bennett, R. & McIntyre, S. (2007)

UNSW Learning & Teaching Performance Fund

Planning, Infrastructure Provision and Establishment of the UNSW Academy of Online Art and Design Education ($68,000)

  • Bennett, R. & Chan, L. (2004-06)

Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Grant

Formalising a System and Approach for an Effective Online Collaborative Design Process in Visual Communication. ($260,000)

 

AWARDS & HONOURS

  • Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2006)

Carrick Institute (now ALTC)

‘For pioneering internationally recognised best practice in online education in the creative arts and design’

  • AUQA Commendation (2006)

Australian University Quality Agency

‘For good practice in systematisation of online delivery and innovation in online collaborative education.’

  • President’s Award (2005)

Australasian Society of Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (Ascilite)

‘For innovation and exemplary use of technology in higher education’.

  • ACUADS Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award (2004)

Australian Council of University Art and Design Schools (ACUADS)

  • UNSW Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence (2001)

‘For exemplary innovation in the use of technology in teaching

 

Professor Rick Bennett
Professor Rick BennettRead more
Dr. Chris Kirrane
The Business School

Lecturer

Dr. Chris Kirrane

Chris, originally from the UK, has built a distinguished career abroad, specializing in economics, international political economy, and education. He holds a Ph.D. focused on the Asian Currency Crisis, along with a Master’s in International Political Economy, a PGCE in Tertiary Education (Economics), and a B.A. (Hons.) in Politics and Economics. With extensive experience in […]

Michael Lomax

Teaching Fellow
Head, Pre-University

Michael Lomax

Raised and educated in the North-East of England, Michael completed a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising & Media from Northumbria University, Newcastle. Following graduation in 2012, he was employed for 5 years in the UK music events & hospitality industry as a Marketing & Events Manager. During this time, Michael continued to pursue his passion for […]

Dr. Shashi Chaudhary
The Business School

Senior Lecturer

Dr. Shashi Chaudhary

Shashi, 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 […]

Dr. Bilal Aslam
The Business School

Lecturer

Dr. Bilal Aslam

Bilal Aslam is an accomplished academic with a PhD in Finance from Curtin University. His doctoral research, titled “Machine Learning for Capital Market Research and Portfolio Optimization,” delved into the application of advanced computational techniques to equity portfolio construction and decision-making. Prior to his PhD, Bilal completed an MPhil in Economics and Finance at Curtin […]

Shruthi Thaiveppil Gopi
School of Communications & Creative Industries

Teaching Fellow

Shruthi Thaiveppil Gopi

Born and raised in Kochi, India. Shruthi graduated from TKM Institute in Kerala with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. She earned a Master’s degree in Product Design from the Indian Institute of Information Technology after graduating in 2017, and she was researching Design Interventions in Marine jetty that adhered to Indian design codes at […]

Bui Hoang Ha Chau
School of Computing & Innovative Technologies

Teaching Practitioner

Bui Hoang Ha Chau

Chau is a seasoned professional in software development, particularly in game development, with over 10 years of experience. He graduated from FPT University with a Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering in 2017 and later earned a Master’s degree in Software Engineering from FSB (FPT School of Business & Technology). With a deep passion for technology […]

Dr. Luu Thi Thao Nguyen
The Business School

Lecturer

Dr. Luu Thi Thao Nguyen

Nguyen holds a bachelor’s degree in international business and economics from Foreign Trade University Vietnam, a Master of Management from Keele University in the UK, and a PhD in Marketing from RMIT University in Australia. Nguyen’s PhD research explores the emergence of social enterprises, and she plans to further pursue impactful research. Nguyen has more […]

Nhu Huong Tra
School of Communications & Creative Industries

Teaching Practitioner

Nhu Huong Tra

Tra 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 […]

Dr. Dong Manh Cuong
The Business School

Lecturer
Discipline Lead - Business (Accounting, Finance & Economics)

Dr. Dong Manh Cuong

Dr Dong Manh Cuong is a lecturer at the School of Business, British University Vietnam (BUV). He received his Ph.D. in Economics in 2019 from Feng Chia University, Taiwan, with a remarkable doctoral thesis titled “Essays of structural changes and quantile regression on financial data.” Over the recent years, he has taught at several higher […]

Dr. Mark Wheaton
The Business School

Head of School, The Business School

Dr. Mark Wheaton

Raised 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. […]

DMCA.com Protection Status