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
- Share
Read more 
Senior Teaching Fellow
Lee McMillanRaised and educated in the UK, Lee holds a TEFL, PGDBJ and an MA Degree in History from the University of Glasgow. Lee moved to Vietnam in 2015 working as an IELTS teacher, examiner and VTV4 presenter before starting her role at BUV in 2018 under part time employment as an English teacher. In 2020 […]
Associate Lecturer
Programme Lead - Software Engineering
Born in Scotland, Fraser completed a Software Engineering degree (Bachelor of Engineering with Honours) from Edinburgh Napier University in 2013. With a primary focus on machine learning and genetic algorithms. After graduating, Fraser worked as a software developer in the oil and gas industry and as a cloud-based consultant developing and customizing customer relationship management […]
Distinguished Visiting Professor (Business)
Professor Teo Tong KooiDato’ Dr. Teo Tong Kooi is from Malaysia. With a distinguished background in management and leadership, Dato’ Dr. Teo brings a wealth of experience spanning various industries, including financial services, manufacturing, property development, corporate advisory, and investment management. Over the course of his career, he has held pivotal leadership positions in multinational corporations and conglomerates, […]
Senior Teaching Fellow
Hoang Bao LongBao Long is a lecturer, researcher, entrepreneur and interaction design expert specializing in game design, interaction design, user experience and psychology. He is also interested in entrepreneurship and startups, applying human-centered design to developing products to solve modern social life problems. Outside of teaching, he also is co-founder of LacBird Co. – a game company […]
Lecturer
Dr. Valentina GorchakovaValentina is an experienced academic and marketing professional with a strong background in tourism, hospitality, and events. She holds a PhD from AUT University, New Zealand, and is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy. Dr. Gorchakova has extensive experience in higher education leadership and programme management, overseeing academic provision, quality, and student learning […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Teaching Fellow
Shruthi Thaiveppil GopiBorn 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 […]
Senior Lecturer
Discipline Lead - Tourism and Hospitality Management
Born and educated in Russia, Vladimir completed a Master’s degree in International Relations with distinction at Volgograd State University, followed by a Candidate of Science degree in Cultural Anthropology at St. Petersburg State University. He began his professional career managing major international exhibitions and business events in Russia and Europe, including projects for the European […]
