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 
Teaching Fellow
Acting Discipline Lead – Accounting, Finance & Economics
Raised and educated in Stoke-on-Trent, England, Jed completed a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting & Finance from Staffordshire University. Following graduation in 2018, he was employed by British University Vietnam as an English teacher whilst subsequently completing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Staffordshire University, delivered at British University Vietnam. During his time at BUV, […]
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 […]
Lecturer
Dr. Bilal AslamBilal 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 […]
Senior Lecturer
Head Academic Quality
Dr. Jyotsna Ghildiyal Bijalwan is an academic, an author and researcher with a diverse international work experience in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students. She holds Graduation and Master degrees in Commerce from University of Mumbai, India. She is also a Master of Business Administration (Finance) and MPhil. She got her doctoral degree in Management from […]
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 […]
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 […]
Teaching Fellow
Head of Pathways
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 […]
Senior Lecturer
Dr. Viju PrakashRaised and educated in India, Viju Prakash completed a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Anna University. Following graduation, in 2005, he completed a Master of Computer Science and Engineering from Anna University. He later completed his PhD titled, “A Power Aware Routing Protocol in Wireless Sensor Networks” in Computer Science and Engineering. […]
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 […]
Lecturer
Lecturer, Programme Lead for MBA
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 […]
