Dr. Aiwa Romy
Hailing from Kerala, South India, Aiwa completed her Bachelor’s degree in Travel and Tourism from Pazhassiraja College, Calicut University, Kerala in 2014. Following graduation, she moved to Malaysia to pursue her MSc. in Tourism by research from Taylor’s University (2014-2017) , and continued there until the completion of her Doctoral studies in 2021. During her period at Taylor’s, she engaged with various teaching, research, as well as departmental activities under the Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management. Thereafter, she worked as an Invited Faculty and Visiting Resource Person at State and Central Universities in India.
Since her Master’s, she established her expertise in qualitative research and elevated her interpretive skills. Aiwa’s research interests include exploring niche areas in tourism, tourists’ behaviour, perceptions, and preferences. Besides that, she is an independent researcher, speaker, and thinker who works towards inculcating ethical thoughts and qualitative behaviour in daily life.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Doctor of Philosophy (2017 – 2021)
Taylor’s University, Malaysia
Thesis: Women bikers in India: An ethnography on contemporary motorcycle subculture and motorcycle tourism - Master of Science (MSc.) Tourism (2014 -2017)
Taylor’s University, Malaysia - Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Travel and Tourism Management (2011-2014)
Calicut University, India
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
- British University Vietnam (BUV)
Lecturer (2024 – Current)
- Central University of Andhra Pradesh (CUAP) (India)
Invited Faculty (2021, 2023)
Voc Tourism and Travel Management - Mahatma Gandhi University (India)
Visiting Resource person (2021 – 2022)
School of Tourism Studies, MGU - Taylor’s University (Malaysia)
Tutor (2014 – 2019)
Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management
RESEARCH AREAS / FIELDS
- Qualitative Research Methodology
- Ethnography, and Sub-cultural Studies
- Niche Tourism
RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
- Romy, A. & Dewan, M. (2020)
The Bikerni: An ethnographic study on women motorcyclists in modern India. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change. Doi: 10.1080/14766825.2020.1849242 - Thomas, T. K., Mura, P., & Romy, A. (2018)
Tourism and the ‘dry law’ in Kerala – exploring the nexus between tourism and alcohol. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change. doi:10.1080/14766825.2018.1471085
RESEARCH & CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS / EXHIBITIONS
- Romy, A. (2022).
Disruptive methods in Qualitative Research – (Workshop)
2022 3rd Asian Tourism Research Conference
Christ University, Bangalore, India - Romy, A. (2021)
Thought of Young Minds – (Keynote Address)
2021 2nd Asian Tourism Research Conference
Far Eastern University, Manila, Philippines (Online) - Romy, A. (2022)
Due to desire or trend? Exploring the socio–psychological motivations behind the choice of stay-cations during the pandemic – (Paper presentation)
2022 National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM)
Hyderabad, India (Online) - Romy, A. (2019)
Women Bikers in India: An Account of Current Scenario
2019 Indian Tourism and Hospitality Congress (ITHC)
Vythiri Village Resort, Wayanad, India - Romy, A. (2015)
Fear of Outbound Tourists in the Event of Tragedies: A Review
2015 9th Graduate Research Colloquium
Taylor’s University, Malaysia
RESEARCH PROJECTS
- Country-level Case Researcher, India (2022-2023)
Documenting linkages between farmers and the tourism and hospitality industry in Asia and the Pacific ($4000) Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) (Mahatma Gandhi University, India) - Team Member (2015-2016)
Tourism Industry Sector Study, Mega Science Framework Study
Commissioned by the Academy of Sciences, Malaysia (Taylor’s University, Malaysia) - Administrative Assistant (2014-2015)
Environmentally and Socially Responsible Tourism Capacity Development Programme, funded by the European Union (ESRT-EU) (Taylor’s University, Malaysia)
AWARDS & HONOURS
- Honoured as Distinguished Alumni (2020)
De Paul English Medium Higher Secondary School, Angamaly, India - Taylor’s Vice-Chancellor Award (2017)
Taylor’s University, Malaysia - Best Paper Award (2015)
Graduate Research Colloquium, Taylor’s University, Malaysia - Tutorship Scholarship (2014)
Taylor’s University, Malaysia - Central Sector Scholarship (2012)
Central Government of India
- Share
Read more 
Teaching Fellow
Jed ClarkeRaised 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, […]
Senior Lecturer
Programme Lead - Computer Science
Raised 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. […]
Lecturer
Dr. Sriganeshvarun NagarajRaised and educated in Chennai, INDIA, Varun completed a bachelor’s degree in Defense & Strategic studies from University of Madras. Following graduation in 2003, he completed a master’s degree in Mass communication & Journalism in 2005. He started his career as a Lecturer from Chennai. Varun completed National Eligibility Test in 2012 to become certified […]
Senior English Teacher
James McMillanJames was born in England, but spent his formative years not far from Vietnam, in Brunei. In 1986 James moved back to the UK with his family, where he remained until 2015. Following graduation in 1996, he embarked on a career in the financial industry, working for HBOS and then Lloyds Banking Group. Before leaving […]
Lecturer
Discipline Lead - Business (Accounting, Finance & Economics)
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 […]
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 […]
Senior Lecturer
Programme Lead – Professional Communications
Before joining BUV, Dr. Pham Hai Chung was a researcher at Harvard Kennedy School in the U.S. She earned her Ph.D. in Media and Communication from Bournemouth University, England, and holds an M.A. in International Journalism from Hong Kong Baptist University. Chung’s Ph.D research focuses on the evolving narratives of Vietnam, examining its war-torn past […]
Dean (Higher Education)
Assoc. Professor Jason MacVaughBorn in the United States but raised and educated in the Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom, Jason completed a BSc in Business Management from N.C. State University. Following graduation in 2000 he was employed in both in the UK and the USA banking sectors. In 2002, he completed an MSc in Human Resource Management and […]
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 […]
Associate Professor
Head, Centre for Research and Innovation
Mike carried out his university studies at the University of York, UK, where he completed his undergraduate degree in Management. Following the completion of a project with the North Yorkshire Police on enhancing service level delivery, he carried out his PhD in Operations Management at the University of York, which was partially funded by the […]
