BUV Head of The Graduate School’s research expands the global perspective on voluntourism beyond the Western world 
Research

BUV Head of The Graduate School’s research expands the global perspective on voluntourism beyond the Western world 

Mar 10, 2025

BUV Head of The Graduate School’s research expands the global perspective on voluntourism beyond the Western world  12:21:25

Dr. Simon Kimber, Head of School, The Graduate School at BUV, and his colleagues have contributed to global tourism research with their latest publication in Current Issues in Tourism, a leading journal ranked in the 99%-97% Scopus quartile. Their paper, “Chinese voluntourist gaze: a self-reflective perspective,” published by Taylor & Francis, explores how young Chinese international volunteers reflect on their experiences. This research addresses a critical gap in voluntourism studies, which have traditionally focused on Western perspectives. 

Dr. Simon Kimber, Head of School, The Graduate School

Dr. Kimber’s research challenges the dominant Western narrative in voluntourism studies, highlighting the need for a more inclusive and globally representative understanding of volunteer travel. By expanding the discourse to include perspectives from emerging economies, this study paves the way for further research on how cultural backgrounds shape voluntourism experiences and impact host communities in different ways. 

Using Urry’s gaze theory, the study identifies three key phases in how Chinese voluntourists perceive their journeys: an initial ‘othering’ of host destinations, a shift toward deeper cultural understanding, and a final stage of moral self-reflection. These findings offer valuable insights for the tourism industry, development organizations, and policymakers, helping to shape more ethical and meaningful voluntourism programs. By understanding how Chinese voluntourists engage with and interpret their experiences, stakeholders can design initiatives that ensure a more balanced and responsible exchange between volunteers and host communities. 

As Head of The Graduate School at BUV, Dr. Kimber is committed to fostering impactful research that drives meaningful academic and industry discussions. Reflecting on the significance of this study, he shared: “This research is significant because until now, volunteer tourism has been considered predominantly a Western phenomenon. So far, little attention has been paid to volunteers from emerging countries and how they reflect on their volunteering experiences.” 

Dr. Kimber also presented this research at the 4th Atlas Critical Tourism Studies Asia Pacific Conference, further reinforcing BUV’s role in shaping global academic discussions on tourism and cross-cultural engagement. The study underscores BUV’s commitment to high-quality research that not only expands academic knowledge but also contributes to industry best practices and global discourse. 

Access the full paper here. 

Meet the New Academic Leaders Transforming BUVRead more
ICCIT 2024: A hub of innovation and sustainability at BUV
BUV Daily

Jan 06, 2025

ICCIT 2024: A hub of innovation and sustainability at BUV

Following the grand success of 2023, BUV once again united leading experts, enthusiastic students, and innovative thinkers from all over the world to the International Conference on Innovation and Challenges in Computing and Innovative Technologies for a Sustainable Future (ICCIT) 2024.  ICCIT 2024 brought together over 64 presentations during its two-day event (13 – 14 December), […]

BUV Lecturers and Students’ Research Published in Top 1% Education Journal, Advancing the Understanding of AI Text Detection in Education
BUV Daily

Sep 18, 2024

BUV Lecturers and Students’ Research Published in Top 1% Education Journal, Advancing the Understanding of AI Text Detection in Education

British University Vietnam is proud to announce groundbreaking research led by Assoc. Prof. Mike Perkins, Head of the Centre for Research & Innovation, alongside members of the BUV GenAI Academic Research Cluster – Mr. Darius Postma, Mr. Don Hickerson, Mr. James McGaughran; collaborator Dr. Jasper Roe from James Cook University Singapore; and two BUV students, […]

BUV students explore technological applications in sustainable business development with international researchers
BUV Daily

Aug 07, 2024

BUV students explore technological applications in sustainable business development with international researchers

During the International Conference on Green Sustainable Technology and Management 2024, among more than 100 presentations by researchers regionwide, 2 stood out as the only students from Vietnam to present their research proposals to such an esteemed audience. Nguyen Khanh Nguyen and Nguyen Xuan Thuy, 2 students from British University Vietnam, delivered compelling online presentations […]

Winners of BUV Research Contest impress scholars at SU x BUV Faculty Research Symposium
BUV Daily

Aug 06, 2024

Winners of BUV Research Contest impress scholars at SU x BUV Faculty Research Symposium

At the recent SU x BUV Faculty Research Symposium, two outstanding research proposals by BUV students captivated the audience. The students, Hoang Phuong Thao (3rd year Accounting & Finance student) and An Quynh Trang (2nd year Marketing Management student), winners of the BUV Research Contest, confidently showcased their research potential.  Hoang Phuong Thao and An […]

Dr. Anchit Bijalwan’s research papers on machine learning for medical diagnosis get published in Q1 and Q2 journals
BUV Daily

May 06, 2024

Dr. Anchit Bijalwan’s research papers on machine learning for medical diagnosis get published in Q1 and Q2 journals

As an expert in machine learning research and eager to apply this technology in Medicine, Dr. Anchit Bijalwan, a Lecturer in the School of Computing & Innovative Technologies at BUV, has conducted 2 invaluable research papers, which involve in-depth analysis and provides readers with profound insights into machine learning in medicine, contributing to the future […]

BUV proudly presents new exhibitions of Contemporary Creative Practice students’ artworks
BUV Daily

May 03, 2024

BUV proudly presents new exhibitions of Contemporary Creative Practice students’ artworks

New displays of Contemporary Creative Practice students’ artworks are being showcased across the BUV campus, starting from April 2024.  Throughout this April, BUV presents four different captivating exhibitions, spotlighting the creative projects and artwork of excellent Contemporary Creative Practice students. The showcases promise a diverse array of creative endeavours, ranging from typographic explorations to international […]

BUV collaborates with University of Stirling on AI Assessment Scale
BUV Daily

Apr 09, 2024

BUV collaborates with University of Stirling on AI Assessment Scale

BUV recently participated in a knowledge exchange session with the University of Stirling, Scotland, focusing on the integration of AI in teaching, assessment, and research. Dr. Mike Perkins, Head of the Centre for Research and Innovation (CRI) at BUV, led the session, discussing BUV’s work on the AI Assessment Scale, a framework designed to help […]

BUV pioneers educational innovation in the age of AI
BUV Daily

Mar 29, 2024

BUV pioneers educational innovation in the age of AI

From allowing students to utilize AI (Artificial Intelligence) in their learning and assessments to publishing several scientific studies and training school leaders and officials in Hanoi on AI applications in teaching, British University Vietnam (BUV) has been at the forefront of enhancing the role of AI in educational innovation.  Generative AI (GenAI) technology is becoming […]

BUV team chosen for UK Association of National Teaching Fellows (ANTF) project
BUV Daily

Feb 29, 2024

BUV team chosen for UK Association of National Teaching Fellows (ANTF) project

A BUV team, including Dr. Mike Perkins, Associate Professor Jason MacVaugh, and student author Nguyen Vu Viet Anh, will be working on a UK Association of National Teaching Fellows (ANTF) funded project led by Dr. Mary Davis, Academic Integrity Lead at Oxford Brookes University. This project is designed to explain how BUV expects students to […]

BUV Centre for Research and Innovation co-hosts webinar on the ethical use of AI in Education
BUV Daily

Jan 29, 2024

BUV Centre for Research and Innovation co-hosts webinar on the ethical use of AI in Education

In a recent online seminar, BUV Centre for Research and Innovation joined forces with the British Chamber of Commerce to host a lively discussion on the sustainable and ethical use of AI in education. The webinar garnered more than 200 viewers and generated a thoughtful conversation, joined by Dr. Mike Perkins, Head of the Centre […]

DMCA.com Protection Status