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British University Vietnam
Rick Bennett mặc vest xanh, cà vạt cam tại British University Vietnam (BUV)

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.

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

  • **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

  • **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.

  • **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)

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)

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

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

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