Dr. Simon Kimber
Dr. Kimber is an experienced academic with over 15 years of teaching experience in tourism, hospitality and events management, and has taught both in the UK and in Asia. He has a PhD in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of Surrey along with a PGCE in Education from the University of Lancaster. He has just joined BUV from Swansea University in the UK, where he was Programme Director of International Tourism Management at Swansea University, and prior to that he was Director of Tourism Management at the University of Surrey’s overseas campus in China, Surrey International Institute (SII-DUFE).
Dr. Kimber’s research interests revolve around the rise of Asian backpacker tourism, smart tourism and the leisure uses of autonomous vehicles. Simon has published his research in academic journals and book chapter and presented at conferences. He has a number of research collaborations with academics from the UK and China.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
- School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Surrey
PhD Hospitality and Tourism Management – 2015-2019 - University of Lancaster
PGCE Education – 2004-2005 - Royal Holloway, University of London
MA Geography – 1998-1998 - Staffordshire University
BA (Hons) Geography – 1995-1998
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
- British University Vietnam (Vietnam)
Head of School, The Graduate School (2024 – current) - Swansea University (UK)
Senior Lecturer and Programme Director BSc International Tourism Management (2022 – 2024) - University of Surrey (UK & China)
Senior Lecturer and Director Tourism Management (SII-DUFE) (2019 – 2022)
Associate Lecturer (SHTM) (2019)
Postgraduate Researcher (SHTM) (2015-2019) - Dalian University of Foreign Languages (China)
Lecturer Tourism & Academic English (2012 – 2014) - University College Birmingham (UK)
Lecturer Travel and Tourism (2007 – 2012)
RESEARCH AREAS / FIELDS
- Critical Tourism Theory and Performativity
- Backpacker Tourism
- Smart Tourism
RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
- Thomopoulos, N., Cohen, S., Hopkins, D., Siegel, L., & Kimber, S. (2020). All work and no play? Autonomous vehicles and non-commuting journeys. Transport Reviews, 1-22.
- Kimber, S., Siegel, L., Cohen, S., & Thomopoulos, N. (2020). The wider use of autonomous vehicles in non-commuting journeys. Advances in Transport Policy and Planning, 5, 125-148.
- Kimber, S; Cohen, S.A. and Yang, J; (2019) Performing love, prosperity and Chinese hipsterism: young independent travellers in Pai, Thailand. Journal of Tourist Studies. 19 (2)
RESEARCH & CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS / EXHIBITIONS
- Kimber, S (2021) Performance, Performativity and Embodiment. 3-day guest lecturer invitation at Shanghai Normal University, 27th to 30th June 2021
- Kimber, S (2020). Restarting tourism: the need for tourism stakeholders to better understand culturally influenced patterns of tourism production and consumption: a performance perspective. The 4th DUFE-Surrey Workshop. Tourism during challenging times. 18th December 2020.
- Kimber, S (2017). Challenging Eurocentrism in Tourism Studies: How Performative and Embodied Empirical Insights into Chinese Backpackers and Professional Hosts Can Contribute to Discussions of Eurocentrism in Tourism Research, Critical Tourism Studies VII 2017, Palma Majorca, June, Critical Tourism Studies Proceedings
RESEARCH GRANTS
- National Natural Science Foundation of China Research Grant (No. 42071177), “the spatio-temporal difference of backpacker travelers and its acting mechanisms from a mobility perspective”, RMB 550.000. Dr Xuan (Angela) Zhu, Shanghai Normal University, Prof Dallen Timothy, Arizona State University, Dr Simon Kimber, University of Surrey.
- Share
Read more 
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 […]
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 […]
Teaching Fellow
Head, Pre-University
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 […]
Teaching Fellow
James McGaughranRaised and educated in the United States, James completed a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Colorado (USA) as a double major in Political Science and Environmental Studies. Subsequently, he completed a Master of Strategic Leadership and Communication from Stephens College in Missouri (USA). James then travelled, worked and volunteered in India and Nepal before […]
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. […]
Senior Teaching Fellow
Sven PfrommerSven is a well-rounded creative director & visual artist, with a background in visual communication and 20+ years of industry experience. He was running a design & advertising agency and established a gallery for contemporary photography in the art capital Berlin. Sven was born in Berlin, studied visual communication design at the HAWK University of […]
Senior Lecturer
Dr. Andrew BatchelorAfter graduating from the University of London (Imperial College), Andrew completed a post-doctoral fellowship sponsored by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, thereafter serving as an academic – in a variety of universities in Australia, Singapore, Japan and Malaysia; where Andrew supervised post graduate students, established collaborations with industry, authored textbooks and edited journal […]
Associate Lecturer
Head, Centre for Academic Development
Raised and educated in Australia, Sasha spent several years in the Queensland Police Service as a Detective before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education from Griffith University and Bond University in 2005. Sasha then completed a Masters of Educational Practice at Bond University in 2007 and began lecturing at Bond University in Communications, Child […]
Lecturer
Dr. Luu Thi Thao NguyenNguyen 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 […]
Associate Lecturer
Alex Gaja OrtegaAfter completing a Master’s Degree in Architecture and various other academic, professional and research experiences in Spain, Poland, France and Japan, in 2015, Alex arrived in Vietnam, where he developed his career both in design consultancy for international offices and higher education. Among his recent professional milestones worth highlighting is the Cityscape Awards in 2019 […]
