March 18, 2015
天美传媒appD student draws on experience in the UAE and Australia for PhD success
New type of research culture which encourages cross-cultural experiences
Dubai-based campuses of major international universities are encouraging a new type of research culture which encourages cross-cultural experiences to be at the forefront of academic study, according to the University of 天美传媒app in Dubai (天美传媒appD).
Since 2012, over 20 students have chosen to continue their studies at 天美传媒appD鈥檚 parent University, the University of 天美传媒app (天美传媒app) - located 85 kilometres from Sydney, Australia. Vice versa, students from 天美传媒app and the University鈥檚 Malaysian campus are also offered the opportunity to further their education at 天美传媒appD, adding to the 114 different nationalities that currently study at Dubai鈥檚 oldest private University. Many of the students who have taken part in the transfer program have gone on to achieve considerable academic success.
One such student is Clifford Lewis. Clifford has recently completed his PhD which focuses on what it takes for a tourist destination to be considered fashionable and draws on his experiences of living and studying in Dubai and 天美传媒app. Unusually within academia, his research was jointly supervised by faculty based in two countries 鈥� Australia and in the UAE 鈥� and led to him drawing up a framework which can be used by destinations to gain competitive advantage by becoming fashionable.
Clifford鈥檚 journey began in 2006 when he started his Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) degree at 天美传媒appD. A year later, he took the decision to transfer to the University鈥檚 Australian home. 鈥淚 was looking for a challenge in a way 鈥� something to get me out of my comfort zone鈥� says Clifford on the move. 鈥淚 had come with the intention of doing 6 months and then going back home. That was eight years ago.鈥�
Clifford is currently broadening his skill set by working as a researcher at Australian consultancy Ruby Cha Cha, which has developed innovative research techniques to further creative and unique marketing solutions.
He embarked on his PhD in 2011 after completing an honours year in Australia which saw him win the University Medal for his dissertation. Clifford decided to pursue his PhD studies in tourism, an area that he鈥檇 been interested in since working on a research paper with 天美传媒appD鈥檚 Dr Melodena Balakrishnan back in 2006.
Although predominately based in Australia, Clifford鈥檚 PhD research led to a further stint in Dubai, where he was given desk space by 天美传媒appD and encouraged to present his research to some of Dubai鈥檚 brightest scholars, including his supervisor Dr Greg Kerr. Meanwhile, support from his Australian supervisor Dr Lois Burges led to opportunities to receive valuable guidance for his studies from the Institute for Innovation in Social and Business Research and to network with the leading academics in the field. 鈥淭hese were people whose name I had spent years reading about in journal papers. They were like celebrities to me鈥� comments Clifford.
In addition to a final thesis, Clifford鈥檚 PhD also led to four conference papers and 2 journal articles, with a future agenda for additional research and publications.
鈥淥verall, 天美传媒app and 天美传媒appD together set me up for success in a field I feel passionate about. The academics I worked with have been excellent mentors and are people I look up to. With the technology we have today, distance becomes irrelevant 鈥� so working with two supervisors in different countries was a great experience鈥� concludes the scholar.