Dr Rama Venkatasawmy

Dr Rama Venkatasawmy

  • Senior Lecturer
Department of Film and Performing Arts
Google Scholar ORCID
SDGs Focus
Quality Education
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Biography

Dr Rama Venkatasawmy has 25 years of international experience in the delivery of higher education teaching, in research and programme management. His expertise is in Communication, Media, Film Studies and the Creative Industries. Fluent in English and French, he has previously worked in five multi-cultural and multi-lingual higher education institutions in four different countries.

Dr Rama's multi-disciplinary research has so far addressed creativity and cultural production, digital visual effects, Hollywood cinema, Australian cinema, and indigenous cultures of Borneo. Additionally, he has produced conference and research papers that investigate the implications of Big Data for media education and that discuss various aspects of leadership, curriculum delivery, teaching and learning in transnational higher education contexts. 

Academic & Professional Qualifications

  • PhD – Doctor of Philosophy, Murdoch University, Australia (2010)
  • MEdStud – Master of Educational Studies, University of Newcastle, Australia (2015)
  • BA Hons I – Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with First Class Honours, Murdoch University, Australia (1996)
  • AdvCertUnivTeach – Advanced Certificate in University Teaching, University of Newcastle, Australia (2014)
  • CertUnivTeach – Certificate in University Teaching University of Newcastle, Australia (2013)

Research Interests

  • Communication
  • Media
  • Film
  • Creative Industries
  • Digital Visual Effects
  • Communication and Media Education

Teaching Areas

  • Communication
  • Media
  • Film
  • Creative Industries

Courses Taught

  • PAF2024 Visual Culture
  • COM5044 Technology, Development & Media
  • COM5034 Narratives in Media

Notable Publications

Books

  1. Venkatasawmy, R. (2013). The Digitization of Cinematic Visual Effects: Hollywood’s Coming of Age. Lanham: Lexington.  
  2. Venkatasawmy, R., Bibi Aminah A.G., & Justin, T. (2009). Sarawakiana series – The Traditional Kayan Wedding: Pelah Hawa. Kuching: Pustaka Negeri (National Library) Sarawak.

Book Chapters

  1. Venkatasawmy, R. & Yeap, P.F. (2024). ‘Issues and Challenges for Educational Leadership in the Implementation of ICT-Intensive Strategies for Higher Education in Post-Pandemic Malaysia’. In J. Rudolph, J. Crawford, S. Choon-Yin & S. Tan (eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Crisis Leadership in Higher Education. 377-396. Palgrave Macmillan.
  2. Venkatasawmy, R. (2009). ‘Theorizing the Hybridity of “Australianness” in Australian Cinema’. In A. Sarwal & R. Sarwal (eds.), Creative Nation: Australian Cinema and Cultural Studies Reader. 233-252. New Delhi: SSS Publications.

Refereed Journal Articles

  1. Venkatasawmy, R. (2021). ‘More Than Just a Lust for Life: a Systems View of Iggy Pop’s Creativity’. Creative Industries Journal. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/17510694.2021.2017719.
  2. Venkatasawmy, R. (2019). ‘Identifying Systemic Creativity in Vince Gilligan’s Breaking Bad’. Journal of Popular Television, vol.7, issue 1, 93-108. doi: 10.1386/jptv.7.1.93_1.
  3. Venkatasawmy, R. (2018). ‘Communication and Media Education in an Era of Big Data’. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education (JISE), vol.7, issue 1, 87-101.
  4. Venkatasawmy, R. (2017). ‘Transnationalizing Australian Higher Education Communication and Media Studies Curricula for Offshore Delivery in South-East Asia’. International Journal of Trend in Research and Development (IJTRD), Special Issue (ICAST-17), 47-53.
  5. Venkatasawmy, R. (2017). ‘Creating the Dragon: a Systems View of Bruce Lee’s Innovative Screen Fighting’. Film International, vol.15, issue 2, 34-45.
  6. Venkatasawmy, R. (2016). ‘Crisis in the Digital Visual Effects Industry and Hollywood Cinema’. Film International, vol.14, issue 1, 6-23.
  7. Venkatasawmy, R. (2016). ‘The Offshore Delivery of Australian Transnational Higher Education (TNHE) in South-East Asia: Some Challenges’. ATINER'S Conference Paper Series, 1-17.
  8. Venkatasawmy, R. (2015). ‘The Americanization of English Soccer: A Bird’s Eye View’. Americana (E-Journal of American Studies in Hungary), vol.11, no.2, Fall 2015.
  9. Venkatasawmy, R. (2015). ‘Ethnic Conflict and Development in Africa: a Short Critical Discussion’. Transcience: a Journal of Global Studies, vol.6, issue 2, 26-36.
  10. Venkatasawmy, R. (2012). ‘The Evolution of VFX-Intensive Filmmaking in 20th Century Hollywood Cinema: An Historical Overview’. TMC Academic Journal, vol.6, issue 2, 17-31. 

Achievements & Accolades

  • International Conference on Arts, Science & Technology 2017 (ICAST- Dubai 2017) Best Paper Award, 2017.
  • University of Newcastle Excellence in Teaching Award, 2017.
  • University of Newcastle Excellence in Teaching Award, 2015.
  • University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning Award, 2013.