Dr Ross Curran

Biography

Dr Ross Curran is the Associate Head of the Department of Marketing and Operations at the Dubai Campus, and the Global Programme Director for the MSc in Digital Marketing. Ross leads several undergraduate and postgraduate courses delivered across Heriot-Watt’s three campus locations and publishes in academic journals and practitioner media. Ross focuses on integrating industry and practice into his courses, developing practice-based assignments in digital marketing that connect academic research insights with the needs of industry.

Dr Ross Curran’s research focus is two-fold; the intersection between tourism and volunteering, and the internationalisation of teaching pedagogy in business. He is interested in how visitor and volunteer experiences can be enhanced through leveraging inherent non-profit organisational or visitor-site characteristics such as imbued heritage sustainably. This aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically in relation to reducing inequalities, promoting decent work and economic growth, and sustainable work and communities. His pedagogical research focuses on developing cross-cultural entrepreneurial education.

Academic leadership and affiliations

• Member of the Marketing Society
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Associate Head of Department for Marketing and Operations (Academic), Dubai Campus
• External examiner on programmes delivered at other UK institutions

Qualifications

• PhD – Heriot-Watt University, 2017

Publications

• Butler R, Curran R, & O’Gorman K. “Pro Poor Tourism in a First World Urban Setting: Case study of Glasgow Govan”. International Journal of Tourism Research, 15, 443–457, 2013
• Thompson J, Curran R, & O’Gorman K. “A Modern Day Panopticon: Using power and control theory to manage volunteer tourists in Bolivia”. Tourism Perspectives, 22, 34–43, 2017
• Curran R, Arroteia N, Blesa A, Musteen M, and Ripollés M. “Improving Cultural Intelligence, Psychological Empowerment, and Task Performance in the Classroom: Global Game Challenge”. Journal of Teaching in International Business, 22(1), 36–56, 2021
• Curran R. “Responsible marketing: The human face of brands”. Campaign Middle East, January 2023 https://campaignme.com/responsible-marketing-the-human-face-of-brands-by-heriot-watts-dr-ross-curan/
• Curran R. “Accessible tourism for everyone”. Trav Talk Middle East, February 2023 (page 6) http://travtalkmiddleeast.com/pdf/2023/TTMEFeb23.pdf