Jonathan J. Felix

Jonathan J. Felix

School: School of Communication & Design
Department: Professional Communication
Position: Associate Lecturer
Location: RMIT Saigon South
Email: jonathan.felix@rmit.edu.vn
ORCID: 0000-0001-8258-6938

A transdisciplinary academic at the intersection of several fields including Sociology, Media and Communications, Higher Education, and Cultural Studies. His core research interests lie within the Sociology of Education and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning concerning education policy and human capital formation in global south contexts.

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Select qualifications:

  • PhD (ABD), Education - RMIT University, Australia; 
  • GradCert, Tertiary Learning and Teaching - RMIT University, Vietnam (2025); 
  • MA, Sociology - Tôn Đức Thắng University, Vietnam; 
  • AFHEA - Advance HE, UK;
  • MA, Cultural Studies - University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago; 
  • BA (Hons), Media and Communications - University of Greenwich, UK; 
  • HNDip, Media - Pearson, UK; 
  • Dip, Marketing - London Chamber of Commerce & Industry, UK; 
  • Cert, Curriculum Linked Assessments - VietTESOL, Vietnam;
  • Cert, Action Research - VietTESOL, Vietnam;
  • Cert, Tertiary Teaching - SBCS Global Learning Institute, Trinidad and Tobago;
  • Cert, Computer Art - College of Science, Technology, and Applied Arts, Trinidad and Tobago; 
  • Cert, Administration - London Chamber of Commerce & Industry, UK;
  • Cert, Management - London Chamber of Commerce & Industry, UK.

Certifications:

  • Web of Science Certification - Clarivate, UK;
  • Mendeley Advisor Certification - Elsevier, Netherlands
  • BTEC Management Certification - Pearson, UK. 

  • Communication and media studies
  • Cultural studies
  • Visual communication design
  • Textual research methods
  • Case study research

 

  • Higher education
  • Education policy, sociology and philosophy
  • Sociology of education
  • Curriculum and pedagogy
  • Communication and media studies
  • Cultural studies

Books:

  • Neimann, Theresa D., Lynne L. Hindman, Marian Moore, Elena Shliakhovchuk and Jonathan J. Felix, editors. Policy and Multifaceted Analysis of Sustainable Strategies and Tactics in Education, IGI Global, 2023. DOI:  0.4018/978-1-6684-6035-1
  • Neimann, Theresa D., Jonathan J. Felix, Elena Shliakhovchuk and Lynne L. Hindman, editors. Policy and Practice Challenges for Equality in Education, IGI Global, 2021. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-7379-2
  • Neimann, Theresa D., Jonathan J. Felix, Stacy Reeves and Elena Shliakhovchuk, editors. Stagnancy Issues and Change Initiatives for Global Education in the Digital Age, IGI Global, 2020. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-4993-3
  • Archer, Agyei, Melanie Archer, Ayrïd Chandler and Jonathan Felix. DO Book 1: How to Get Paid. Port of Spain, Design Objective, 2019. Print. ISBN 978-976-8255-89-1.
  • Felix, Jonathan J. Tenny Trini Gets a Computer. Author, 2010. Print. ISBN: 978-976-8226-27-3

Book Chapters:

  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Discursive assemblages in Vietnamese higher education: A critical discourse analysis of global south digital texts.” Digital Qualitative Methods: Studies from the Global South, edited by Shriram Venkatraman and Nimmi Rangaswamy, Springer. In-press.
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Vietnamese Higher Education, Student Identity, and Human Capital Futures: Who Do We Believe or Imagine University Students to Be?” Vietnamese Language, Education and Change in and Outside Vietnam, edited by Phan Le Ha, Dat Bao and Joel Windle, Springer, 2024. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-9093-1_12.
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Global Citizenship Education in the Global South - A Caribbean Case Study in Policy and Practice Failure.” Global Citizenship Education in the Global South: Educators' Perceptions and Practices, edited by Emiliano Bosio and Yusef Waghid, Brill, 2022. DOI: 10.1163/9789004521742_007.
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Modernity and Reflexivity in Vietnamese Higher Education: Situating the Role of the Ideological, Capacity Building, Learning Organisation and Policy Reform.” Higher Education in Market-Oriented Socialist Vietnam: New Players, Discourses and Practices, edited by Le Ha Phan and Ba Ngoc Doan, Palgrave Macmillan, 2020. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-46912-2_6
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Challenges in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Teaching and Learning Research: Why Engagement with Theory Is Needed to Avoid Disciplinary Stagnation.” Stagnancy Issues and Change Initiatives for Global Education in the Digital Age, edited by Theresa D. Neimann, Jonathan J. Felix, Stacy Reeves and Elena Shliakhovchuk, IGI Global, 2020. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-4993-3.ch006
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Autonomy and Motivation in Higher Education: Rethinking the Culture of Teaching and Learning.” Challenges and Opportunities in Global Approaches to Education, edited by Theresa D. Neimann and Uta Stelson, IGI Global, 2019. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-9775-9.ch009
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Missions and Marginalisation: The Case of Higher Education Providers and the Humanities and in Trinidad and Tobago.” Challenges and Opportunities in Global Approaches to Education, edited by Theresa D. Neimann and Uta Stelson, IGI Global, 2019. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-9775-9.ch013

Journal Articles:

  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Rethinking Human Capital - A Case of Migrant Workers in Vietnam during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Globsyn Management Journal, 15(1-2), 2021, 154-162. ISSN 0973-9181. Link: https://www.globsyn.edu.in/GMJ-Vol.XV/index.html#p=167
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Modalities, Disciplinarity and Multiliteracies: the digital culture of higher education and the false promise of technological determinism.” EURAS Journal of Social Sciences, 1(1), 27-52, 2021. ISSN 2757-7988. DOI: 10.17932/EJOSS.2021.023/ejoss_ v01i1002
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Exploring the Relationship Between Higher Education and Inequality in Vietnam: Socio-Cultural Foundations and Future Directions.” The Russian Journal of Vietnamese Studies, Series 2, No. 2, 2021. ISSN 2618-9453. DOI: 10.24412/2618-9453-2021-2-68-87
  •  Felix, Jonathan J. “Higher education in times of instability and disruption: Rethinking notions of values, value creation and instructional practices in Vietnam and beyond.” Frontiers in Communication, 6:647471, 2021. ISSN 2297-900X. DOI: 10.3389/fcomm.2021.64747
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Culture Jamming in the Caribbean: A case of Alternative Media through Double Alternativity in Trinidad and Tobago.” Archipelagos Journal, 5, Columbia University, 2020. ISSN 2689-842X. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7916/archipelagos-fx7k-b
  • Đăng, Tin Tân, Garold Murray, Lê Hà Tố Quyên, Jonathan J. Felix and Hafizoah Kassim. “Reflections and Reviews: Autonomy and motivation for language learning in the interconnected world.” Independence, 80, Learner Autonomy Special Interest Group, 2020. ISSN 2412-6640

Documentary Films:

  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Who are the humans in human capital development? Vietnam, Higher Education, and the Post-COVID World.” The 12th International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS 12), Kyoto Seika University (SEIKA), 24-27 August 2021, Kyoto, Japan. Conference Presentation (Documentary film). https://youtu.be/iwqre1ukh-s   
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Doomed by Hope - Rethinking the Logic of Digital Technology Use in Higher Education.” 2nd Annual Symposium 2019 on Teaching and Learning Technologies in Education, University of Trinidad and Tobago, 27-28 May 2019, Port of Spain, Trinidad. Conference Presentation (Documentary film). https://youtu.be/VgfWL2IJR-Q 
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Digital Double - Alternative Media and Counter-Narratives.” Digital Media and Online Learning: A comparative perspective from the Pacific and the Caribbean, Media@Sydney: Research Seminar Series, Department of Media and Communications, University of Sydney, 3 May 2019, Sydney, Australia. Additional Screening (Documentary film).
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Digital Double - Alternative Media and Counter-Narratives in the work of Warren Le Platte.” Digital Temporalities, The Caribbean Digital V Conference, University of the West Indies, 6-7 December 2018, St Augustine, Trinidad. Conference Presentation (Documentary film).  https://youtu.be/hsI4HvLmKMo & https://youtu.be/Y2H2IelzJmo

Conferences:

  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Higher education and human capital in Vietnam: Modernity and Creativity.” College of Design and Social Context Milestone Conference, RMIT University, 4 March 2024, Melbourne, Australia. Conference Presentation.
  • Pang, Justin Matthew, Alexandru C. Fechete and Jonathan J. Felix. “Employability: Graduates of the future in Vietnam.” Industry-Partnered Learning: Conceptual Conversations and Provocations, RMIT University Vietnam, Learning and Teaching Unit, 15 August 2023, District 7, Hồ Chí Minh City. Seminar Presentation. ● https://youtu.be/MpWf3x10YpY?feature=shared&t=1226 
  • Nguyễn, Ân Hoàng Song and Jonathan J. Felix. “Modern Womanhood in Vietnamese Popular Culture: Counter-discursive Femininity in the Work of Tlinh.” Engaging With Vietnam 14: Living with Heritage, (Re)Creating Heritage: Vietnam and the World, Trường Quốc Học, 1-6 August 2023, Huế, Việt Nam. Conference Presentation.
  • Bùi, Linh Bảo, Nguyễn Lan Châu, Chu Khánh Linh, Phạm Ngọc Khánh Linh and Jonathan J. Felix. “The Contemporary Discourse on Illicit Drug Use in Vietnam: Exploring Tensions between the State and Youth.” Engaging With Vietnam 14: Living with Heritage, (Re)Creating Heritage: Vietnam and the World, Trường Quốc Học, 1-6 August 2023, Huế, Việt Nam. Conference Presentation.
  • Monz, Hellmut and Jonathan J. Felix. “Design Metaversity: Design education research methodology.” V1300: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Research Cluster, RMIT University Vietnam, 30 May 2023, District 7, Hồ Chí Minh City. Seminar Presentation.
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Critical reading in blended learning settings: Active learning in higher education.” Embrace Active Learning, RMIT University Vietnam, Learning and Teaching Unit, 20 April 2023, District 7, Hồ Chí Minh City. Seminar Presentation. ● https://youtu.be/bwYAd97sFpI 
  • Felix, Jonathan J., Catherine Earl (Chairs), Ngô Ngân Hà, Nguyễn Lan Anh, Hoàng Thị Mỹ Duyên, Lư Thị Thanh Lê and Vũ Thị Mai Hương. Creativity and Higher Education Research Methodologies, RMIT University, 23 November-21 December 2022, Hồ Chí Minh City, Việt Nam. Seminar Series.
  • Võ, Anh Minh Nhan and Jonathan J. Felix. “Contentious, alternative media: The provocation that is Le Bao’s ‘Taste’ (2021).” Engaging With Vietnam 13: Knowledge Production in the Age of Metrics and Global Rankings, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), Vietnam National University, 26-30 October 2022, Hồ Chí Minh City, Việt Nam. Conference Presentation.
  • Phạm, Miền Hoàng and Jonathan J. Felix. “General education policy in rural Vietnam: Discursive explorations in equality and equity.” Engaging With Vietnam 13: Knowledge Production in the Age of Metrics and Global Rankings, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), Vietnam National University, 26-30 October 2022, Hồ Chí Minh City, Việt Nam. Conference Presentation.
  • Earl, Catherine (Chair), Jonathan J. Felix, Võ Đoàn Thơ, Nguyễn Minh Trí, and Lư Thị Thanh Lê. “Creativity and Higher Education in Vietnam in the Age of Metrics.” Engaging With Vietnam 13: Knowledge Production in the Age of Metrics and Global Rankings, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), Vietnam National University, 26-30 October 2022, Hồ Chí Minh City, Việt Nam. Conference Roundtable.
  • Felix, Jonathan J., Catherine Earl (Chairs), Đinh Tùng Anh, Adhvaidha Kalidasan, Hồ Phú Hải, Britta Boyer, Diamond Nguyễn, and Sea Nguyễn. “Creativity and Higher Education in ASEAN.” Learning and Teaching Festival: What's Possible?, RMIT University, 6-16 September 2022, Melbourne, Australia. Conference Roundtable.
  • Bhattacharya, Rajib (Chair), Stephan Gerschewski, Pradeep Kumar Mishra, Vinita Sinha, and Jonathan J. Felix. “Multi-sectorial impact on post-pandemic business and organizations.” International Research Seminar 2021: Emerging Trends across sectors in a Post-pandemic Globalized World, Globsyn Business School, 3-4 December 2021, Kolkata, India. Conference Panel. https://www.globsyn.edu.in/emerging-trends-across-sectors-in-a-post-pandemic-globalized-world 
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Situating Creativity Among Students in Higher Education and Beyond.” The 12th International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS 12), Kyoto Seika University (SEIKA), 24-27 August 2021, Kyoto, Japan. Conference Presentation
  • Earl, Catherine (Chair), Jonathan J. Felix, Thành Phụng, Lè Hà Phan, Helen Weadon, Glen O'Grady, and Greeni Maheshwari. “Creativity and Higher Education.” The 12th International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS 12), Kyoto Seika University (SEIKA), 24-27 August 2021, Kyoto, Japan. Conference Panel
  • Đô, Thủ (Chair), Jonathan J. Felix, Hòa Nguyễn, Ngô Hằng and Thảo Đăng. “Developing Education in Vietnam.” The 12th International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS 12), Kyoto Seika University (SEIKA), 24-27 August 2021, Kyoto, Japan. Conference Panel
  • Felix, Jonathan J. (Chair), Trâm Anh Bùi, Tùng Vũ, Anh Ngọc Trình, Châu Đào, Đăng Anh, and Tú Anh Hà. “Education Approaches in Vietnam.” The 12th International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS 12), Kyoto Seika University (SEIKA), 24-27 August 2021, Kyoto, Japan. Conference Panel
  • Felix, Jonathan J. (Chair), Ramesh Sunam, Mukta Naik, Shunsuke Saito and Devika Mittal. “The Covid-19 Pandemic and its Political and Socio-economic Ramifications II.” The 12th International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS 12), Kyoto Seika University (SEIKA), 24-27 August 2021, Kyoto, Japan. Conference Panel
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “The Digital Culture of The Academy and the Limits of Technology.” Communication and Technology Congress – CTC 2021, İstanbul Aydın Üniversitesi, 12-14 April 2021, İstanbul, Turkey. Conference Presentation. DOI: 10.17932/CTC.2021/ctc21.007 ● ISBN 978-625-7783-23-1
  • Jain, Varsha, Jayant Shah, Azmat Rasul, Jonathan J. Felix, and Harwindar Singh. “New Normal: Consumers and Business Resilience in an Era of Pandemic.” International Research Seminar 2020: Business Resilience in the Post Covid-19 World: Role of Integrated Management, Globsyn Business School, 11-12 December 2020, Kolkata, India. Conference Panel
  • Anderson, Warren, Kendell Vincent, Jensen Samaroo, and Jonathan J. Felix. “Digital Transformation and Youth.” Accelerating Digital Transformation: Internet Governance Matters!, 16th Caribbean Internet Governance Forum, Caribbean Telecommunications Union, 26-28 August 2020, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Conference Panel. https://youtu.be/OJpeFx5OaEI?t=19704 
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “The double-edged sword: language as an imperial threat and resistance opportunity in international higher education.” Hội thảo quốc tế “Quốc tế hóa Giáo dục Đại học phi Anh ngữ? (Internationalisation of Higher Education Beyond English?), International and Comparative Education Research Group (ICERG), University of Brunei Darussalam; Hạ Long University; Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Literature in Aix-Marseille (CIELAM) Aix-Marseille University; and International Francophone Institute (IFI), Vietnam National University, 8-15 November 2019, Hà Nội and Hạ Long, Việt Nam. Conference Presentation. http://bit.ly/32LwzWH
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Addressing the active audience: The performative space between teaching and learning practice in higher education.” VietTESOL International Convention 2019, University of Foreign Languages, Huế University, 11-12 October 2019, Huế, Việt Nam. Conference Presentation. http://bit.ly/2IGcGcn
  • Felix, Jonathan J. “Agency as Culture: Learner Autonomy and Motivation as Ordinary.” Proceedings of The International Conference on Language Teaching and Learning Today 2019: Autonomy and Motivation for Language Learning in The Interconnected World, Hồ Chí Minh City University of Technology and Education, 25-27 April 2019, Hồ Chí Minh City, Việt Nam. Conference Presentation. ISBN 978-604-73-6849-5 

Period Awarded: 2024-2025

Project: RMIT Vietnam Strategic Innovation Challenge  

Funding Organisation: RMIT University Vietnam

Amount Awarded: $15,001-$100,000AUD

Title of Project: Navigating education and work pathways into the creative industries using Generative AI 

Role(s): David Rousell (Principal Investigator), Seth Brown, Robyn Cox, Ziha Wu, Jonathan J. Felix, Susan Rook, Shahee Ilyas, (Co-Investigators)

Description: This project will utilise a digital learning platform to enhance students’ skills and understandings of AI in the creative industries. The project targets the urgent need to build critical understandings of AI in higher education and the creative fields. It aligns with RMIT’s ‘social innovation’ and ‘emerging technologies’ focus areas by prioritising ethical concerns surrounding AI and its impact on education and work futures.

 

Period Awarded: 2023-2024

Project: RMIT Vietnam Educational Research Grants: Industry Partner Learning and The Digital University  

Funding Organisation: RMIT University Vietnam

Amount Awarded: $5,000AUD

Title of Project: Teaching Design Through Live Coding 

Role(s): Renick Bell (Principal Investigator), Jonathan J. Felix (Co-Investigator)

Description: This project aims to investigate effective teaching strategies in the mediation of design education. We seek to identify best practices for teaching Vietnamese learners the discipline of digital design via live coding by drawing on action research and research through design. At the crest of digital transformation, this project attempts to serve as a case study for understanding how the education of design students can be enhanced by teaching design through live coding.

 

Period Awarded: 2018-2019

Project: Global Services Promotion Programme and the IDB Technical Cooperation project: Manpower Strategy for Trinidad and Tobago developed the Skills for Global Services

Funding Organisation: Ministry of Planning and Development Trinidad and Tobago and Inter-American Development Bank

Amount Awarded: $53,000USD

Title of Project: Social Justice Foundation: Digital Skills for Rural Youth

Role(s): Alicia Charles (Principal Investigator), Jonathan J. Felix (Co-Investigator)

URL: https://technewstt.com/pr-global-skills-awards/   

Description: The Social Justice Foundation (SJF) was launched in 2007 as a non-profit organisation with the guiding principle of “creating equity through training of youth in rural and at-risk communities in information and communications technologies (ICT)”. Its main activities are youth training youth in sustainable skills, opening pathways to future media employment opportunities, as SJF trainers themselves or their own businesses. Basic digital media skills training in graphic design, photography, video and animation were provided to over 150 young persons from 2018 to 2019 in the communities of Laventille, Mayaro, Pt Fortin, Matura, Cashew Gardens and Wallerfield.

RMIT University Vietnam 

  • Student-led Teacher's Award 2021: Honourable Teacher

Chandigarh University 

  • University Fellow

International and Comparative Education Research Group, Universiti Brunei Darussalam

Advance HE

  • Associate Fellowship

Ministry of Community Development, Culture, and the Arts of Trinidad and Tobago 

  • Mentoring by the Masters - Enterprise of the Arts Fellowship

College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago

  • Quality Assurance Award (Marketing Department), 2011
  • Employee of the Quarter (July – September), 2010

Jonathan J. Felix is a Visiting Fellow of the International and Comparative Education Research Group with the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (ICE-UBD), an Associate Fellow (AFHEA) with Advance HE, UK, and a University Fellow with Chandigarh University, India. He is an associate lecturer in Media, Communication, and Cultural Studies at RMIT University Vietnam teaching across several disciplines. He currently develops and coordinates courses across a range of disciplines concerning multiliteracy development. Jonathan's teaching and research philosophy is informed by poststructuralist thought, also having 16+ years of experience in transnational higher education.

His work over the years has allowed him to engage and collaborate with students, academics, industry experts, and institutions such as the Southeast Asian Media Studies Association (SEAMSA) International Communication Association (ICA), the Media, Communications & Cultural Studies Association (MeCCSA), the Caribbean Fashion and Arts Feature Festival (CFAFF), the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT), Design Objective (DO), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the University of Sunderland, the London College for Design and Fashion, Pearson Education, VietTESOL, Hồ Chí Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE), Common Ground Research Networks, IGI Global, Globsyn Business School, the Computer Assisted Language Learning-Electronic Journal (CALL-EJ), İstanbul Aydın Üniversitesi, Cogent Social Sciences, and the Design Research Society (DRS).

  • Programme Leader (Design), London College for Design and Fashion Hanoi
  • Associate Course Leader - BA (Hons) Graphic Design, Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries, University of Sunderland
  • Senior Academic Programme Leader/Lecturer, Centre for Media, Communication and Design, SBCS Global Learning Institute
  • Marketing and Public Relations Officer, Division of Institutional Advancement, College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago