Ran Cao

Ran Cao is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Strategy. Since joining UK Higher Education in 2017, Ran has worked at Durham University, Teesside University, University of Westminster and ARU, with a wide range of academic and professional experiences. Ran is also a co-founder of a digital pathology social enterprise.

[email protected]

Research interests

• Marketing: Service Marketing/Service-dominant Logic/Value Cocreation/Service Ecosystem/Customer Learning/Customer Culture
• Health: Health Service/Chronic Condition Self-management/Patient Experience/Patient Centricity/Diabetes/Remote Diagnostics/Digital Pathology/Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Health
• Education: Adult Education/Self-directed Learning/Learning Psychology
• Sociology: Culture/Social Network
• Methodology: Qualitative/Quantitative/Social Network Analysis

Areas of research supervision

Not available for PhD Supervision at the moment.

• Service Marketing
• Healthcare Context
• Customer Learning
• Customer Culture

Teaching

• Principles of Marketing Management (PG)
• Entrepreneurial Action (PG)
• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Supervision (PG)
• Integrated Marketing Communications (PG)
• Marketing and Design Innovation (PG)
• International Marketing and Brand Management (PG)
• Marketing Postgraduate Major Project (PG)
• Principle of Digital Marketing (UG)
• Tourism Management and Innovation (UG)
• Marketing Undergraduate Major Project (UG)
• International Marketing (UG)
• Retail and Shopper Marketing (UG)
• Developing Content for Campaigns (UG)
• Undertaking the Campaign (UG)

Qualifications

• PhD in Business and Management (completing)
• MSc Marketing, University of Nottingham
• BA (Hons) International Business Management, University of Nottingham
• PGCert Learning and Teaching (Higher Education), Anglia Ruskin University
• CIM Award in Consultancy (Completing)

Memberships, editorial boards

• Chartered Manager and Business Educator (CMBE)
• Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Membership
• Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Research grants, consultancy, knowledge exchange

• Cambridge United Football Club – University Student Market Development, Marketing Practice Audition and Development, Customer Experience Enhancement
• Vision and Eye Research Institute - Social Media Strategy, Diabetes Educational Video Programme Enhamcement, Diabetic Retinopathy Awareness and Prevention Programme, Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Training Videos in Chinese Mandarin
• Diabetes Experience among UK Chinese Immigrants
• Faculty of Business and Law Assessment Review Project
• ReHabGame Neurorehabilitation Study
• Toward Diabetes-Inclusive Universities: Understanding the Needs of Diabetic Staff and Students at a UK University

Funding application

• Course Team Fund: £1500, 2024
• Course Development Fund: £4771, 2024-25
• Learning and Teaching Innovation Fund: £1000, 2025
• PSS Training & Development Fund: £1,620, 2025
• Pump-Priming Research Funding, £600, 2025

Selected recent publications

Sehmbi, T., Cao, R., Sapkota, R. and Pardhan, S. (2025) 'Knowledge and awareness of healthcare systems and the uptake of diabetic services among Chinese people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the UK', Ethnicity & Health. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2025.2496188

Recent presentations and conferences

Cao, R. (2025) ‘Student-led Tourism Newsletter & The Level X Programme - Best Learning and Teaching Practice at ARU Elevator Pitch’. Presented at Faculty of Business and Law Teaching and Assessment Conference 2025, Cambridge UK.

Cao, R. (2025) ‘Awards Gap Action Planning’. Presented at Faculty of Business and Law Teaching and Assessment Conference 2025, Cambridge UK.

Cao, R. (2025) ‘Marketing Clinic - a Consultancy Unit for Student Innovation and Entrepreneurial Professional Development’. Presented at Engage Learning and Teaching Conference 2025, Cambridge UK.

Cao, R. (2024) ‘Canvas Course sites Video Poster Initiative’. Presented at Course Director Conference 2024, Cambridge UK.

Media experience

ARU students help CUFC think outside the box