Overview
Course Summary
Tourism is one of the world’s largest sectors. Consequently there is a growing need for a professionally qualified work force. Indeed the Government through its report “Tomorrow’s Tourism” identifies the need for tourism in the UK to be of world class standing through the analysis of market intelligence and education.
Even though there are occasional set backs, such as the recent foot and mouth outbreak in the UK, tourism related employment has been estimated by the World Travel and Tourism Organisation to be in the region of 100 million people and with job creation growing 1.5 times faster than any other sector.
The course recognises that tourism is a wide-ranging and dynamic industry which currently incorporates a variety of sectors within its title, including the many aspects of holidays, business travel, heritage, leisure, nature-based tourism and even extreme sports. Although not all these aspects have dedicated modules, elements of them are incorporated into the modules.
The course focuses on the range and complexity of tourism in a contemporary global context and encourages students to develop their own specific interests through their selection of topics within the assessment programme. The course has been developed with industry involvement, which continues through lectures, projects and site visits.
The tourism industry offers a wide range of careers in an ever increasing number of countries and needs graduates with the appropriate knowledge and skills who can benefit from this exciting and varied career path.
Course Aims
The course aims to:
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Enable students to have a critical understanding of the concepts and characteristics of tourism
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Enable the students to gain knowledge of the key areas of management and operations in the tourism sector
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Enable students to develop knowledge and skills of appropriate theories, principles and practice of management within the tourism sector
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Give students the opportunity to apply knowledge in practical situations
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Enable students to develop essential skills through reflective practice
Core Skills
The course aims are broken down into the sets of related skills below, which are known as learning outcomes. There is progression in the development of skills throughout the degree.
A. Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of the first year (certificate level), students should be able to demonstrate:
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Clear knowledge and understanding of and reference to the main activities involved in developing and marketing events
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Knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts associated with the Events, Travel, Leisure and Hospitality industry
By the end of the second year (intermediate level), students should be able to demonstrate:
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A clear understanding and appropriate incorporation of the wider context of the topic under study
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A knowledge of a range of research techniques and an understanding of how they can be effectively employed
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A knowledge of relevant procedures and process that should be employed in their projected work situation
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A thorough knowledge and analytical understanding of, and reference to the factors associated with the development of a tourism product
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A clear understanding and appropriate incorporation of the wider context of the tourism sector and its roles and relationships in industry
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A knowledge of decision making processes that need to be employed for effective development and management of a tourism product
By the end of the third year (honours level), students should be able to demonstrate:
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A critical understanding of the relationship of the subject to its social, cultural and economic context
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Being able to engage in focussed analysis of specific themes and issues within their study.
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A clear knowledge and analysis of contextual and conceptual issues
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A critical understanding of concepts and characteristics of tourism theory and application
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In depth knowledge of the products, the markets, structure and interactions within the tourism sector and the role of tourism in a global context
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A clear understanding of tourism development and planning
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A clear knowledge and analysis of contextual and conceptual issues in the business and tourism sector
B. Mental or Cognitive Skills
By the first year (certificate level), students should be able to:
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Apply a coherent development of argument, analysis and sequencing of ideas
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Develop effective information gathering and problem solving
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Develop own learning and professional development
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Evidence of emerging ability to apply knowledge and understanding appropriately within the context of the tourism sector
By the end of the second year (intermediate level), students should be able to:
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Demonstrate application of broader knowledge in a practical environment
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Demonstrate application of information to develop critical analysis
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Reflect on own learning and professional development
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Identify key quality issues and means by which they may be monitored.
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Select and employ appropriate research techniques to produce valid results, which are used to back up clear discussion and conclusions.
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Develop appropriate policies and strategies within a changing environment, to meet stakeholder interests.
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Apply appropriate business related theories, concepts and practices within real situations to gain further understanding and produce recommendations for future decisions.
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Develop and evaluate tourism operations
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Reflect on their role within an operational team
By the end of the third year (honours level), students should be able to:
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Demonstrate evidence of a thorough understanding of application of theory to practice
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Effectively apply theory and problem solving in practical situations
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Evaluate situations and apply appropriate decision making techniques for effective solutions
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Critically evaluate and apply appropriate methodologies
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Effectively apply theory and problem solving within the context of the leisure sector
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Effectively apply theory and problem solving within the context of the tourism sector
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Critically assess the framework of the tourism sector and the roles and relationships of relevant organisations
C. Subject Specific and Practical Skills
By the end of the first year (certificate level), students should be able to:
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Demonstrate application and interpretation of relevant business and industry frameworks to practical situations
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Familiarity with subject terminology
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Demonstrate effective and accurate use of language at an appropriate academic level
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Participate in industry based study and apply relevant knowledge and skills in practice
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Apply a range of business functions with the context of a tourism activity
By the end of the second year (intermediate level), students should be able to:
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Demonstrate the use of critical analysis to propose solutions within a practical environment
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Use appropriate subject terminology to show a good level of familiarity and understanding of the topic
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Be able to participate in industry, completing tasks with some guidance
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Employ quality systems consistently and report on their effectiveness.
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Participate in the development and management of projects effectively
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Develop their decision making skills to participate in effective project management
By the end of the third year (honours level), students should be able to:
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Demonstrate in depth critical analysis and evaluation of subject material and related methodology
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Apply specialist knowledge to situations in the production of effective solutions.
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Implement and manage projects effectively
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Demonstrate an depth critical analysis and evaluation of relevant business and tourism based theories and practice
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Apply specialist knowledge to situations in the production of effective solutions in projects involving tourism development
D. Key Skills
Key skills, also known as graduate key skills, transferable skills or general skills, comprise communication, information technology, problem solving, numeracy, working with others and improving own learning.
By the end of the first year (certificate level), students should be able to demonstrate:
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Demonstrate the development of Graduate Key Skills, as mapped for individual modules, appropriate for certificate level.
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Demonstrate clear logical presentation of academic and practice-based information and analysis through a range of communication methods to specialist and non-specialist audiences
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Demonstrate an ability to communicate the results of their study/work accurately and reliably, and with structured and coherent arguments;
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To present and interpret relevant qualitative and quantitative data
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Demonstrate an understanding of personal and professional needs in order to develop a career in their chosen industry
By the end of the second year (intermediate level), students should be able to:
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Demonstrate the development of Graduate Key Skills, as mapped for individual modules, appropriate for intermediate level.
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Demonstrate an ability to present, evaluate, and interpret qualitative and quantitative data.
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Demonstrate effective performance within a team environment.
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Demonstrate being able to communicate through a range of methods as an individual and as part of a team.
By the end of the third year (honours level), students should be able to:
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Achieve Graduate Key Skills in the UCS Graduate Key Skills Programme.
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Demonstrate evidence of originality of thought and an approach to creating problem solving
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Demonstrate being able to manage their own learning and identify and carry out professional development
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Demonstrate interpersonal skills of effective listening, negotiating, persuasion and presentation.
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Participate in industry based activity through being able to work independently and as a team to deadlines
Module Framework and Module Description
First year modules
The Business Environment of the Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality sectors (this includes Law and Marketing in the context of the industry)
Management Skills (this is a combination of business and study skills)
Principles of Event Management
Language and Culture
Second year modules (20 credits for each module)
Tour Operations Management
Marketing Practice
Risk Management
Managing for Results
Operations and Project Management
Research Methods
Third year modules (20 credits for each module)
Strategic Management
Human Resource Management
Tourism Policy and Planning
Visitor Attraction Management
Dissertation (40 credits)
Teaching, Learning and Assessment
The HE strategy is reflected through the application of the teaching and learning strategy of the Department of Business and Management. This includes developing innovative ways of supporting student learning, standardised assessment information and detailed feedback, strong academic tutorial support and the integration of graduate key skills in module delivery and assessment.
In the first year emphasis is placed on ensuring a sound knowledge of principles underpinning key subjects and the interrelationships between leisure, hospitality, and tourism. The supportive learning environment encourages students to explore and develop their own learning styles and acquire basic skills relating to research and methods of presenting work. The main teaching methods are lectures, seminars and workshops.
In the second year teaching and learning are directed towards the application of knowledge and skills gained at certificate level. Students are expected to develop an enquiring attitude towards their study and should be willing to challenge assertions. They will be taking more responsibility for their own learning through extended personal reading and opportunities are given to tackle wider coursework related tasks. The main teaching methods remain lectures and seminars with an increasing focus on student led events to facilitate debate and discussion.
In the third year students are required to take a major responsibility for their own learning, exhibiting autonomy and making appropriate contributions to the development of themselves and their peers through the seminar process. Considerable emphasis is placed on developing the ability to evaluate and analyse data from a range of sources in order to synthesise the material and construct evaluative arguments. The main teaching methods remain the lecture and seminar process but with greater expectation of input from students.
Timetabling
The teaching is divided into two semesters, semester one runs from September to January and semester two from February to June. A full-time student is expected to take three modules each semester, making six modules in one year. A part-time student will take one or two modules each semester. Students can expect to have to attend for four to five hours per module for the twelve weeks of the semester and to spend at least an equivalent amount of time per week in independent study. Students will be provided with timetables when they join the course.
Work Placements
This is not a requirement on the degree programme. However, students are given opportunities to experience aspects of the industry through site visits and guest lectures that may be used as case studies for discussion and also in assessments.
Tutorial and Study Support
Academic Tutorials
In all years time is integrated into each module for academic tutorial support. Students are expected to consider their own strengths and weaknesses and with guidance from the module tutor agree a possible course of action.
Personal Tutorials
Students have a personal tutor within their major route with whom they can meet twice a semester. The tutorial system supplies students with both academic and pastoral support.
Study Skills
The major routes in modules such as Business Skills provide Study skills. This minor route builds in opportunities for students to develop information finding, analytical and evaluative skills as well as presentation and IT skills through the delivery of the module and assessment. This is supported by the central University Campus Suffolk Student Support Services in study, IT and numerical skills at the Open Study Centre.
Opportunities on Completion of the Course
The post-course opportunities will vary depending on the specific combination of studies taken but may include:
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Teaching – students may undertake a one year PGCE
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Postgraduate study
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Masters in a relevant area
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Development planning and management in a range of private and public sector organisations