Undergraduate course guide 2012 Aberdeen Business School•Robert Gordon University•Aberdeen
international HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
International Hospitality Management 2 What and when: course overview 10 …and course detail 12 How will I be taught? 14 Key facts 15 What next? 16
Choosing a course isn’t straightforward. There’s loads of detail you need to know. Where will I study? What topics are covered? How will I be assessed? Plus you also want to gain a ‘feel’ for things – ideally, direct and honest from some current or recent students. In this brochure we’ve combined both of these: hard facts with real views. And we’ve tried to keep things short and clear, so you don’t get put off by more information than you need. Our aim is to give you a quick, genuine and useful insight into our courses. If there’s anything more you’d like to know, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
PROSPECTS: GET YOUR FOOT INTRODUCTION: IN THE DOOR international HOSPITALITY management BA (Hons) UCAS N221
Deborah O’Mullane BA (Hons) International Hospitality Management
“A great aspect of the course is having intellectuals from the industry visit, bringing the business world into the classroom, as well as going on field study trips around the country.”
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… welcomes the wide ranging curriculum, as its general overview of business, management and hospitality opens possibilities across the industry. “The placement also initiates invaluable career prospects. It does involve hard work, dedication and flexibility, however I feel my specialist and self-reliance skills were vastly improved by it, along with greater confidence in my work and in myself. I also loved the chance to study in Finland through Erasmus: continuous support from RGU made this big step easy.”
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international HOSPITALITY management BA (Hons) UCAS N221
PROSPECTS:
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Career options Hospitality is a thriving and innovative business sector. Many don’t realise its scale, or the opportunities it provides. To some, it simply means hotels. While that’s a huge part of the industry, it also includes events, public houses, bars and nightclubs, restaurants, self-catering accommodation, tourist services, hostels, hospitality services, holiday parks, gambling, leisure and contract food service providers. This diversity explains the major demand for able graduates with in-depth, specialist knowledge. A management role in any of the above environments is a possible career. Alternatively, you could specialise in an area such as guest services or HR management, or go on to postgraduate study, or set up your own business…
Roles taken by recent graduates > Conference and Banqueting Manager, The Eden Project > Human Resources Manager, BAA > Chief Executive Officer, Malmaison Hotels > Director of Guest Services, St Regis Aspen > Quality Advisor, VisitScotland > Manager, TGI Friday’s Restaurants > Conference Centre Manager, AVC Media Enterprises > General Manager, Skibo Castle > General Manager, David Lloyd Leisure
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international HOSPITALITY management BA (Hons) UCAS N221
PROSPECTS:
A WELCOME OPPORTUNITY
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Daniel Turner Course Leader
“The BA (Hons) International Hospitality Management course develops practical skills alongside knowledge of contemporary managerial and strategic issues relevant to the sector, producing graduates able to take their place in the vibrant and dynamic hospitality industry. Industry experience is an integral part of our course and all students are given the opportunity to undertake a year-long placement in the hospitality industry in order to put all of the knowledge gained through study into practice. As a result of the experiences gained throughout their studies, our graduates are well respected and coveted by employers and regularly secure employment with some of the biggest organisations in the hospitality sector.�
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international HOSPITALITY management BA (Hons) UCAS N221
PLACEMENTS:
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Nicki Robertson BA (Hons) international Hospitality management
“After I graduated, I originally applied for the graduate scheme run by Malmaison, as I saw that as an excellent way to put my new knowledge to effective use. After my interview, I wasn’t offered a graduate position – but instead a direct entry into the new Malmaison
hotel in Aberdeen. That was down to the experience that I had gained through my third year placement: the company felt I had already completed a programme similar to what was on offer in its graduate scheme. “My experience highlights the huge benefit of the placement. I personally feel the opportunity to spend a year in industry gave me the skills and knowledge to step into a management role when I graduated.”
“Since taking on a management role I feel I have been able to put the theory learned at university to much better use.”
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international HOSPITALITY management BA (Hons) UCAS N221
what & when: COURSE overview… Our course combines the best of both general management and specialist management modules.
Institute of Hospitality
The general management areas include Professional Communication Skills, Marketing, Globalisation, Organisational Behaviour, Consumer Behaviour, Brand Management and Technology in the Service Sector. These subjects will be vital aids to you in the future, whatever your chosen degree and career path.
When you successfully complete the course, you’re eligible to apply for Associate membership and, following an assessment, may also meet requirements for Member grade.
Meanwhile the specialist management modules give you depth, knowledge and insight into the world of hospitality. These are introduced in year 1, and then feature at each stage of your degree.
A key feature of this course is exposure to key players in the hospitality industry, particularly those involved in influencing the direction and growth of the industry within the UK.
The course is accredited by the Institute of Hospitality and students can access membership.
Other opportunities and events
We want to give you the best student experience possible. As well as the semester-long study abroad opportunities and year-long paid placement (or 6-month paid placement), we provide field trips, the opportunity to attend industry conferences, guest lectures and masterclasses. Aberdeen Business School is also a member of the British Hospitality Association, giving you access to industry information and events.
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year 1 specialisms >> Tourism Hospitality Environment: an introduction to and overview of these industries >> Culinary Arts and Food Safety: giving you an appreciation of culinary arts, beverages and food safety within a commercial hospitality environment
year 2 specialisms >> Food and Beverage Skills: builds on your year 1 module, and focuses on culinary, beverage and service skills >> Accommodation Management, whether that’s a hotel, resort or visitor attraction >> Food and Beverage Management: developing the understanding and skills involved in managing food and beverage operations
year 3 Year 3 normally involves a year-long paid placement. However, there’s also the option of a taught year 3. With this, you study for one semester and then go out on placement for six months in the second semester.
year 4 specialisms >> Hospitality Contract Management: a contemporary module that focuses on premises and contract management within the hospitality industry >> Managing Strategy for Hospitality: investigating and evaluating contemporary hospitality strategic issues >> Cultural Aspects of International Management: investigating the importance of understanding cross-cultural differences and their management >> Research Project: a module which allows you to undertake a piece of sustained project work focusing on a specialist sector within the Hospitality Industry
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international HOSPITALITY management BA (Hons) UCAS N221
…& COURSE detail Year 1
Year 2
Semester One
Semester One
>> Marketing >> Professional Communication Skills >> Service Sector Management >> Tourism Hospitality Environment Semester Two >> Culinary Arts and Food Safety >> International Management >> Introduction to Management Accounting >> People Management If you left now, you’d have… Certificate of Higher Education International Hospitality Management
>> Brand Management >> Food and Beverage Skills >> Globalisation >> Organisational Behaviour Or study abroad at an overseas university Semester Two >> Accommodation Management >> Consumer Behaviour >> Food and Beverage Management >> Technology in the Service Sector Or study abroad at an overseas university If you left now, you’d have… Diploma of Higher Education International Hospitality Management
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Year 3 Placement Route Semester One >> Management in Practice >> Placement >> Research Methods Semester Two >> Management in Practice >> Placement >> Research Methods No exit award at this stage Work Experience Route Semester One >> Ethics and the Consumer >> Events Management >> Personal Selling and Sales Management >> Research Methods
Year 4 Continuing and Advanced Entry Students Semester One >> Ethics and the Consumer >> Events Management >> Personal Selling and Sales Management >> Research Methods Or (only continuing students) >> Foreign University Study >> Research Methods Semester Two >> Management of Change >> Management of Innovation >> Management Practice and Reflective Learning
Semester One >> Hospitality Contract Management >> Lifestyle Consumption and Experience >> Managing Strategy for Hospitality Management Semester Two >> Cultural Aspects of International Management >> International Marketing >> Research Project (30 credits) If you left now, you’d have… BA (Hons) International Hospitality Management
Choice of one option from: >> Contemporary Human Resource Management >> Event Tourism: Legacy and Impact
Semester Two >> Management in Practice >> Workplace Experience
If you left now, you’d have… BA International Hospitality Management
If you left now, you’d have… BA International Hospitality Management
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How will I be taught?
Through varied class sizes, diverse lecturing styles and a range of assessment techniques. This degree is taught in two semesters. Each semester has a block of 12 weeks of teaching. In the classroom You’ll take four modules per semester. Each module involves around three hours of class teaching per week. While this differs from module to module, most have:
Outside the classroom
Before classes start…
In addition to lectures and tutorials, you‘ll have to spend time outside class time working on your own.
You’ll attend an induction week to help you prepare for University life.
For example doing the prescribed reading, preparing responses, undertaking research and writing up coursework. How long this takes will vary from week to week, but it starts from day one and will steadily increase as you progress through your degree.
>> Two hours of lectures delivered to the whole class (between 30 and 250 people, depending on your subject). Lectures tend to focus on a formal session, where the lecturer provides and discusses key topics, models and authors
Assessment
>> A further one hour tutorial taught to a small group of about 15–20 students. These investigate and discuss the ideas presented in lectures in more interactive and informal ways
This ensures you enter the workplace with a set of stronglyrelevant skills and experiences.
You’re also likely to be involved in field trips, industry conferences, guest lectures and masterclasses.
This includes sessions on study skills, teaching methods, module content, assessments, your timetable and IT resources, plus using the library and other support services.
We use a mixture of assessments. These include individual and group presentations, reports, essays, industry interviews, poster presentations, examinations, work-based learning and running seminars.
Enterprise Skills: The Charles P Skene Enterprise Programme Enterprise skills are critical in every 21st century career; they not only boost your employability, but can also be the key to survival when selfemployed. Which is why, at RGU, we now offer all our students real-life experience and tuition in entrepreneurial skills. The Enterprise Programme introduces all students to enterprise skills through a series of lectures, workshops and master-classes. In addition, it provides access to many other exciting activities including a unique business incubator designed to help students transform embryonic ideas into fully fledged business opportunities. To find out more visit www.rgu.ac.uk/business-incubator
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KEY FACTS
Alternative qualifications
Placement
Equivalent overseas qualifications and some access programmes will be considered. Entry to year 2 and year 3 with relevant HNC/HND qualifications may be considered.
A 48-week paid placement in Stage 3 of the International Hospitality Management degree.
Degree link programme International Hospitality Management Entry to year 3 may be possible if you’ve completed an HND in Hospitality Management at one of our partner FE Colleges. Study options Full-time: 4 years
On the taught/direct entry route, Stage 3 involves a taught semester one and 6-month placement in semester two. Some international placements are available on this course. Study Abroad In years 2 and 3, there are opportunities to study with partner institutions in Europe as part of the Erasmus Programme. Professional accreditation International Hospitality Management is accredited by the Institute of Hospitality.
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WHAT NEXT?
The next thing to do is talk to us. We can answer any questions you may have. Simply call us on 01224 262728 or email UGOffice@rgu.ac.uk We also provide a range of opportunities for you to visit us – so you can see what we can offer you ďŹ rst hand.
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This course guide is intended as a guide for applicants for courses delivered by Robert Gordon University. In compiling it the University has taken every care to be as accurate as possible, and the information in this course guide is correct at the time of going to print, but the course guide must be read as subject to change at any time and without notice. The University undertakes to make every reasonable effort to provide the teaching and academic facilities necessary for applicants’ programmes of study. However the University reserves the right, if such action is considered to be necessary, to make variations to fees and/or to vary the content or delivery method of any course at any time. In addition, the University may, at its sole discretion, discontinue or amalgamate any course(s). In these rare cases the University will notify applicants as soon as possible and reasonable steps will be taken to provide a suitable alternative to a discontinued course.
Open Day
Applicants’ Day
We organise two annual open days in October and November each year. It’s a perfect opportunity to visit us, meet the academic staff, experience the first-class facilities and talk to current students.
When you apply for any course at ABS, you’ll be invited to one of our course-specific Applicants’ Days.
For full details of dates and times, and to see a full programme please see www.rgu.ac.uk/openday.
We realise there’s a lot involved in making your final choice, so we hope to give you all the insight and information you need. Visit Afternoons We hold monthly Visit Afternoons. The visit includes a talk by an Education Liaison Officer, a tour of the facilities and a chance to speak to a lecturer about the course you’re interested in.
Aberdeen Business School Robert Gordon University Garthdee Road Aberdeen AB10 7QE Talk to us. We can answer any questions or queries you may have. Simply call us on 01224 262728, email UGOffice@rgu.ac.uk or visit us at rgu.ac.uk
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