International Tourism Management UG Course Guide 2014

Aberdeen Business School Undergraduate course guide 2014

D L R O W E TH AITING W S I

L A N O I T A N R E T IN RISM NT TOUNAGEME MA

International Tourism Management What and when: course overview ... and course detail

Placements

Study abroad How will I be taught?

Key facts

What next?

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Choosing a course isn’t straightforward.

There’s lots of detail you need to know. Where will I study?

What topics are covered?

How will I be assessed?

You also want to gain a ‘feel’ for things – directly from some current students and graduates.

In this brochure we’ve combined hard facts about the degree with real views of students and graduates.

Our aim is to give you a quick, genuine and useful insight into our degrees. If there’s anything more you’d like to know, please don’t hesitate to get in contact. Simply call us on 01224 262728, email: UGOffice@rgu.ac.uk.

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OPPA GLO ORT BAL UNI TY

introdu ction

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Career options Tourism combines many diverse industries, creating a vibrant, stimulating sector full of opportunity.

These include attractions, music venues, theatres, events, leisure centres, resorts, shops and transport providers. It also covers business tourism (conferences, corporate hospitality) and hospitality (hotels, clubs, restaurants and bars).

As the industry grows, so does demand for highly skilled, specially trained managers.

Tourism and hospitality are closely linked. This course offers graduates diverse opportunities ranging from events management to conference management, hotel management, marketing and account management.

Or you could go on to postgraduate study, or set up your own business.

Roles taken by recent graduates > Events Manager, AECC > Account Executive, Diageo > Manager, a US Golf & Country Club > Front of House Manager, Sodexo > Customer Services Supervisor, VisitScotland > Lecturer, Aberdeen College > Senior Events Manager, Marriott Hotels > Event Manager, Glamis Castle > Executive, London Events Management Company > Managing Director, Entertainment Company, Edinburgh > Hospitality and Commercial Manager, Satrosphere Science Centre

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INTERNATIONAL TOURISM MANAGEMENT BA (Hons) UCAS N840

Briony Sharp BA (Hons) International Tourism Management

“I completed my 48 week placement at Norton House Hotel, Edinburgh and worked in the Conference & Banqueting (C&B) Department. I started as a C&B waitress and worked weddings, conferences and private functions. During my placement I was encouraged to apply for a promotion which I got and I’m now a C&B Assistant Manager.

I gained invaluable industry experience on placement and it was one of my motivations for coming to RGU in the first place, so I’m pleased to say it was extremely worthwhile.”

S ’ D L R O NG W I U E T H I T WA YO FOR

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“Studying at RGU was fulfilling both academically and personally. The management grounding around economics, marketing and accounting – along with the industry specific knowledge – meant I left with a well-rounded higher education.”

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M O R F N . .

R .

T LEAE BES TH

NEIL CONNON Course Leader

“The BA (Hons) International Tourism Management course offers students a pathway into an exciting and diverse career in a fast moving sector. Our course provides a comprehensive theoretical understanding of contemporary issues within the tourism industry alongside the practical skill sets needed to succeed after graduation. “

“Industry experience is an integral part of our course and all students are given the opportunity to undertake a year-long placement in the tourism 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 tourism sector.”

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INTERNATIONAL TOURISM MANAGEMENT BA (Hons) UCAS N840

Our course combines the best of both general management and specialist management modules.

The general management areas include Professional Communication Skills, Marketing, Globalisation, Organisational Behaviour, Consumer Behaviour and Brand Management. These subjects will be vital aids to you in the future, whatever your chosen degree and career path.

Meanwhile the specialist management modules provide depth, knowledge and insight into the world of tourism. These are introduced in year 1, and then feature at each stage of your degree.

Institute of Hospitality The course is accredited by the Institute of Hospitality and students can access membership.

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.

Tourism Management Institute The course is officially recognised by the Tourism Management Institute and, as a member, students would be invited to attend events across the UK relating to the world of tourism.

Other opportunities and events

WHA COU T & WH R SE E OVE N: RVIE W.

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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 ďŹ eld trips, the opportunity to attend industry conferences, guest lectures and masterclasses.

..

YEAR 1 SPECIALISMS

YEAR 3

>> Tourism Hospitality Environment: an introduction and overview to these industries >> Adventure and Activity Tourism: focusing on a growing area within tourism, particularly leadership skills and teamwork

Year 3 normally involves a year-long paid placement.

YEAR 2 SPECIALISMS

YEAR 4 SPECIALISMS

>> Tourism Destination Development: focusing on how destinations develop and manage tourism, and investigating a range of case study destinations

>> Heritage Management: a focus on the natural and built heritage attractions within tourism

>> Accommodation Management: whether that’s a hotel, resort or visitor attraction >> Sustainable Tourism Management: focusing on the concept of sustainability and the balance between environmental, social and economic impacts

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.

>> Cultural Aspects of International Management: investigating the importance of understanding crosscultural differences and their management >> Marine and Wildlife Tourism: recognising the importance of this niche within the world of tourism >> Dissertation: the dissertation enables you to extend and apply your subject knowledge and knowledge of research methods through independent investigation of a topic within a relevant field

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INTERNATIONAL TOURISM MANAGEMENT BA (Hons) UCAS N840

Please note that the course structure is reviewed each year and may be subject to change.

year 1

year 2

SEMESTER ONE

SEMESTER ONE

>> Marketing >> Professional Communication Skills >> Service Sector Management >> Tourism Hospitality Environment

>> Brand Management >> Globalisation >> Organisational Behaviour >> Tourism Destination Development

SEMESTER TWO

Or study abroad at an overseas university

>> Adventure and Activity Tourism >> International Management >> Introduction to Management Accounting >> People Management If you left now, you’d have...

Certificate of Higher Education International Tourism Management

SEMESTER TWO >> Accommodation Management >> Consumer Behaviour >> Sport Tourism >> Sustainable Tourism Management Or study abroad at an overseas university If you left now, you’d have...

Diploma of Higher Education International Tourism Management

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...& course

detail

year 3 PLACEMENT ROUTE SEMESTER ONE >> Management in Practice >> Placement

SEMESTER TWO >> Management in Practice >> Placement No exit award at this stage

WORK EXPERIENCE ROUTE SEMESTER ONE >> >> >> >>

Ethics and the Consumer Events Management Business Marketing International Business

SEMESTER TWO >> Management in Practice >> Workplace Experience If you left now, you’d have...

BA International Tourism Management

year 4 CONTINUING AND ADVANCED STUDENTS SEMESTER ONE >> >> >> >>

Ethics and the Consumer Events Management Business Marketing International Business

oR (Continuing students only) >> Foreign University Study >> Research Methods

SEMESTER TWO >>

>> >>

>>

Contemporary Human Resource Management (Continuing students only) Event Tourism: Legacy and Impact Management Practice and Reflective Learning Sustainable Tourism Management (Direct Entry students only)

SEMESTER ONE >> Future Tourism >> Heritage Management >> Research Methods Choice of ONE option from: >> Business Creativity >> International Organisations

SEMESTER TWO >> Marine and Wildlife Tourism >> Dissertation Choice of ONE option from: >> International Marketing >> Cultural Aspects of International Management If you left now, you’d have...

BA (Hons) International Tourism Management

Choice of one option from: >> Management of Change >> Management of Innovation If you left now, you’d have...

BA International Tourism Management

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INTERNATIONAL TOURISM MANAGEMENT BA (Hons) UCAS N840

“My year 3 placement was an ideal opportunity to put into practise the building blocks I gained in years 1 and 2.”

BECOME THE BEST 12

pla cements

Jordan Rowson BA (Hons) International Tourism Management

“I split my year long placement between Waccabuc Country Club, New York and Ocean Reef Club, Florida. It was a great experience and the year taught me a lot, not only in terms of putting university theory into practice, but also as a person.

The support I was given by management at both clubs made it a great experience and I feel that has reflected positively in my fourth year work. After graduation I am going back to Waccabuc Country Club to work in a supervisory role.�

There are placement opportunities available locally, nationally and internationally, for example at Thomson Holidays, Eastern Airways, Edinburgh Castle, Royal Yacht Britannia, VisitScotland, Chessington World of Adventures, PGL UK and European Summer Holiday Camps, Canvas Holidays, Waccabuc Golf and Country Club (USA), Disney Worldwide Services Inc (USA) and The Broadmoor Resort, Colorado Springs (USA).

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SPREAD YOUR WINGS. ENJOY NEW HORIZONS. What could possibly be better than studying at Robert Gordon University?

Good question!

How about studying here – but also getting a chance to spend some time studying abroad!

Well that’s entirely possible.

Most undergraduate programmes at Aberdeen Business School include the opportunity for a period of study abroad with one of our carefully chosen international partners – both in Europe and beyond.

Our Study Abroad programmes offer additional educational and cultural experiences – but all as part of your accredited qualification with RGU. Many employers like to have graduates with some international experience, so it’s your chance to enhance your CV and widen your employment opportunities.

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BYE, AU REVOIR, CIAO AND SEE YOU SOON

S

Y D TU

D A O R B A

Going abroad to study or work could be one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of your course.

The experience, new friends, a different country, climate, culture and language: these, and many other factors, make it an unforgettable time – wherever you go!

And where you go will depend on the course you study. Each participating course has its own partner institutions in different countries. Most of the courses have more than one partner institution, so you can choose which institution or country is most suitable for you.

So if we say that you might need a phrase book and sunglasses when you come to Aberdeen, we are being serious!

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GREAT PLACEMENT PROSPECTS

Wide open spaces

AB PE ERD RF EE EC N, T L TH OC E AT ION

A great Scottish location and brilliant career opportunities; Robert Gordon University gives you lots to smile about...

Named “best UK university for employment” (HESA, 2013).

Robert Gordon University is the ideal place to start your career.

What’s more, “residents in Aberdeenshire enjoy the best quality of life in Scotland” (Bank of Scotland Quality of Life League, 2012). So it’s time to get yourself up north, where things will be good for you too!

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We consider our riverside campus, based on the banks of the beautiful River Dee, to be one of the most attractive campuses in the UK and one of Europe’s finest.

The river itself is home to otters, heron, salmon and other wildlife. Our campus has beautiful woodland walkways and parkland, connecting our modern, stylish buildings.

97.7% Gra

SUNNY SCOTL

SKI CENTRAL

RGU

BEST UK UNIVERSITY FOR EMPLOYMENT

Mountaineering mecca

raduate employment

Y LAND

Scotland at its best.

Aye, that’s right!

Aberdeen is pretty unique in the UK with its cosmopolitan culture, rich heritage and fantastic scenery. It’s got everything you’d expect from a major city – pubs, clubs, restaurants, cinemas, theatres and art galleries – but there’s lots more than that!

Like the miles of beach boulevard – loved by skaters and surfers – and the wild mountains right on the doorstep: Aberdeen is a great location for skiing and snowboarding with dry ski slopes nearby the campus and during the winter Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray takes on a whole new lease of life with many challenging ski runs, plus some of the best hillwalking in Scotland and loads of great places for canoeing, kayaking and sailing!

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HOW W BE TAU ILL I GHT? 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

ASSESSMENT

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:

We use a mixture of assessments.

> 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 > 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 > You’re also likely to be involved in field trips, industry conferences, guest lectures and masterclasses

OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM In addition to lectures and tutorials, you‘ll have to spend time outside of class working on your own.

For example doing the prescribed reading, preparing responses, undertaking research and writing up coursework.

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These include individual and group presentations, reports, essays, industry interviews, poster presentations, examinations, work-based learning and running seminars.

This ensures you enter the workplace with a set of strongly relevant skills and experiences.

BEFORE CLASSES START...

You’ll attend an induction week to help you prepare for University life.

This includes sessions on study skills, teaching methods, module content, assessments, your timetable and IT resources, plus using the library and other support services.

KEY FA CTS

Alternative qualifications Equivalent overseas qualifications and some access programmes will be considered. Entry to year 2 and year 3 with relevant HNC/ HND qualiďŹ cations may also be considered.

Degree link programme Entry to year 3 may be possible if you’ve completed an HND in Tourism or Travel with Tourism at one of our partner FE Colleges.

Study options Full-time: 4 years

Placement There is a 48-week paid placement in Stage 3 of the International Tourism Management.

On the taught/direct entry route, Stage 3 involves a taught semester one and 6-month placement in semester two.

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 Accredited by the Institute of Hospitality and officially recognised by the Tourism Management Institute.

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what

nex t

?

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.

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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 first hand.

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 Open Days 2 October 2013 2 November 2013

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.

For full details of dates and times, and to see a full programme please see www.rgu.ac.uk/absapplicantsday 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. www.rgu.ac.uk/visitafternoons

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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 www.rgu.ac.uk Dr Neil Connon Course Leader Email: n.connon@rgu.ac.uk 01224 263024

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