Book for Beds Tourism and Hospitality (Jan)

STUDYING TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY

University of Bedfordshire Business School School of Aviation, Marketing and Tourism

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Welcome from the Head of School

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Essential contacts

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Welcome from the Portfolio Lead and Course Coordinator

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What to expect during Welcome Week

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How you can keep up to date

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How you will be assessed

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Preparation for your first week

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Teaching timetable

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Frequently asked questions

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Final thoughts

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CONTENTS beds.ac.uk

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WELCOME TO TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE Welcome to Tourism and Hospitality at the University of Bedfordshire.

The University of Bedfordshire Business School (UBBS) is a supportive and close-knit community where we place great emphasis on supporting your academic development, building your confidence and preparing you for the world of work.

I encourage you to make good use of all the opportunities we offer and become an active member of our supportive School culture. For example, you could become an ambassador for our vibrant student society which provides an extra value-added experience to your course.

This booklet provides you with important information that will help you prepare for your course and for your first few weeks and months at University. If you have any questions before you arrive on campus, please do contact a member of the team.

I look forward to welcoming you.

Dr Annie Danbury

Head of School, Aviation, Marketing and Tourism

ESSENTIAL CONTACTS Portfolio Lead • Dr Caroline Tie, carol.tie@beds.ac.uk Course Coordinator • Lorraine Davenport, lorraine.davenport@beds.ac.uk

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STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES Student Information Desk (SiD) beds.ac.uk/sid sid@beds.ac.uk

BedsSU (Students’ Union) bedssu.co.uk help@bedssu.co.uk

Student Support beds.ac.uk/studentsupport

Welcome from the Portfolio Lead Hello, my name is Caroline Tie and I am the Academic Portfolio Lead for Tourism and Hospitality. Along with the teaching team, I am looking forward to meeting you and supporting you throughout your course.

We are a vibrant and diverse academic community and you will be taught by knowledgeable and experienced staff who are respected in their research and industry fields. This course allows you to specialise in key areas of tourism and hospitality as well as studying core management and business principles in depth.

Alongside your lectures and seminars, we organise field trips, site visits and networking opportunities with industry professionals, all of which will help keep you up to date with the latest industry trends.

When you are on campus, you will be at the heart of University life which is the perfect place to meet friends and develop meaningful relationships.

Dr Caroline Tie Portfolio Lead

Welcome from the Course Coordinator Hello, my name is Lorraine Davenport, I am the Course Coordinator. We are excited that you will be joining us this academic year. The first week in the Academic Calendar is Welcome Week where you will be introduced to your course, course team and fellow students. You will also have unit coordinators, tutors and a personal academic tutor (known as PAT) who are all here to support you.

Course teams have weekly office hours so you can book an appointment if you need to chat to them. We will be with you every step of the way as you start your academic journey.

Lorraine Davenport Course Coordinator

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WHAT TO EXPECT D

WEL

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DURING

ELCOME WEEK Our academic induction follows four key sessions which happen at the same time for all Business School students.

We start the week with an online session to say hello. This is also an opportunity to hear from Faculty Executive Group members. On Thursday and Friday, we host four sessions designed to help you get ready for your studies. You will meet and work with your course team and meet other members of the faculty. You should attend the following sessions which will run for the full day:

Session 1

Meet your course team – get to know members of the teaching team and understand how your course operates

Session 2

Take part in the Big Business Challenge – meet faculty executive members and some of the employers we work with, who will host a fun team challenge

Session 1

Meet your personal academic tutor (PAT) – get to know them and find out how they can support you throughout your studies

Session 2

Prepare for your first week of study – learn how to access our systems and resources so you can have the best possible start

Thursday

Friday

All the details about the different activities and where they will be held are included on our Faculty Academic Welcome pages. Check this page closer to the time for any changes to the sessions. But be assured that the sessions will take place on Thursday and Friday so you can start planning your week now.

Our colleagues in the student support and learning resources teams will also host sessions for all new starters. These are designed to help you become familiar with all the essential services you will use throughout your time with us.

Of course, Welcome Week wouldn’t be Welcome Week without the Freshers’ Fayre, which is run by the University of Bedfordshire Students’ Union. They will host plenty of events and activities, so keep an eye on their website and follow them on social media to find out more (see p.5). beds.ac.uk

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HOW YOU CAN KEEP

UP TO DATE We use an online noticeboard called Padlet to help our students keep up to date with everything that’s happening. This is linked from BREO, our virtual learning environment, and each subject cluster has its own individual space.

You can only access BREO once you are registered with us as a student. However, the Padlet noticeboard for Hospitality and Tourism students can be accessed now via this link.

Feel free to take a look and become more familiar with the exciting events, trips and discussions happening in your subject area.

ESSENTIAL LINKS How to find your Timetable Information about your learning with BREO Get support with your learning and assignments Study Hub Visit the Library Begin@Beds Start your student journey Thrive@Beds My Beds Life Succeed@Beds Careers and Employability Service

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HOW YOU WILL BE

ASSESSED

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The course assessment strategy is closely aligned to the University’s teaching and learning strategy which is designed to: • Have an immediate relevance to practice • Draw on expertise by experience • Foster active learning and be learner-centred in approach A distinct feature of the course is the range of assessment tasks including workplace assessments that can have an immediate impact in practice. This helps put into practice what you are learning in university and can help increase your confidence.

RANGE OF ASSESSMENTS These can vary depending on the course you are studying, but here’s an example of what your assessments might include:

Essays Leaflets and posters Reflective case studies Audits Presentations In-class tests Skills documents – practice based learning

Assessments are purposefully diverse and created to relate to industry practices.

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PREPARATION FOR YOUR

FIRST WEEK REGISTERING FOR YOUR COURSE

Once you have met the conditions of your offer, you will receive an email to complete your online registration. Keep an eye on your emails and junk box to ensure you don’t miss it!

SOMETHING TO WATCH • Enjoy an amazing virtual tour of our campus

SOMETHING TO READ Read the latest tourism and travel news as these online news hubs will be an important source for your studies.

• World Travel Market Global Hub • Travel Trade Gazette

MEET OUR STUDENTS • Hear why Laura, Catherine and Maria enjoy studying tourism

ABOUT THE CAMPUS Take time to familiarise yourself with the layout of our campus and the names of buildings. This will help you get around with ease when you arrive.

• Luton campus

SOMETHING TO EAT • Eating and drinking on-campus

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ESSENTIAL LINKS To find out how to access your timetable go to beds.ac.uk/timetable Academic information Guide to referencing Study Hub

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TEACHING

TIMETABLE EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDYING THIS SUBJECT You will study the following four units in your first year:

Sustainable Business in Tourism and Hospitality Managing People in Tourism and Aviation Beginning Your Professional Business Journey Numeracy for Business

You will be expected to attend lectures, and seminars between two and three days per week. This will be supplemented with guided online learning.

Assessments are usually due in the middle and towards the end of the semester.

These are set from the very first week so careful planning is required. Unlike school, there's often an element of freedom to define the precise focus of your assignments. This gives you the chance to focus on things that appeal to you personally, but also the responsibility for making good choices, and that's something your tutors can help with. We are here to support you, so don't be afraid to ask for help.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED

QUESTIONS What happens if I miss class due to illness or have difficulties with childcare or travel?

We understand that everyone will face some difficulties now and again and we aim to be flexible. You are encouraged to discuss ongoing issues with your personal academic tutor or unit lead. For independent advice or for ongoing attendance issues you can contact studentengagement@beds.ac.uk

Who can help me with my assessments?

The academic team is always available to guide you with the theory based content and you can book a one-to-one tutorial with your unit lead. If you need more time to complete an assignment, please contact the Student Engagement and Mitigation team (SEAM) who deal with assessment extensions. Their email is: mitigation@beds.ac.uk. You can find our Mitigation Policy and form on our website

What support is available for students with a learning difference or disability?

Our Disabilities team supports students with a range of disabilities including sensory and physical impairments, mental health difficulties, specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, and medical conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, sickle cell anaemia and arthritis. You may be eligible for a Learning and Teaching Agreement, where you can discuss any reasonable adjustments needed for classroom learning and examinations. You can email disability@beds.ac.uk for further information and advice.

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What if I’m struggling with my mental health at university?

The University has a range of services offering specialist help. You can email mentalhealth@beds.ac.uk for new or ongoing mental health support needs. To access our counselling services, email counselling@beds.ac.uk

Is there any support to help me manage my finances?

Our dedicated Student Money Advice team offers confidential financial advice, information and support.

They can advise you on a range of funding options such as grants, loans, bursaries and scholarships, as well as guiding you on the best way to manage your finances. You can contact them by emailing studentmoney@beds.ac.uk

Are there clubs and activities I can get involved with?

Yes, the Students’ Union can tell you everything you need to know about sports clubs, activities and events for all our students. You can even set up your own society! Contact Beds SU by emailing beds.su@beds.ac.uk

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FINAL

THOUGHTS We hear from – and are inspired by – a variety of guest speakers directly involved in the industry.

We get to hear about other students’ achievements and connect with alumni thanks to our ever-supportive academics.

We have the opportunity to meet our future employers thanks to the University’s huge network of local, regional and national businesses.

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HERE’S WHY OUR STUDENTS LOVE STUDYING

TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY

AT BEDFORDSHIRE

We can build a meaningful network with potential experts in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Always remember, our team is here for you!

We know there’s a lot to take in when you start university. We’ll support you throughout, especially at the beginning. Some students adjust to university life more readily than others, and it can take time to feel at home, but this is normal and you’ll soon make friends. Remember, many of your fellow students will be feeling the same.

We are confident that you’ll love our friendly campus and everything the University of Bedfordshire has to offer.

We have the chance to engage with the local community and make our mark with them through our Tourism and Aviation Society.

We learn so much by going on field trips to places like Toulouse where we visited the Airbus factory and to the Emirates flight simulator in London.

We get the opportunity to learn new skills in our work placement year.

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Discover more about the University of Bedfordshire, tour our facilities, and meet some of our academics and current students at one of our Open Days.

Find out about our up-coming Open Days at beds.ac.uk/open-days

Luton campus University Square Luton Bedfordshire United Kingdom LU1 3JU Bedford campus Polhill Avenue Bedford Bedfordshire United Kingdom MK41 9EA Aylesbury campus Stoke Mandeville Hospital Mandeville Road Aylesbury United Kingdom HP21 8AL

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Milton Keynes campus 2nd Floor Exchange House Midsummer Boulevard Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire United Kingdom MK9 2EA Putteridge Bury campus Hitchin Road Luton Bedfordshire United Kingdom LU2 8LE