BA (Hons) International Tourism Management Course Brochure

unDERgRADuATE CouRsE guIDE 2012 ABERDEEN BUSINESS SCHOOL•ROBERT GORDON UNIVERSITY•ABERDEEN

international tourism management

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

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How will I be taught?

Key facts What next?

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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.

international tourism management BA (Hons) UCAS N840

introDuCtion:

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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 event 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, Sodexho > 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

PROSPECTS:

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Rowan Goldthorp BA (Hons) INTERNATIONAL Tourism Management

… recently completed her 14-month placement with Cosmos Holidays. “The job was extremely challenging and I learnt many new things – writing brochure copy; helping contract hotels in Hong Kong; liaising with suppliers across the globe; attending industry events with my boss…” To Rowan, the placement is just one of several opportunities.

“In this – my Honours Year – I’ve won a bursary from BAA and the Hospitality Industry Trust that’s a huge help; I’ve attended a Hospitality Industry Trust dinner; and I’ve taken the role of class rep.”

“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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international tourism management BA (Hons) UCAS N840

PlaCements:

learn From the Best...

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Daniel turner 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

PlaCements:

...anD BeCome the Best

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Laura Ruxton BA (Hons) International Tourism Management

… graduated in 2008, with her final year a vital stage. “It challenged my creative thinking, and it’s where I gained the most important experience for my current role – presentation skills. My performance as a Sales Executive for a business travel agency has been significantly enhanced by the knowledge I gained from such a varied, interactive and practical degree.”

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

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international tourism management BA (Hons) UCAS N840

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 tourism. These are introduced in year 1, and then feature at each stage of your degree.

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

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 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.

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year 1 specialisms >> 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 2 specialisms >> Tourism Destination Development: focusing on how destinations develop and manage tourism, and investigating a range of case study destinations >> 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

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 >> Emerging Tourism Markets and Destinations: in this global module you investigate changing consumer trends and market forces >> Heritage Management: a focus on the natural and built heritage attractions within tourism >> 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 >> Research Project: a module which allows you to undertake a piece of sustained project work focusing on a specialist sector within the Tourism Industry

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international tourism management BA (Hons) UCAS N840

…& COURSE detail Year 1

Year 2

Semester One

Semester One

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

>> Brand Management >> Globalisation >> Organisational Behaviour >> Tourism Destination Development Or study abroad at an overseas university 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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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 Semester Two >> Management in Practice >> Workplace Experience If you left now, you’d have…

BA International Tourism Management

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 >> 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 >> Emerging Tourism Markets and Destinations >> Heritage Management >> Lifestyle Consumption and Experience Semester Two >> Cultural Aspects of International Management >> International Marketing >> Marine and Wildlife Tourism >> Research Project (30 credits) 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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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 strongly relevant 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 also be considered.

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

Degree link programme International Tourism Management 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

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 Tourism Management is accredited by the Institute of Hospitality and is officially recognised by the Tourism Management Institute.

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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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