BA (Hons) International Tourism Management

the wORlD

iS waitinG

inteRnatiOnal

tOURiSm

manaGement

aBeRDeen BUSineSS SChOOlunDergraDuate Course guiDe 2013

International Tourism Management 2What and when: course overview 10…and course detail 12

How will I be taught? 18Key facts 19What next? 20

Choosing acourse 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. We have also kept things short and clear, so you don’t get 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.

2

a Global

Opportunity

introduction

inteRnatiOnal tOURiSm manaGement BA (Hons) UCAS n840

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, 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

3

4

inteRnatiOnal tOURiSm manaGement BA (Hons) UCAS n840

pROSpeCtS:

the wORlD’S waitinGFOR yOU

5

Briony SharpBa (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 fi rst place, so I’m pleased to say it was extremely worthwhile.”

“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.”

6

plaCementS:

BeSt...

leaRn FROm the

inteRnatiOnal tOURiSm manaGement BA (Hons) UCAS n840

7

BeSt...

neil COnnOnCourse leaDer

“The BA (Hons) International Tourism Management course off ers 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.”

...anDBeCOme the BeSt

8

plaCementS:

inteRnatiOnal tOURiSm manaGement BA (Hons) UCAS n840

9

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

Jordan RowsonBa (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 refl ected positively in my fourth year work. After graduation I am going back to Waccabuc Country Club to work in a supervisory role.”

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, 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.

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

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.

10

international tourism management BA (Hons) UCAS N840 what & when:

COURSe OveRview…

> 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

> 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 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.

> 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 cross-cultural 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

yeaR 2 SpeCialiSmS yeaR 4 SpeCialiSmS

11

yeaR 3yeaR 1 SpeCialiSmS

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

> Adventure and Activity Tourism > International Management > Introduction to Management

Accounting > People Management

Certificate of Higher Education International Tourism Management

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

OR study abroad at an overseas university

> Accommodation Management > Consumer Behaviour > Sport Tourism > Sustainable Tourism Management

OR study abroad at an overseas university

Diploma of Higher Education International Tourism Management

12

international tourism management BA (Hons) UCAS N840 …& COURSe detail

Semester One Semester One

Semester Two

Semester Two

If you left now, you’d have…

If you left now, you’d have…

yeaR 1yeaR 2

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

> Management in Practice > Placement > Research Methods

> Management in Practice > Placement > Research Methods

> Cultural Aspects of International Management

> International Marketing > Marine and Wildlife Tourism > Research Project

BA (Hons) International Tourism Management

> Contemporary Human Resource Management (Continuing students only)

> Event Tourism: Legacy and Impact > Management Practice

and Reflective Learning > Sustainable Tourism Management

(Direct Entry students only)

Choice of OnE option from:

> Management of Change > Management of Innovation

BA International Tourism Management

13

Semester One

Semester Two

Placement Route

no exit award at this stage

> Ethics and the Consumer > Events Management > Personal Selling and

Sales Management > Research Methods

> Management in Practice > Workplace Experience

BA International Tourism Management

Semester One

Semester Two

Semester Two

Semester Two

If you left now, you’d have…

If you left now, you’d have…

If you left now, you’d have…Work Experience Route

Semester One

Semester OneContinuing and Advanced Entry Students

yeaR 3 yeaR 4

> Emerging Tourism Markets and Destinations

> Heritage Management > Lifestyle Consumption

and Experience Economies > Research Project

> Ethics and the Consumer > Events Management > Personal Selling and

Sales Management > Research Methods

OR (only continuing students)

> Foreign University Study > Research Methods

14

SpReaD yOUR winGSenJOy 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 off er additional educational and cultural experiences – but all as part of your accredited qualifi cation 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.

Bye, aU RevOiR, CiaO anD See yOU SOOn Going abroad to study or work could be one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of your course. The experience, new friends, a diff erent 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 diff erent 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!

15

Go NOrtH, Be HAppY16

17

thinGS aRe lOOKinG Up, Up nORth A great Scottish location and brilliant career opportunities; Robert Gordon University gives you lots to smile about...

Consistently named “best modern university in the UK” by leading University Guides and “top in the UK for graduate employment” (HESA, 2012), Robert Gordon University is the ideal place to start your career.

What’s more, Aberdeen was recently named the “sunniest city in Scotland” (Bank of Scotland Quality of Life League, 2011). So it’s time to get yourself up north, where things will be good for you too!

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 home to three superb ski and snow-boarding slopes, plus some of the best hillwalking in Scotland and loads of great places for canoeing, kayaking and sailing!

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 diff ers from module to module, most have:

> 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.

Assessment

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.

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.

18

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 self-employed. Which is why, at RGU, we now off er 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 fl edged business opportunities.

To fi nd out more visit www.rgu.ac.uk/business-incubator

how will i be taught?

Alternative qualifications

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

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

Accredited by the Institute of Hospitality and offi cially recognised by the Tourism Management Institute.

19

Key FaCtShow will i be taught?

The next thing to do is talk to us.

We can answer any questions you may have. Simply call us on 01224 262728 or emailUGOffi [email protected]

We also provide a range of opportunities for you to visit us – so you can see what we can off er you first hand.

20

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 eff ort 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.

what neXt?

Open 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 fi rst-class facilities and talk to current students.

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

open Days

3 October 20123 November 2012

applicants’ Days

2 March 201320 March 2013

Applicants’ Day

When you apply for any course at ABS, you’ll be invited to one of our course-specific Applicants’ Days.

We realise there’s a lot involved in making your fi nal 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 Offi cer, a tour of the facilities and a chance to speak to a lecturer about the course you’re interested in.

Aberdeen Business SchoolRobert Gordon UniversityGarthdee RoadAberdeenAB10 7QE

Talk to us. We can answer any questions or queries you may have.Simply call us on 01224 262728,email UGOffi [email protected] visit us at rgu.ac.uk

Neil ConnonCourse LeaderEmail: [email protected] 01224 263024

www.facebook.com/AberdeenBSchool

www.twitter.com/AberdeenBSchool

www.youtube.com/robertgordonuni

www.rgu.ac.uk/internationaltourism

tbp!

| bebetter.c

o.uk