International Tourism Management Undergraduate Course Brochure

UndergradUate coUrse gUide 2012Aberdeen business school•robert Gordon university•Aberdeen

internationalTOURISMMANAGEMENT

international tourism Management 2 What and when: course overview 10 …and course detail 12

how will i be taught? 14Key facts 15What 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.

INTERNATIONAl TOURISM MANAGEMENT BA (Hons) UCAS N840

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INTRODUCTION:

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 GoldthorpBa (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.”

INTERNATIONAl TOURISM MANAGEMENT BA (Hons) UCAS N840

lEARN FROM THE BEST...

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PlACEMENTS:

Daniel TurnercoUrse 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

...ANDBECOME THE BEST

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PlACEMENTS:

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laura RuxtonBa (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.”

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 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.

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.

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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 3yEAR 1 SPECIAlISMS

yEAR 2 SPECIAlISMS yEAR 4 SPECIAlISMS

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> 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

yEAR 1 yEAR 2

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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…

> Management in Practice > Placement > Research Methods

> Management in Practice > Placement > Research Methods

> Emerging Tourism Markets and Destinations

> Heritage Management > Lifestyle Consumption

and Experience

> Cultural Aspects of International Management

> International Marketing > Marine and Wildlife Tourism > Research Project (30 credits)

BA (Hons) International Tourism Management

yEAR 3 yEAR 4

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

Sales Management > Research Methods

OR (only continuing students)

> Foreign University Study > Research Methods

> 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

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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

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:

> 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 class time working on your own.

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.

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.

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How will I be taught?

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 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

Alternative qualifications

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.

Degree link programme

International Tourism ManagementEntry 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

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

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KEy FACTS

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 [email protected]

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

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 first-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.

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 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 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 [email protected] visit us at rgu.ac.uk

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