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Programme Specification: BA (Hons) Tourism Management

About the course 1 Name of course and

highest award BA (Hons) Tourism Management

2 Level of highest award (according to FHEQ)

6

3 Possible interim awards

CertHE, DipHE, BA Ordinary

4 Awarding/validating institution

University of Gloucestershire

5 Teaching institution University of Gloucestershire

6 Faculty responsible Applied Sciences

7 Mode of study (full- time, part-time, etc)

Full time Part time Fast track

8 QAA Subject Benchmarks where relevant

Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism (2008)

9 Recognition by Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body (PSRB), to include definition of the recognition

10 Other external points of reference

People1st (2010) National Skills Strategy for the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector SkillsActive (2007) Sector Qualifications Strategy for Active Leisure and Learning

11 Date of initial validation March 2012

12 Date(s) of revision

13 Course aims

For students to develop:

1. the vocational and professional skills required at the cutting edge of the tourism industry to be able to effectively perform the multiplicity of tasks required by a tourism manager in the public, private and not-for profit sectors, at national, international and global levels;

2. into thoughtful, reflective and self-directed graduates who can theorise, practice and apply, their skills, knowledge and understanding with breadth and depth, to be effective managers in the tourism sector and other aligned business sectors;

3. competence to apply philosophical management concepts, relating to the

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tourism sector, including considerations of ethics and sustainability, to the practical context of tourism organisation;

4. a detailed critical awareness of the socio-economic, political and ecological structures in the context of tourism, with reference to wider society;

5. a respect and understanding of international perspectives, cultural difference and diversity, to enable you to make a positive contribution to social equality and sustainability in the context of tourism management and any sphere of professional activity.

14 Learning outcomes of the course

Knowledge and understanding: students should be able to demonstrate an

awareness of 1. The contribution and impacts of tourism in its historical, socio-cultural political,

economic and technological context. 2. The operational and strategic management of tourism provision in its natural, built

and cultural environment. 3. The patterns and characteristics of tourism demand. 4. The nature of interaction between tourists and tourism providers, host

communities and environments. 5. The role of tourism managers and their own personal and career development in

relation to industry requirements and reflection on practice. 6. The range of generic and specialist management skills needed for the day to day

operation and strategic development of tourism organisations. 7. Individual and organisational responsibilities in relation to sensitive and

sustainable planning and use of environmental and socio-cultural resources for tourism.

8. Significant contemporary issues facing the tourism industry and its managers, for example ethical concerns, globalisation, social inclusion, environmental degradation and community representation.

Intellectual (thinking) skills – students should be able to:

1. Plan, design and execute research activities using appropriate techniques and procedures.

2. Critically assess and evaluate information and evidence and synthesise new constructs and meanings.

3. Develop reasoned arguments for new ideas, and challenge their assumptions. 4. Take and demonstrate responsibility for their own learning and their continuing

personal and professional development Subject specific (practical and professional) skills – students should be able to:

1. Understand, explain and challenge the multi- and inter-disciplinary definitions and nature of tourism and its development.

2. Explain the nature, structure and functions of the public, private and not-for-profit tourism sectors.

3. Evaluate approaches to managing the development of tourism through concepts of policy and planning.

4. Demonstrate an awareness of the dynamic nature of tourism in modern societies and the developing world.

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5. Reflect on their own practical experience of the tourism industry, its operations, its customers and staff.

Transferable/key skills – students should be able to:

1. Apply a range of numerical skills and techniques. 2. Effectively communicate ideas through the use of written, oral and visual

presentation skills. 3. Use ICT skills to access and present relevant data and evidence. 4. Contribute effectively and fully to group-based learning activities and

assessed tasks. 5. Reflect on and appraise their own academic and professional development. 6. Effectively plan and manage their independent learning experience.

15 Learning and teaching strategy –

In accordance with the University of Gloucestershire’s Learning and Teaching Strategy (2011-2015), all School of Leisure degree programmes focus on the following four key educational priorities:

Independent and collaborative learning

Learning for life and employment

Learning for the future

Research/practice –informed learning and teaching Implementation of, and exposure to these priorities, will contribute to the development of a set of associated attributes that aid graduates to be:

independent and collaborative learners

prepared for life and employment

adaptable and critical thinkers

reflective in planning and taking actions The course’s approach to learning and teaching, including via blended learning, which enable learning outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated by the student. There is a focus on relevance to application in the work place and on career development, whilst maintain academic standards through incorporation of theory and modelling of tourism structures and business and policy environments.

A wide range of teaching and learning methods are used on the course, including lectures, seminars, tutorials, group work, guided reading, field related activities, independent study tasks, and personal development programmes. The course is broadly contextualised in Level 4 Understanding Consumers in Society and specifically with, with regard to tourism, in the modules: Tourism in the World, The Travel Package and Special Interest Tourism. In addition, Experiencing Tourism specifically incorporates a range of sector case studies, local field visits and visiting practitioners to provide further contextualised learning opportunities. The Level 5 tourism modules add a more analytical depth to students understanding of the operation of the tourism sector.

The practical vocational element is developed early on with the compulsory Skills in the Work Place module that is built around seeking, completing and reflecting on 90

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hours of work in a tourism business. This is developed further with the compulsory 48 week Industrial Placement and its support programme. Knowledge gained in these contexts allows for an informed final year at Level 6 where students’ critical understanding of tourism management is extended in Critical Issues in Tourism Management and Tourism and Ethics.

An ever more critical exploration of business management threads throughout the course beginning at Level 4 with Principles of Resource Management, then at Level 5 where there are choices within the core modules Applied Resource Management and Marketing the Leisure Experience. Finally the threads are completed at Level 6, again through the compulsory New Business Development and choices from the

core HR, Finance and Marketing modules. Independent learning is specifically developed through the self -directed study tasks within each module, whilst investigative skills will grow from the personal development programme introduced at Level 4. These are formalised and supported academically through the Research Methods module, and ultimately the Dissertation or Investigative Study.

16 Learning and teaching methods

HEFCE requires that the University’s Key Information Set (KIS) indicates the proportion of time in each year of study that students can expect to engage in the following activities (express as a percentage for each level).

Scheduled learning and teaching activities (including lectures, seminars, tutorials, dissertation meetings, demonstration, practical workshops, fieldwork, external visits, work-based learning);

Guided independent learning;

Placement and study abroad

Level 4 Scheduled learning and teaching activities

25%

Guided independent learning 70%

Placement and study abroad 5%

Level 5 Scheduled learning and teaching activities

25%

Guided independent learning 75%

Third Year of Study Programme

Placement and study abroad 100%

Level 6 Scheduled learning and teaching activities

25%

Guided independent learning 75%

17 Assessment strategy

The course’s approach to assessment which enable learning outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated by the student.

Assessment reflects the diversity of teaching and learning indicated above. Methods used include essays, projects, reports, portfolios, seen and unseen exams, case studies, reflective diaries and seminars. These ensure that you can demonstrate your knowledge, understanding and cognitive (thinking) skills in a range of appropriate ways. At Level 6, Dissertation or Investigative Study assessments develop your ability to plan and conduct a sustained piece of

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independent study. The use of assessed group project work and individual case study reports in compulsory and core modules, ensures that you will have the opportunity to demonstrate those team working skills and problem solving capabilities that are essential in the tourism industry.

18 Assessment methods HEFCE requires that the University’s Key Information Set (KIS) indicates the proportion of summative assessment in each year of study that will derive from the following:

Written exams

Practical exams

Coursework

Level 4 Written exams 6 %

Practical exams 0 %

Coursework 94 %

Level 5 Written exams 6 %

Practical exams 0 %

Coursework 94 %

Level 6 Written exams 12 %

Practical exams 0 %

Coursework 88 %

19 Location(s) of the

course’s delivery Oxstalls Campus

20 Admissions

requirements 240 points on UCAS Tariff

21 Career and

employability opportunities - details of any work experience, work- based learning, sandwich year or year abroad

The course offers significant opportunities to enhance employability through compulsory structured work experience at Levels 4 and 5. These take the form of a Skills in the Workplace module at Level 4 where students undertake 90 hours of industry-based work on a voluntary basis, and the year-long (48 week) Industrial Placement at Level 5, before progressing to final year.

In addition, the Level 4 Experiencing Tourism module enables students to gain immediate and practical sector based knowledge through a series of field visits and tourism manager lead workshops and seminars.

At Level 6, students have the option of undertaking a research project for a tourism management organisation, blending academic investigation and practical involvement in the industry.

A series of refresher workshops operate at Level 6 where ‘employability elements’ are presented to students to highlight key strategies in finding employment, responding to job advertisements and key dates when the leisure sector seems to ‘hunt for graduates’ and when students should undertake employability tasks such as CV building and contacting companies.

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22 Management of Quality and Standards – the means by which the quality and

standards of the course are assured at course, Faculty and University level is made by reference to the Quality Assurance Handbook, Academic Regulations for Taught Provision and associated guidance. This guidance comes from internal scrutiny of assessment appropriateness through the School of Leisure Assessment Standing Panel and external scrutiny via the External Examiner.

All assessed course work is sampled and this double marked by the Module teaching team. The sample is then scrutinised further by the External Examiner. The University operates an Appeal System where student grades can be challenged if an irregularity in due process can be proven to not have taken place.

23 Support for Students and for Student Learning – means by which support for

students is provided at course, Faculty and University level. At University level, students are able to access information, advice and guidance on a range of issues as well as contacting most Student Services teams through the campus based Helpzones, either in person, accessing materials and advice via the website or by telephone/e-mail contact see www.glos.ac.uk/helpzones

Available support specific to their studies includes Student Employability (careers advice and guidance and placement related activity), Disability, Dyslexia and Learning Support team and the Student Achievement team (including study skills tutors for academic and numeracy skills). Full details of all Student Services is available at - www.glos.ac.uk/studentservices.

Further general and programme specific support is available through the Libraries, Information Communication Technology Service Department and Learning Enhancement and Technological Support Department. Library and Information Services (LIS) support student learning by delivering effective, efficient and learner- focused services via the three campus libraries. These include traditional academic library resources, electronic information resources, open access IT and media facilities, integrated learner support, enquiry services, a choice of study spaces and access to the Archives and special collections. Students have access to expert help and advice in using the full range of resources to support their studies, whether they are working on or off campus. Full details of all LIS services are available at http://insight.glos.ac.uk/departments/lis/Pages/default.aspx.

At Course level students are allocated an Academic Review Tutor, whose role is to be of academic and pastoral support throughout the student’s entire University experience (at Levels 4, 5 and 6). They encourage students to engage in all learning activities and offer high quality support throughout the student’s University life. Additionally all modules have allocated module tutors, who deliver a high quality learning experience, which includes lectures, individual and group tutorials as well as contextual career advice.

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24 Current Course Maps

BA (Hons) Tourism Management (Single Honours Degree) Course Leader: John Humphreys

Senior Tutor: Richard Harper

Notes:

To achieve your intended award you must meet the overall award requirements and the Course requirements.

Award Requirements

For Single Honours Degree (with 120 CAT placement)

Take 480 CATS including a 120 CAT placement module, plus 120 other CATS at each Level and at least 270 CATS from the Course map below

Pass the 120 CAT placement module plus another 300 CATS in total with 210 CATS at Levels 5 and 6

Achieve 30% in the remaining 60 CATS for them to be condoned

In addition to the Placement module, pass at least 240 CATS from the Course map below with at least 75 CATS at each Level

Pass compulsory and core modules from the Course map below

Course Requirements:

LEVEL 4 To complete your programme you must pass the following modules:

LE4400 Tourism in the World 30 CATS Year

LE4401 Experiencing Tourism 15 CATS SEM 2

LE4402 The Travel Package 15 CATS SEM 1

LE4403 Special Interest Tourism 15 CATS SEM 2

LE4000 Principles of Resource Management 15 CATS SEM 2

LE4001 Understanding Consumers in Society 15 CATS SEM 1

LE4002 Skills in the Workplace 15 CATS YEAR

LEVEL 5 To complete your programme you must pass the following compulsory modules:

LE5400 Tourism Impacts 15 CATS SEM 2

LE5401 Managing Cultural Diversity 15 CATS SEM 2

LE5402 Tour Operations 15 CATS SEM 2

LE5404 International Destination Management 15 CATS SEM 1

LE5004 Risk Management and Legal Issues 15 CATS SEM 1

LE5003 Research Methods 15 CATS YEAR

To complete your programme you must pass a minimum of 15 CATS from the following core modules:

LE5001 Marketing the Leisure Experience 15 CATS SEM 2

LE5000 Applied Resource Management 15 CATS YEAR

Other modules which can count towards the requirements of your Course are:

LE5403 Niche Tourism 15 CATS SEM 1

LE5300 Venue and Facilities Management 15 CATS SEM 1

Level 5 To complete your programme you must pass the following module:

LE5006 Industrial Placement 120 CATS YEAR

15 CATS SEM 1

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LE6404 Destination Marketing 15 CATS SEM 2

LE6300 Policy and Strategy Appraisal 15 CATS SEM 1

LE6008 New Business Development 30 CATS YEAR

You must complete either LE6003 or LE6004

LE6003 Dissertation or 30 CATS YEAR

LE6004 Investigative Study 15 CATS SEM 2

To complete your programme you must pass a minimum of 15 CATS from the following core modules:

LE6001 Marketing and Communications 15 CATS SEM 1

LE6006 Strategic Financial Management 15 CATS SEM 1

LE6401 Critical Issues in Tourism Management 15 CATS SEM 2

LE6000 Strategic Human Resource Management 15 CATS SEM 2

Other modules which can count towards the requirements of your Course are:

LE6403 Managing Sport and Adventure Tourism Environments 15 CATS SEM 2

LE6606 Perspectives on Play 2 15 CATS SEM 2

BA (Hons) Tourism Management (Single Honours Degree) Fast Track Course Leader: John Humphreys

Senior Tutor: Richard Harper

Notes:

To achieve your intended award you must meet the overall award requirements and the Course requirements.

Award Requirements

For Single Honours Degree (with 120 CAT placement)

Take 480 CATS including 120 CAT of placement modules, plus 120 other CATS at each Level and at least 270 CATS from the Course map below

Pass the 120 CAT placement module plus another 300 CATS in total with 210 CATS at Levels 5 and 6

Achieve 30% in the remaining 60 CATS for them to be condoned

In addition to the Placement module, pass at least 240 CATS from the Course map below with at least 75 CATS at each Level

Pass compulsory and core modules from the Course map below

Course Requirements:

LEVEL 4 To complete your programme you must pass the following compulsory modules:

LE4400 Tourism in the World 30 CATS Year

LE4401 Experiencing Tourism 15 CATS SEM 2

LE4402 The Travel Package 15 CATS SEM 1

LE4403 Special Interest Tourism 15 CATS SEM 2

LE4000 Principles of Resource Management 15 CATS SEM 2

LE4001 Understanding Consumers in Society 15 CATS SEM 1

LE4002 Skills in the Workplace 15 CATS YEAR

LE4700 Industrial Experience 1 60 CATS SEM 3

LEVEL 5 To complete your programme you must pass the following compulsory modules:

LE5400 Tourism Impacts 15 CATS SEM 2

LE5401 Managing Cultural Diversity 15 CATS SEM 2

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LE5402 Tour Operations 15 CATS SEM 2

LE5404 International Destination Management 15 CATS SEM 1

LE5004 Risk Management and Legal Issues 15 CATS SEM 1

LE5003 Research Methods 15 CATS YEAR

LE4700 Industrial Experience 2 60 CATS SEM 3

To complete your programme you must pass a minimum of 15 CATS from the following core modules:

LE5001 Marketing the Leisure Experience 15 CATS SEM 2

LE5000 Applied Resource Management 15 CATS YEAR

Other modules which can count towards the requirements of your Course are:

LE5403 Niche Tourism 15 CATS SEM 1

LE5300 Venue and Facilities Management 15 CATS SEM 1

LEVEL 6

To complete your programme you must pass the following compulsory modules:

LE6400 Tourism and Ethics 15 CATS SEM 1

LE6404 Destination Marketing 15 CATS SEM 2

LE6300 Policy and Strategy Appraisal 15 CATS SEM 1

LE6008 New Business Development 30 CATS YEAR

You must complete either LE6003 or LE6004

LE6003 Dissertation or 30 CATS YEAR

LE6004 Investigative Study 15 CATS SEM 2

To complete your programme you must pass a minimum of 15 CATS from the following core modules:

LE6001 Marketing and Communications 15 CATS SEM 1

LE6006 Strategic Financial Management 15 CATS SEM 1

LE6401 Critical Issues in Tourism Management 15 CATS SEM 2

LE6000 Strategic Human Resource Management 15 CATS SEM 2

Other modules which can count towards the requirements of your Course are:

LE6403 Managing Sport and Adventure Tourism Environments 15 CATS SEM 2

LE6606 Perspectives on Play 2 15 CATS SEM 2

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BA (Hons) Tourism Management, Appendix to Programme Specification Section 15

Programme Outcomes

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Level

4 M

od

ule

s

LE4000 Principles of Resource Management

LE4001 Understanding Consumers in Society

LE4002 Skills in the Workplace

LE4400 Tourism in the World

LE4401 Experiencing Tourism

LE4402 The Travel Package

LE4403 Special Interest Tourism

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Level

5 M

od

ule

s

LE5000 Applied Resource Management

LE5001 Marketing The Leisure Experience

LE5003 Research Methods

LE5004 Risk Management and Legal Issues

LE5005 Professional Perspectives

LE5006 Industrial Placement

LE5400 Tourism Impacts

LE5401 Managing Cultural Diversity

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LE5402 Tour Operations

LE5403 Niche Tourism

LE5404 International Destination Management

LE5300 Venue and Facilities Management

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Level

6 M

od

ule

s

LE6003 Dissertation

LE6004 Investigative Study

LE6005 Career Perspectives

LE6300 Policy and Strategy Appraisal

LE6400 Tourism and Ethics

LE6401 Critical Issues in Tourism Management

LE6000 Strategic Human Resource Management

LE6001 Marketing and Communications

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LE6006 Strategic Financial Management

LE6008 New Business Development

LE6403 Managing Sport and Adventure Tourism Env’ts

LE6404 Destination Marketing

LE6606 Perspectives on Play 2

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Assessment Matrix Tourism Management

Assessment Type Individual

Essay Individual

Report Individual Portfolio

Individual Presentation

Group Report

Group Presentation

Group Event

Exams

Mo

du

les

Level 4 Principles of Resource Management

Understanding Consumers in Society

Skills in the Workplace

Tourism in the World

Experiencing Tourism

The Travel Package

Special Interest Tourism

Level 5 Applied Resource Management

Marketing the Leisure Experience

Research Methods

Risk Management and Legal Issues

Tourism Impacts

Managing Cultural Diversity

Tour Operations

International Destination Management

Niche Tourism

Venue and Facilities Management

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Industrial Placement

Assessment Type Individual

Essay Individual

Report Individual Portfolio

Individual Presentation

Group Report

Group Presentation

Group Event

Exam

Mo

du

les

Level 6 Strategic Human Resource Management

Marketing and Communications

Dissertation

Investigative Study

Strategic Financial Management

New Business Development

Tourism and Ethics

Destination Marketing

Policy and Strategy Appraisal

Critical Issues in Tourism Management

Managing Sport and Adventure Tourism Environments

Perspectives on Play 2

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