What you'llStudy

In Year 1, you will gain an understanding of key principles and develop core management skills in marketing, service experiences, and event tourism.

Module content:

  • The role of marketing within organisations and society.
  • The development of marketing and marketing concepts.
  • Introducing the Marketing Environment.
  • An introduction to Marketing research.
  • Introducing consumer behaviour.
  • Understanding segmentation, targeting and positioning.
  • The Marketing Mix
  • Marketing in context - this may focus on various contexts (e.g Public Sector, Non-profit Organisations,  Marketing Events, Destination Marketing & Sports Marketing).
  • Introducing international marketing

Module aims:

  1. To provide students with fundamental knowledge of concepts, principles and theories of marketing.
  2. To introduce students to marketing techniques and applications.
  3. To develop the students' understanding of the linkages between concepts and contexts.
  4. To enable students to relate these principles to a range of organisational contexts.

 

Module content:

This module introduces core marketing concepts and contextualises them within the tourism and events sectors. Topics will include, but are not limited to:

  • The development, role and importance of marketing within tourism and events organisations, destinations, and in society

  • Introduction to the marketing process, the marketing environment, and market research

  • Introduction to buyer behaviour and the importance of understanding customers, visitors and other service users

  • Understanding segmentation, targeting and positioning

  • The extended marketing mix, service characteristics and servicescapes

  • Importance of understanding culture, values and global perspectives in effective marketing

  • Introduction to technology and innovation in marketing eg. social media and digital marketing


Module aims:

To introduce students to:

  1. The fundamental concepts, principles and theories of marketing.
  2. Key marketing techniques and applications.
  3. The use and importance of marketing in tourism and events with a particular focus on destinations.

Module content:

This module will use a series of workshops to explore key themes associated with academic and professional development. Students will engage in self-reflection and analysis in order to develop a personal action plan, to be implemented throughout the year. Study and professional skills will dominate the curriculum, offering students rich opportunities to develop.

The topics will include, but are not limited to:

  • Academic integrity including academic writing, referencing and responding to feedback
  • Research skills - locating, evaluating and using good quality research information.
  • Emotional intelligence and self-awareness: your skills, strengths and weaknesses, personality and needs.
  • Learning styles and approaches
  • Idea generation and problem solving
  • Developing effective teams: team dynamics, negotiation and conflict resolution
  • Commercial and subject/discipline awareness; understanding the academic and environmental contexts
  • Personal management; planning and time management, avoiding stress and tackling assignments/exams
  • Managing your professional image; CVs, social media profiles, portfolios
  • Personal and professional development planning
  • Career awareness and action planning

Module aims:

This module aims to support students in their transition into Higher Education by introducing and developing their understanding of;

  • Higher Education expectations including academic research, writing, structure and UoC processes
  • Independent learning including curriculum engagement, time management and understanding and using feedback  

In addition, the module aims to improve the employability of students by providing opportunities for them to;

  • Develop and evidence a range of transferable skills such as teamworking, presentation skills, researching, working to deadlines and problem solving
  • Explore and enhance self-awareness through skills auditing, peer/academic reviews and personal and professional action planning
  • Identify the qualifications, skills and qualities required to enable them to progress into their chosen career path and articulate any current gaps

Module content:

Key themes in relation to tourism, tourism destinations and tourism businesses will be explored. These include but are not limited to:

  • Definitions, theories and types of tourism
  • The size, scale and importance of international tourism
  • Factors that influenced the development of international tourism
  • Supply and demand including seasonality, sectors, structures and stakeholders
  • Tourist types and typologies
  • Types of tourism destination eg. rural, coastal, urban and virtual places
  • Economic, socio-cultural, environmental and political impacts of tourism for destinations
  • Types of tourim business
  • Sustainable tourism and an introduction to sustainable development and planning

Module aims:

This module introduces the core concepts and issues that relate to international tourism management.

Module content:

This module introduces students to the real-life processes that help create successful tourism businesses. 

Students will explore live case studies and have the opportunity to visit local tourism businesses to experience their operation first hand and understand:

  • The operating environment of tourism businesses
  • Technology, innovation and revenue management in tourism operations
  • HR and diversity issues within tourism businesses
  • The regulatory environment including legal issues, risk, and crisis management
  • Quality management and customer appraisal techniques
  • Product design in relation to facilities, location, layout and visitor flow management

Module aims:

The module will complement the general introduction to tourism taught on TM4034 by providing insight into the day to day operations of tourism businesses.

 

In Year 2, you will consider the different ways organisations operate around the world, and examine how places manage the impact of tourism sustainably.

Module content:

The traditional academic programme structure is not applicable in relation to this experiential learning intern-ship opportunity. The experiential content is freely structured and determined by negotiation between the student, placement supervisor and host organisation. It is generally informed by the aims and learning outcomes and by the objective of optimising added value for both the host organisation and the student experience. 

A placement conference will enable peer to peer sharing of experiential learning permit feedback and allow an analysis of the range of skills and benefits derived from the placement, it will also further develop the construction of learning logs and the portfolio.  For those unable to attend, for whatever reason, online via Teams will permit engagement and feedback.  In addition, the conference will provide an opportunity to acquire an overview of final year options and dissertation and/or project research.

For those students where costs or other geographical/logistical difficulties render visits, conference attendance or participation via teleconferencing prohibitive, there will be an augmented portfolio of activities to substitute the conference activities.

All students will engage in the drawing up of a learning agreement on acceptance of the placement that will cover a contact plan and agreed learning outcomes with their designated academic tutor and placement coordinator.


Module aims:

  1. To provide an opportunity for students to apply and enrich their previous theoretical knowledge and understanding of course content through observation in and insights derived from working in an organisation and professional environment. 
  2. To enable students to develop their practical and transferable skills in a business environment and to experience a broad range of tasks and responsibilities in different functional areas. 
  3. To enable students to pursue professional and personal development in a working business environment
  4. To enable students to recognise the nature of tasks, workloads, management problems and working methods in the working environment.
  5. To enable students to inform the tasks, problems and scenarios presented in the business environment with theoretical concerns emanating from their studies and research and vice versa.

Module content:

  • Introduction to purpose of research
  • The research process 
  • Market research industry, research briefs and proposals
  • Research ethics and code of conduct 
  • Qualitative and quantitative research
  • Primary and secondary research
  • Research in context: design and methodologies
  • Sampling methods
  • Data analysis: Intro to SPSS
  • Interpretation of data 
  • Contemporary issues for research in practice 

Module aims:

The aim of the module is to provide the student with the knowledge, understanding and skills foundation to the level 6 management research project. This module covers the scoping of a research problem, design of appropriate data collection methods, data analysis and data interpretation in order to develop business-relevant recommendations. Whilst this module will provide practical experience of data collection, it will not assess data collection. The aims are as follows:

  1. To understand the reasons that research is undertaken in varying contexts
  2. To provide adequate preparation for scoping a management research project at level 6
  3. To develop knowledge and understanding of the research process, data collection, data analysis and data interpretation
  4. To create practical experience of research design and execution

Module content:

Indicative content:

  • This module provides an examination of entrepreneurial thought and action by making provision for all students to initiate and develop a new student venture.
  • Researching and building on theories and definitions of entrepreneurial thought and action
  • An examination of one's potential to develop entrepreneurial skills and abilities
  • An exploration of creativity and innovation in a business setting
  • A study of entreprenurial communication and effective negotiation practises
  • Identify the key steps to converting ideas into potential business opportunities
  • An examination of the key steps in undertaking risk and environmental analysis
  • Identify and examine the legal, ethical and social challenges associated with entrepreneurial activity
  • Examine the key challenges of sustainability with a consideration of business failure
  • Research the impact of social media and technology on new ventures
  • Undertake research and activities related to employability enhancement
  • Develop an understanding of the impact of entrepreneurial teams 

Module aims:

  1. To equip students with a critical knowledge and understanding of what entrepreneurship is and its economic importance
  2. To develop in students practical skills related to communicating, negotiating and selling ideas
  3. To explore and investigate current issues and challenges impacting on the start-up and management of new ventures
  4. To immerse students in a number of pragmatic activities that will provide opportunities to develop, refine, reflect and articulate core employability and entrepreneurial skills.

Module content:

Part A:      

Preparation for Experiential Overseas Learning will take place at the university of Chester during level 5 and will include:  

  • The multiple facets of Global citizenship
  • Ethical engagement and practice
  • Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
  • Intercultural communication

Theories, models and strategies of learning

  • Theories and models Intercultural competence
  • Theories and models of Integration and Multiculturalism
  • Critical thinking skills and models of Reflection
  • Experiential learning models
  • Self-directed experiential learning

Personal and placement-related skills

  • Enhanced independence
  • Improved command of multicultural behaviour
  • Increased knowledge and confidence in their individual facets of personal identity
  • Effective time management and organisational skills
  • Project management – working away from University and independent study
  • Self-management and personal development
  • Team building and team work

Part B:            Overseas

Students will engage in experiential learning activities overseas for at least 150 hours 


Module aims:

The purpose of this module is to enhance students’ prospects of completing an overseas placement to the best of their ability consequently it aims to:

  • To equip participants with appropriate knowledge and skills to study or work in a different cultural, linguistic and/or social environment; enhancing ethical, cultural and intercultural awareness.
  • To enhance students understanding of the ethical issues related to living and working abroad.
  • To increase students Global Citizenship skills
  • To provide an opportunity for students to reflect critically on their experience of living and learning within an unfamiliar culture, to their 'home' culture or ethnic group.

To challenge students to learn about themselves as global citizens in terms of life skills, career choices and academic development outside the classroom.

Module content:

Preparation for the year abroad will take place in Chester during level 5 and will include:

  • Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
  • Host-country orientation, study methods– economic, political and social reality of the country
  • Orientation specific to exchange – health, education, gender issues
  • The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
  • Practical matters relating to living and studying in the wider world

Theories, models and strategies of learning

  • Critical thinking skills, experiential learning       and models of reflection

Personal and placement-related transversal skills

  • Effective self-motivation and independent resourcefulness
  • Effective time management and organisational skills
  • Project management – working away from University and independent study
  • Self-management and personal development

Whilst abroad:

Students will undertake study at one of UoC’s partner universities; it is expected that students will choose a series of modules at the university abroad, which equal a full-time study load. This must be agreed by the host institution and the International Tutor. Students must supply details of their courses/modules on a learning agreement within 4 weeks of arrival at the host university, note students who fail to supply this within 4 weeks may have the opportunity withdrawn.


Module aims:

  1. To experience academic life in country outside of the EU, enhancing cultural and intercultural awareness and increasing transversal skills.
  2. To reflect on the impact of the experience in their destination on one’s own personal, academic and professional development.
  3. To engage with the experience of study at a partner university to gain extensive first-hand knowledge and understanding of the relevant society from the perspective of the resident.
  4. To further develop independent learning techniques.
  5. To foster critical evaluation.

Module content:

  • The multiple facets of global citizenship
  • Ethical engagement and practice
  • The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
  • Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
  • Intercultural communication
  • Culture shock
  • Cultural adjustment
  • Self- assessment of needs: identification of the range of transferable skills, competencies and attitudes employees need and employers expect graduates to possess-with a strong focus on understanding the intercultural competencies (ICC) needed to live and work abroad.
  • Critical analysis/evaluation of individual requirements in relation to culture/cultural adjustment/culture shock/visas/medical.
  • Critical analysis/evaluation of skills already acquired in relation to key skills related to ICC.
  • Devising strategies to improve one’s own prospects of working abroad in the future.
  • Devising an action plan to address gaps in transferable skills based on organisational analysis and sector opportunities.

Module aims:

This module promotes a reflective and critical approach to interculturality and aims to enhance students’ prospects of gaining overseas graduate employment, which will enable them to:

  1. Examine and evaluate a chosen aspect of the society of a target country
  2. Enhance cultural and intercultural awareness and further develop related skills.
  3. Articulate clearly their career plans and take steps to prepare for their first paid overseas graduate role,
  4. Take responsibility for their own learning and acquisition of identified employability skills,
  5. Articulate, orally and in writing, their findings and their employability skills.

Module content:

  • Exploring tourism as a social and global phenomenon

  • Understanding the consumption of tourism places, cultures and resources

  • An understanding of ethical issues and their impact on tourism stakeholders

  • The role of public, private and not for profit sectors in tourism development and society

  • Critical cases focusing on ethical and social issues in tourism

    • Critical cases will be contemporary in nature and may include: social tourism; dark tourism; vulnerable stakeholders; animals in tourism
      etc.


Module aims:

This module will build upon the knowledge gained in level 4, in order to enhance understanding of tourism, tourism destinations and tourism organisations from a social perspective. The module aims to:

  1. Develop critical perspectives of tourism and global society;

  2. Appreciate how tourism can contribute to or influence global social issues;

  3. Develop awareness of social, cultural and political differences affecting tourism and tourism development;

  4. Facilitate and foster critical discussion around global ethical issues in tourism.

Module content:

This module will examine a range of key themes and concepts concerning weddings, sports and cultural events, their stakeholders, venue management, and their value within the experience economy. The themes and concepts explored will include, but are not limited to:

Weddings:

  • The design and planning of weddings
  • Consumerism and luxurification of the wedding economy
  • The influence of celebrity, royal and high profile weddings
  • Wedding politics (personal and regulatory), legislation and cultural contexts
  • The diversity of the wedding economy: civil ceremonies; same-sex marriages; destination ceremonies

 

Cultural events:

  • Cultural events, social and human capital
  • Political and social contexts
  • Commemorative events / Dark events / Religious events
  • The role of music and events
  • Community involvement in cultural events
  • Cultural events and staged authenticity

Sports events:

  • The history and development of sports events
  • Development of and diversification of venues and stadia
  • The role of gender in weddings, sports and cultural events
  • Crowd management, control and behaviours

Module aims:

This module aims to highlight the significance of weddings, sports and cultural events in communities and society.

The weddings, sports and cultural events sectors will be analysed and key themes will be investigated, which link to the personal nature of the event experience.

Module content:

The module aims to address the need for sustainable destination planning and development by public bodies and destination management organisatisons (DMOs). It includes:

The need for sustainable destination planning and management

Theories and models used in the development and management of international destinations

Practical approaches to destination planning and management applied at international, national, regional and local levels and in a range of different types of place according to environment and extent of exisiting tourism volume and challenges.

Topics covered include: 

-          Stakeholder engagement

-          Destination research and forecasting

-          Policy development

-          Destination planning techniques

-          The role of different types of destaination management organisation

-          Destination branding and place shaping

-          Place promotion and marketing

-          Destination management techniques


Module aims:

The module builds on the introduction to destination tourism impacts taught within TM4034, Exploring International Tourism, by examining the tools that are available to shape places so that they meet the changing requirements of stakeholders. 

Module content:

The module addresses the need for international tourism businesses to operate sustainably. Topics covered include:

  • The need for international tourism businesses to operate sustainably
  • Tourism businesses and the triple bottom line
  • Legal requirements
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Eco-labelling and certification systems
  • The application of sustainable management principles in different business environments including transport providers, tour operators, accommodation, attractions, food & drink providers, retailers (indicative range of types of organisation).

Module aims:

The module aims to complement TM5033 (Destination Planning and Management) by exploring the techniques that tourism businesses can use to enhance their own sustainability while also contibuting to the enhanced sustainability of the places where they operate.

Module content:

Pre-placement:

  • Structured approaches to researching, selecting and securing a suitable work placement relevant to the student’s interests and career aspirations*.
  • Writing an effective CV. Constructing a letter of application.*
  • Interview skills.*

 *Note: Students are required to undertake these pre-placement tasks during term 1 level 5, as part of the placement acquisition process and will be supported by the Work Based Learning team and the Careers and Employability department.

 Induction Programme and Placement:

  • The organisational context: research-informed analysis of the placement organisation’s aims, structure, culture.
  • Self- assessment of needs: identification of the range of transferable skills, competencies and attitudes employees need and employers expect graduates to possess. (Employability Skills: e.g. verbal and written communication, analytical / problem solving capabilities; self-management; team working behaviours; negotiation skills; influencing people; positive attitude, resilience, building rapport).
  • Devising a strategy for integrating into the workplace and work based teams
  • Completion of online assignment tasks covering sourcing and obtaining placement; health and safety procedures in general; general workplace integrity; placement requirements. 

During and post-placement: Learning effectively in and from the workplace:- 

  • Devising and implementing strategies to improve own approach and performance
  • Critical analysis/evaluation of approach to skill development and performance in the workplace;
  • Influencing the Placement Provider’s appraisal;
  • Devising an action plan to develop gaps in transferable skills based on the placement experiences;

Module aims:

This module aims to enhance students’ prospects of gaining graduate level employment through engagement with a University approved work placement**, which will enable them to:

  • Develop their understanding of workplace practice and lifelong learning;
  • Enhance their work readiness and employability prospects through development of transferable skills;
  • Take responsibility for their own learning and acquisition of workplace employability skills;
  • Articulate, in writing, their employability skills.

In Year 3, you can tailor your degree to your career aspirations. You will undertake a tourism project and explore topics such as smart destinations and overtourism.

Module content:

  • Introduction to the research process
  • The importance of research justification and scoping
  • Methodological foundations of research
  • Moral and ethical issues in research
  • Effective project management
  • Rigour and feasibility issues in research
  • Quantitative methodology: Research design, data collection and analysis
  • Qualitative methodology: Research design, data collection and analysis
  • Writing and reporting research in context

Module aims:

The Management Research Project aims to draw together specific subject knowledge and skills, with a particular focus on improved self-awareness and preparation for business, by challenging students for personal and academic development to management positions and and to employability on general. 

  • To undertake a research project that is 'scoped and framed' within a required degree programme of study.
  • To enable the student to design and conduct appropriate in-depth research in an elected area of study.
  • To provide the student with the opportunity to acquire, consolidate and apply theoretical knowledge, methodologies, and research approaches in a ‘real world’ environment.
  • To enable the student to develop and utilise skills in critical investigation; analysis and synthesis of evidence; reflection and autonomous learning.

Module content:

  • The scale and spread of tourism. Global trends in tourism demand – trends and forecasts;

  • Globalisation and tourism – role of trans-national corporations in tourism development. Effects of globalisation on economies, communities & environments. Stakeholder roles in international tourism development;

  • Tourism as a vehicle for development – agencies involved in international tourism development;

  • Political economy of international tourism;

  • Development theory and tourism – modernisation, dependency, neoliberalism and sustainability. Critique of sustainable tourism development;

  • Tourism and poverty alleviation – Pro-poor tourism, indigenous people, human rights;

  • Tourism and economic development – assessment and management;

  • Tourism and community development – tourism as a social force for good?;

  • Tourism development and the environment – assessment and management;

  • Destination competiveness – tools and techniques used to make destinations more competitive.


Module aims:

This module aims to investigate the issues associated with international tourism development. It has a particular focus on tourism in developing countries and seeks to explore how tourism can be a force for good in these countries, but also uses a critical examination of the problems that tourism can cause. Specifically the module aims to:

  1. Examine the role of tourism in development;

  2. Critique the effects of globalisation on international tourism development;

  3. Discuss whether tourism can reduce poverty;

  4. Analyse how tourism can be more effectively managed through a variety of approaches;

  5. Discuss how destinations can become more competitive.

Module content:

This module provides the opportunity for students to explore the changing nature of the global tourism industry and its stakeholders, including current and future issues and trends that impact on tourism.

A framework of social, technological, environmental and legal issues will be used to investigate tourism organisations and destinations. The contemporary nature of this module means that the following topics are illustrative:

  • The changing nature of tourism demand and supply;

  • Social and demographic challenges;

  • Climate change;

  • Environmental and legal issues;

  • Digital destination marketing;

  • e-Tourism;

  • e-mobility;

  • Mobile tourism;

  • Issues around resource procurement and management.

Students will also be given the opportunity to examine contemporary issues in tourism which may impinge on their future career plans.

 


Module aims:

This module contextualises learning from tourism modules at levels 4 and 5 and places particular emphasis on managing change for tourism. The module aims to:

  1. Discuss the contemporary and dynamic nature of tourism;

  2. Evaluate technological changes affecting the tourism system;

  3. To analyse social and demographic changes in international societies and how they impact on tourism;

  4. Evaluate methods for adaptation and mitigation of environmental and climate change impacts.

Module content:

This module will use a series of keynote lectures and seminars to develop key themes, theories and concepts in order to develop knowledge and understanding for students appreciate the complexity in the Third Sector. These themes will include, but are not limited to:

  • Appreciation of the numerous fundraising mechanisms 
  • Understanding the differences in corporate giving and fundraising
  • Reasons for giving and supporting the Third Sector
  • The role of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising
  • The role of the Charity Commission
  • The impact of the Etherington report 
  • Contemporary trends and issues in the Third Sector
  • The role of philanthropy and altruism 
  • Third Sector Regulations and Governance 
  • Trustees and board management
  • Financial management in the Third Sector
  • Donor Pyramid and journey
  • Social media management
  • Association with celebrity's as Patrons and the Brand impacts
  • Role and importance of 3rd sector in tourism
  • Conservation, sustainability and partnerships
  • Culture and representation
  • Globalisation vs. localisation
  • The impact of Covid on the Third Sector 
  • Fundraising platforms 
  • Approaches to fundraising 

 


Module aims:

The module will provide students with insight and understanding into how NGOs, Charities and Organisations in the Third Sector operate and are governed, as well as enable students to develop knowledge that will aid them in entering roles within the Third Sector. 

Module content:

This module will use a series of lectures and seminars to develop key themes, theories, and concepts concerning managing virtual and hybrid events:

  • These themes will include, but are not limited to:
  • Defining Virtual events 
  • Defining Hybrid events 
  • Events and the Metaverse 
  • Developing strategic content design 
  • How to market virtual and hybrid events 
  • Financial planning for virtual and hybrid events 
  • Developing online event experiences and engagement
  • Examining technology to support virtual and hybrid events 
  • Virtual and hybrid event evaluation 
  • Sustainability for virtual and hybrid events 
  • Risk management for virtual and hybrid events 
  • Esports & gaming 
  • Future predictions for virtual and hybrid events 
  • Exploring the economic and social impacts of virtual and hybrid events 
  • Benefits and disbenefits of virtual and hybrid events 

Module aims:

The module will provide students with insight and understanding into virtual and hybrid events, how they operate, the skills required to develop, deliver and manage these events, and to appreciate how to create sustainable virtual and hybrid events.

Module content:

This is a self-directed module which enables and empowers students to initiate and develop their own project concept appropriate to their discipline of study.

Students within their final year of studies are very focussed on their ultimate work aspirations, and this module aids them to gain 'graduate trajectory' and enable them to better move into their chosen profession / industry as seamlessly as possible upon graduation.  


After the initial lectures setting out the style and scope of the module and opportunities, students decide on the content of their project and assessment (co-creation), and pitch this to staff by way of an initial project proposal.

Students then receive tutorial support and supervision throughout the year and agree the form that their final assessment will take. Students are encouraged to work with other stakeholders (internally or externally) where appropriate in the developing the project or work.


Module aims:

The aims of the module are to promote the ideas of student independence, project management, professional skills development and professional practice.