• Contemporary Issues in Tourism and Hospitality

  Tourism is a complex bundle of economic, political, socio-cultural and environmental processes that are non-devisable from each other or from many other related activities. As such tourism cannot be understood as an independent socio-economic phenomenon, or as made up of discrete localised events, but both shapes and is shaped by wider societal processes. This module focuses on some of the key issues in tourism that have emerged in recent years and the wider context of these issues. The module covers socio-economic, management, theoretical, and political aspects that have become key critical concerns and debates in tourism and travel in recent years. We review key trends in tourism and how these relate to aspects of wider global/local societal changes such as moves from Fordist to post-Fordist tourism organisation and products alongside the changing political economy and regulation of tourism. At the same time we critically review some of the main theoretical approaches to tourism from cultural, management, and geographical perspectives and their use in understanding key aspects of tourism – from recent reflections on the life cycles of destinations to theories of sustainable tourism, to actor-network theory, theories of mobilities and more. A series of critical issues in tourism will be used to illustrate the need for developing and testing theories in innovative ways. The module works as both an orientation module for those who have not studied tourism and also provides those who have studied or worked in tourism with a review of critical issues emerging in tourism, its potentialities and problems in the differing ways it can be researched, and how study of such issues can better aid tourism management. By the end of this module, students should have a good conceptual and practical understanding of the nature of cutting-edge tourism research and be able to analyse and evaluate the current state of knowledge in tourism. One of the main focuses for the design of this module has been the further development of relevant employability and professional skills.

• Human Resource Issues in the Global Context

  Tourism is a complex bundle of economic, political, socio-cultural and environmental processes that are non-devisable from each other or from many other related activities. As such tourism cannot be understood as an independent socio-economic phenomenon, or as made up of discrete localised events, but both shapes and is shaped by wider societal processes. This module focuses on some of the key issues in tourism that have emerged in recent years and the wider context of these issues. The module covers socio-economic, management, theoretical, and political aspects that have become key critical concerns and debates in tourism and travel in recent years. We review key trends in tourism and how these relate to aspects of wider global/local societal changes such as moves from Fordist to post-Fordist tourism organisation and products alongside the changing political economy and regulation of tourism. At the same time we critically review some of the main theoretical approaches to tourism from cultural, management, and geographical perspectives and their use in understanding key aspects of tourism – from recent reflections on the life cycles of destinations to theories of sustainable tourism, to actor-network theory, theories of mobilities and more. A series of critical issues in tourism will be used to illustrate the need for developing and testing theories in innovative ways. The module works as both an orientation module for those who have not studied tourism and also provides those who have studied or worked in tourism with a review of critical issues emerging in tourism, its potentialities and problems in the differing ways it can be researched, and how study of such issues can better aid tourism management. By the end of this module, students should have a good conceptual and practical understanding of the nature of cutting-edge tourism research and be able to analyse and evaluate the current state of knowledge in tourism. One of the main focuses for the design of this module has been the further development of relevant employability and professional skills.

• Hospitality Management

  The majority of research undertaken into the internationalization of hotels has been focused on modal choice decisions or market entry strategy. However, a developing stream of research into how companies do business across borders is emerging; evaluating the strategic competencies and capabilities required for managing in the global hospitality industry. This module taps into this research stream with the aim of developing students into future corporate managers in international hospitality companies. The module looks at the hospitality industry at international and strategic levels. It is designed to identify the key strategic decisions facing senior managers of hospitality companies and evaluate alternative approaches to managing key decision areas of hospitality businesses. The aims of the module are to provide you with a range of perspectives for reviewing the strategic decisions taken by the international hospitality industry. The nature of the industry determines that this will be largely influenced by the actions of global and large companies. The module aims to consolidate your knowledge and understanding of the hospitality industry and to apply the learning from academic conceptual and empirical work to current developments amongst, in particular the global hospitality companies. The assessment for this module is a 3,000 word written assignment that asks you to evaluate some of the key issues currently impacting on international hospitality companies and the global environment in which they operate. You will learn about relevant management issues during the module and will be asked to identify, describe, and evaluate, those issues that you feel are most important. Your assignment should be firmly placed within the context of tourism and hospitality and should recognise the international dimension of the industries.

• Research Methods for Business and Management

  This module prepares students to undertake a piece of business or management research for their Masters project by developing appropriate knowledge, understanding and transferable intellectual and practical skills. Emphasis is placed on developing skills most likely to lead to a successful closure of a research journey set within any organisational setting identified by students in the role of either academic or practitioner researchers. Skills such as the ability to frame research aims, generate research questions/hypothesis, and research objectives, the ability to generate a conceptual framework, the ability to select and justify a particular research design and methodology and the ability to act as an ethical researcher so as not to spoil the field are all central features of this module. In addition the generation of core practical skills such as the ability to generate and analyse quantitative and qualitative data are central to this module. By developing this knowledge, understanding and transferable intellectual and practical skills the true aims of conducting research will be realised. Students will gain confidence in a range of cognitive and practical skills suitable to conducting research projects in a range of international business contexts so as to add to knowledge and understanding. One of the main focuses for the design of this module has been the further development of relevant employability and professional skills. Such skills are implicit in the learning outcomes. Multiculturalism has been considered during the design of this module and will be considered when the assessment brief is written.

• Principles of Marketing Management

  This module presents a fusion between the philosophies which underlie marketing, the history of key theories and concepts within marketing and the real life application of marketing across a variety of sectoral contexts. It examines the essential principles of marketing both from a Business to Consumer (B2C) and a Business to Business (B2B) perspective. The marketing philosophies examined range from those relating to a product based view of marketing , the selling philosophy of marketing , the marketing based philosophy and models associated with improving services marketing such as Service Dominant Logic (Vargo and Lusch), SERVQUAL (Zeithaml et al). The module also examines customer value and equity both in FMCG sector and within the third sector. The module provides a critical lens with which to examine the challenges facing modern marketers as well as a deep rooted understanding of how those challenges came about. At the heart of the module and interwoven through the content is the issue of the interplay between marketing and sustainability and the ethical challenges and critiques of modern marketing. As part of this exploration, particular case study focus is given to the challenges of managing toxic brands and the issue of the inclusion of marginalised and socially excluded groups within New Service Development and Services management. The sectoral focus of the course is deliberately wide-ranging with marketing cases being taken from the Arts and Heritage sector, the Third Sector, Small and Medium sized Enterprises, Higher Education, FMCG, the Public Sector and Business to Business (B2B). Thus on completion of the module students will have a wide range of knowledge across a breadth of sectors and will be able to potentially take their sectoral preferences through to their further research and career choices. On completion of the module students will have not only a solid grounding in marketing philosophies and theories but also a critical view of marketing. This critical view will be based around the realisation of the reality of modern marketing operations and management in a context of increasing global economic challenges, but also within a context where the customer profile is shifting to become increasingly demanding, critical and questioning of the motivations and ethics behind the marketers activities. This module is assessed by two individual assignments. The first is based on the development of marketing, the second on a case study.

Optional modules

• Strategic Management

  The module explores the core field of strategic management, and how strategy contributes to organisational performance. It focuses on your organisation’s internal and external environment, and addresses key issues such as competitive advantage.

• Finance for Decision Making

  Management decision making is a complex subject involving many variable factors. This module explores the financial element contained in decisions and the techniques that may be used to assist informed management decisions. It is assumed that the student has already acquired a knowledge of financial vocabulary, the concepts behind basic financial terminology and the financial statements. The module begins by considering the availability of financial information that may be relevant to decision making and how this fits with that needed for the informed decision. This is further developed to the type of decision and differing requirements, leading to a more bespoke deliverable information set that meets the context of the decision. In order to fulfil the requirements identified as necessary for the informed decision the module explores the financial techniques developed by financial and management accountants and how they may be used and applied. Finally consideration is given to the relevance and weighting of the financial element in the decision making process and how qualitative issues may be incorporated in the overall decision. The link to corporate governance best practice is also explored. The module is designed to be contextualised for students from different organisations and sectors, and for it to be delivered to students without practical management experience. One of the main focuses for the design of this module has been the further development of relevant employability and professional skills. Such skills are implicit in the learning outcomes. The module will be assessed by two written assignments. The first assignment will encourage students to reflect upon the theory and techniques that underpin financial management practice while the following assignment will encourage students to consider how accounting can inform decision making within an organisation.

Optional modules, MSc stage

• Postgraduate Major Project

  This module support students in the preparation and submission of a Master stage project,Dissertation. For 60 credits this involves a length of 15,000 words. The major project enables you to demonstrate some or all of the following: – the ability to raise significant and meaningful questions in relation to your specialism; – depth of knowledge which may involve working at the current limits of theoretical and or research understanding; – critical understanding of method and its relationship to knowledge; – awareness of and ability to develop solutions to ethical dilemmas likely to arise in your research or professional practice; – the ability to draw meaningful and justifiable conclusions from information which may be complex or contradictory; – the capability to expand or redefine existing knowledge; to develop new approaches to changing situations; and contribute to the development of best practice; – the ability to communicate these processes in a clear and effective manner, as appropriate to the ‚audience’; and – the capability to evaluate your work from the perspective of an autonomous reflective learner. One of the main focuses for the design of this module has been the further development of relevant employability and professional skills. Such skills are implicit in the learning outcomes. The project is developed in conjunction with a specified supervisor and must be in the area of study of the Masters course being undertaken. The Major Project should enable you to demonstrate the ability to explore important and relevant questions in the context of your specialist area. You should be able to explore detailed knowledge of the research area, demonstrating depth and/or breadth as appropriate; a critical understanding of appropriate methodologies and theories; the ability to present well-argued conclusions from a range of different sources, using material that may be complex and challenging, as appropriate. You should be able to recognise and propose solutions to issues raised in the course of research. You should be able to communicate your research in coherent terms, both orally and in writing, as required.

• Postgraduate Work Placement – Marketing and Tourism

  This postgraduate work-based major project module will allow you to undertake an extended project based on a work placement. It gives you the opportunity to put into practice what you have learnt in your course by offering real-life practical experience in the field underpinned by engagement with key literature and theoretical insights relevant to the chosen industry sector. During this module you will source and undertake a 10 week work-based learning internship/project with a company or organisation where you will be supported in developing effective professional practices through guidance in generic and specific employability skills. You will also be supported with critical thinking and research skills development during the lectures and online resources to ensure you develop independent, critical and reflective learning practices to enhance your continuing professional development in the context of your own working environment and career aspirations. The module aims to provide you with experience of work and research in a business environment including familiarisation with a professional work environment. This module will be underpinned by employability skills training, reflective assessments and support from academic tutors and employers. You will expected to be able to critically reflect on your own experience in writing and place this in the context of the industry and academic work on the sector in a 10,000 word research-based portfolio (accompanied by a diary which must draw on relevant theory and literature to evidence your learning of up to 5,000 words). In the portfolio you must demonstrate how you have engaged with a relevant research problem in the work setting, and supported this by drawing on relevant literature and applied theory, practical knowledge and learnings within a work-based environment. The overall assessment of up to 15,000 words aims to support and develop your ability to research real-life settings and industry issues, demonstrate professionalism, leadership and managerial skills to a prospective employer whilst also learning key communication and personal skills.