This course is for people who want to top-up a Foundation Degree in International Tourism and Hospitality Management (or equivalent) to a full honours degree. It is essentially the final year of the International Tourism and Hospitality Management course.

By studying in London, you will be in a world centre of business. You will also have opportunities to build a global network of contacts as London is home to over 100,000 international students.

Tourism has been described as the world’s biggest single industry and it accounts for millions of jobs worldwide. Many of our graduates, equipped with specialist knowledge as well as transferable life-long skills, go on to work in managerial roles within the tourism and hospitality industry.

COURSE CONTENT

Tourism is a fast-moving industry, and so the exact content of this course changes every year.

MODULES ON THIS COURSE INCLUDE:

STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR TOURISM AND LEISURE (20 CREDITS)

This module introduces key themes, concerns and tasks inherent in the planning and development of tourism and leisure. These include the role of the public, private and the voluntary, community and charitable sectors; public participation/consultation; green planning; and ways in which the economic impact of development can be measured.

The module combines theory and practical work, and you will take part in field visits and sessions run by professionals active in the industry.

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN VISITOR ECONOMY (20 CREDITS)

This module is built on the impacts technological innovations had on the visitor economy in the areas of tourism, hospitality, events and aviation. It reflects on the empowerment of consumers through technology and in particular opportunities provided through social media and mobile technologies. In more detail it provides students with knowledge of the current digital technologies impacting the visitor economy such as social media, mobile technologies, augmented and virtual reality, and the concepts of co-creation.

The module provides students with the skills to analyse and develop successful digital technology strategies for the visitor economy, enhancing their employability skills further.

INTERNATIONAL HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT (20 CREDITS)

International Hospitality Management covers many aspects of the hospitality industries, with a specific focus on contemporary issues. For this reason, the exact content will vary from year to year.

Topics will include: the impacts of globalisation; strategic hospitality management; change management in the hospitality industries; international marketing and branding, global trend analysis; the impact of IT; food and the hospitality industries.

GASTRONOMY (20 CREDITS)

This module explores the increasingly important area of food and drinks tourism for regional economic development and identity formation. You will explore the importance of food and drink in relation to the tourist experience and destination success for those countries and regions closely associated with food and drink. The module also provides insight into how food and drink allow tourists to explore aspects of culture and identity

Topics will include: the role of gastronomy in tourism production and consumption; gastronomy as differentiation strategy; typologies of gastronomy tourism; gastronomic tourist experiences; food and drink festivals and the formation of cultural identity; globalisation and the homogenisation of food and drink; the meanings associated with gastronomy and hospitality; the role of food and drink for special events; regional gastronomy products and economic development; food and drink and local agricultural systems and networks in gastronomy tourism.

SERVICE QUALITY (20 CREDITS)

There are many theories and principles in the management of service quality in tourism, hospitality and events. In this module, you will analyse these theories and other issues in service delivery for the service organisation, employees and consumers. You will develop an appropriate model for analysing service quality in a given service organisation related to tourism, hospitality or events.

Topics will include: service gurus and the introduction of service quality; total quality management; international perspectives of service quality; service profit chain; service management for employees and managers; models of service delivery, services; guestology; the customer experience; measuring and managing service delivery; customer feedback systems and service recovery and improvement.

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT FOR THE SERVICE SECTOR (20 CREDITS)

Leadership and Management for the Hospitality Industry is a module which is aimed to prepare learners for careers in industry as employees, leaders or managers. Learners will be provided with the opportunity to investigate leadership and management styles and approaches as well as researching and debating equality and diversity issues, whilst also gaining a greater understanding of leadership and management challenges which occur every day in the wider world. This module should be insightful and let learners critically evaluate leadership and management in corporate, global organisations.

EMPLOYMENT AND CAREERS

92% of graduates from the University of Sunderland are in employment or further study within six months of graduating in 2013/14, according to the Destinations of Leavers form Higher Education Survey.

Many of our graduates go on to work in managerial roles within the tourism and hospitality industry. Job titles of our graduates include Hotel Manager, Tourism Development Officer and Resort Office Manager. Employers include hotels, airlines, travel agencies, events organisers, heritage attractions, Local Authorities and other public sector bodies.

When you graduate you will have a broad set of transferable skills that will equip you for a much wider range of graduate-level employment. This course could also be a stepping stone to further study and research.

Another option is to set up your own tourism or hospitality business, drawing on the entrepreneurial resources that are available through our Careers Service.

SUPPORT

We want students on every course to have the support they need to make the most of their investment in the future.

SUPPORT FOR YOUR LEARNING

Your tutors will guide you through the content of your course, ensuring a stimulating mix of teaching, group work and independent research. If you have individual queries or difficulties within subject areas, you can book an appointment with your tutor to gain more in-depth support and guidance.

SUPPORT FOR YOUR CAREER

During your course, and particularly towards the end of it, we encourage you to explore your career options, develop a career focus and make effective applications for jobs that take you where you want to go.

Find out more about the support services you will have access to as a University of Sunderland student.