Business Administration International Tourism Management

Program Overview

The Business Administration (International Tourism Management) BA (Hons) program at the University of Bedfordshire is a one-year or four-year program designed for students seeking a comprehensive understanding of global tourism management. It provides a strong foundation in business and tourism principles, emphasizing practical applications and contemporary issues. Students benefit from industry engagement, networking opportunities, and a focus on developing transferable and interpersonal skills to enhance employability in the tourism industry.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This one-year course is designed for students with existing qualifications (Level 4 and 5 or 240 credits) in business administration or tourism management, or those with experience in the field. It focuses on core business skills while providing a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of the global tourism industry. The program emphasizes applying learning to practical situations and contemporary issues.

Objectives:

• Develop a strong foundation in business management, accounting, and business modeling.
• Gain an integrated understanding of the complex business of tourism operating globally, placing it within an ethical framework and examining it from various perspectives: global political, economic, social, technological, legal, ecological, and business.
• Benefit from regular engagement with industry and authentic assessment opportunities, dealing with real-world problems and issues.
• Learn from academic teams with industry experience or still working in their field, involved in consultancy on real-world projects, active in research, and keeping at the leading edge through regular CPD, conferences, and industry events.
• Attend masterclasses from industry experts to learn from their experience and stay at the leading edge in the field of business.
• Benefit from field trips to see finance and business in action at companies and organizations such as the Bank of England, John Lewis, Volvo, PW Gates Logistics, Luton Recycling, and RAJA Packaging.

Outline:

Content:

The program provides in-depth knowledge and skills surrounding the global tourism industry and management. It covers areas such as:

• Critical Issues in Tourism and Hospitality: Explores topics like the right to travel, human trafficking in the hospitality industry, hospitality as a tool for poverty, and the role of women in tourism and hospitality.
• Global Marketing Strategy: Examines the impact of globalization on business and marketing decisions, including market entry strategies, pricing, communication, and cost-effectiveness.
• New Advancements in Business: Equips students with the skills to produce an excellent dissertation, including research techniques, sourcing information, and referencing.

Structure:

The program can be taken over one year or four years, including a year placement in industry.

• One-Year Option: This option is for students with existing qualifications in business administration or tourism management.
• Four-Year Option with Professional Practice Year: This option includes a year placement in industry, providing practical experience, CV building, and networking opportunities.
This option is only available to UK/EU students.

Foundation Year:

A Degree with a Foundation Year provides guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course. It is suitable for students returning to learning or those who did not meet the grades for direct entry to an Undergraduate course.

Assessment:

Methods:

• Business Reports: Demonstrate contextual insight and professional practice.
• Individual Written Reports: Based on gathering and analyzing information using a subject-specific methodology, assessing case studies or group work.
• Formative Group Presentations: At level 6, students are treated as independent learners, and the dissertation unit (New Advances in Business) and the Strategic Management unit provide opportunities for individual and independent work.

Criteria:

• All assessments are rooted in authentic and practical scenarios, ensuring that no credit is awarded for work that cannot be confirmed to be the student's own.
• A range of assessment methods are used throughout the course to facilitate learning for all students.
• Formative assessments provide feedback to support the development of good academic practice.

Teaching:

Methods:

• Guest lecturers
• Weekly discussion groups
• Case studies in seminars
• Practical, hands-on learning experiences

Faculty:

• Academic teams with industry experience or still working in their field
• Involved in consultancy on real-world projects
• Active in research
• Keeping at the leading edge through regular CPD, conferences, and industry events

Unique Approaches:

• Emphasis on self, peer, and group assessment
• Focus on developing transferable and interpersonal skills to enhance employability

Careers:

• The program helps students develop and enhance their transferable skills, as well as interpersonal skills, to enhance their employability.
• Students gain academic knowledge and practical expertise, preparing them for a range of careers in the tourism industry.
• The program provides opportunities for students to network with potential employers through industry engagement and placement year options.

Other:

• The University of Bedfordshire is a member of the Association for Tourism in Higher Education (ATHE), which represents universities that are leading providers of tourism courses in the UK.
• The program emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations within the tourism industry.