Program Overview
The MA International Hotel Management program at the University of Northampton prepares students for leadership roles in the global hotel industry. Through a combination of lectures, seminars, industry visits, and practical fieldwork, students develop strategic thinking, management skills, and an understanding of cross-cultural issues. The program culminates in a dissertation that demonstrates independent research and critical analysis skills. Graduates are equipped with the expertise to pursue careers in hotel management, including accelerated management programs and management-level positions.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
This MA International Hotel Management program is designed to cultivate the next generation of international hotel managers. It emphasizes industry engagement and provides an interactive learning experience. The program aims to develop students' strategic thinking, people management, and leadership skills through various activities like hotel visits, guest lectures, presentations, and study trips.
Outline:
The program covers both operational and strategic aspects of international hotel management, focusing on developing the management skills and knowledge required to run a hotel. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of the hotel industry and its place within the service sector. The program encourages students to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems and emphasizes the importance of delivering service excellence and exceeding customer expectations internationally.
Course Structure:
- Semester 1: Introduces students to the international hotel management industry, its link to tourism, and operational and strategic issues contributing to sustainable competitive advantage. Students work on live operational challenges within the hotel environment and reflect on their solutions and management implications.
- Semester 2: Builds upon Semester 1, developing students' critical thinking skills and focusing on strategic considerations impacting hotel operations globally. Key areas include strategic marketing, service excellence, and cross-cultural management.
- Semester 2 and 3: Students develop an individual research area into a dissertation demonstrating critical thinking and research at the postgraduate level. Guided by a subject specialist, students collect, analyze, and interpret secondary and primary data, culminating in a 15-20,000-word dissertation.
Modules:
- Strategic Destination Management (20 Credits): Examines the potential benefits of tourism as a development tool, focusing on a strategic and responsible approach to address economic, social, and cultural challenges.
- Dissertation & Research Methods (Tourism, Hospitality, Hotel and Events Management) (60 Credits): Develops a critical understanding of research methods applicable to service industries, facilitating the production of independent research relevant to the curriculum.
- Service Excellence and Innovation (20 Credits): Provides a framework for service excellence and innovation, enhancing the customer experience and generating lifetime value for the business.
- International Hotel Management (20 Credits): Outlines and analyzes the international hotel industry, providing students with a clear understanding of hotel operations globally and developing a critical appreciation of management challenges at both operational and strategic levels.
- Transforming Organisational Cultures in the International Hotel Industry (20 Credits): Analyzes challenges associated with managing organizations in the international hotel industry, emphasizing the need for leadership and organizational transformation.
- Strategic Digital Marketing (20 Credits): Examines digital technologies and social media from a marketing perspective, evaluating their impact on business practices.
- Managing Across Cultures (20 Credits): Enables learners to understand business cultures around the world, evaluating the impact of different cultural contexts on individuals working in non-native cultures.
Assessment:
Assessment methods for the International Hotel Management degree include:
- Portfolios
- Video journals
- Debates
- Presentations
- Reports
- Essays
- Case study analysis
Teaching:
The course emphasizes a small group teaching and learning experience that combines a range of methods, including:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Workshops
- Practical fieldwork assessment
- Online learning materials The program is taught by a team of University of Northampton staff with expertise in research and operational knowledge in both UK and international contexts. Key subject modules are delivered within a real-world environment, allowing students to contextualize their learning and observe the challenges of managing various hotel functions in real time.
Careers:
The International Hotel Management MA equips graduates with a range of skills that allow them to pursue careers in hotel management or related sectors. Graduates can enter the industry through accelerated management training programs within recognized hotel chains or take up management-level positions.
Other:
- The program offers an industry placement opportunity, enabling students to develop their skills and knowledge in a real-world work environment related to hotel management.
- The University of Northampton offers a graduate discount scheme to graduates who enroll in a full master's program.
