The BA(Hons) International Tourism Management was launched by the Royal Docks Business School at the University of East London in 2007. This exciting programme is firmly based on the principles of business and management, at the same time including relevant approaches from other disciplines. It focuses on the issues of sustainable tourism planning, development and management and examines tourism demand and supply in a global, national and local context. The programme has a broad first year that introduces essential management concepts and sets the context in which the management and operation of tourism-related businesses and organisations is further explored in subsequent years. In the second year and third year it offers increased specialisation on the business context and management issues that are particularly relevant to tourism, including sports tourism, sustainable tourism, cultural tourism and visitor attraction management.

The programme draws on expertise from within the Royal Docks Business School to introduce students to a rich mixture of generic and tourism-specific management topics and themes. Students will be exposed to a broad range of concepts, skills and knowledge that are relevant and vital to any tourism-related organisation. These include

• International tourism and travel industry organisations and markets
• The provision for tourism and travel in developing and established host destinations
• Marketing of tourism destinations
• Reasons why consumers buy tourism products and services
• The management of cultural and heritage resources for tourism.
• The impact of tourism on the natural and socio-cultural environment
• The consequences of globalisation for tourism providers
• Strategic crisis management
• Tourism as a tool for regeneration
• Sports tourism

International Tourism Management offered at UEL differs from similar programmes delivered elsewhere in a number of ways:

First, the programme has embedded UEL’s distinct skills curriculum at each level of study. Thus it seeks to provide strong support for students and places a keen interest on developing student employability.

Second, the programme will be exclusively taught at the Royal Docks Business School’s state of the art campus located in the heart of Docklands within easy reach of the City. The Docklands campus is a unique site for the study of tourism, as it is located in the vicinity of London City Airport, the ExCel exhibition centre, the O2 arena and the London 2012 Olympic Stadium with easy access to numerous other tourism attractions and destinations.

Third, the programme is taught by a team of permanent and guest lecturers who are experts in their field, and some of whom continue to work in the tourism sector.

Fourth, the programme offers an optional work placement year between Levels 2 and 3 as well as the opportunity to study for a semester at a partner institution in Europe or the USA. If you choose the work placement option you can gain several advantages which should help your career development.

The advantages of taking the work placement are:

• you can put into practicewhat you learnt in Years 1 and 2,
• you can develop a network of international contacts in your chosen area of tourism, thus enhancing your employment opportunities when your studies are complete,
• you can gain valuable work experience in, and a wider understanding of, your chosen career route.

The BA (Hons) International Tourism Management programme is offered as a single honours, major, joint or minor award. The degree is normally studied over three years in the full-time mode or four and a half years in the part-time mode. It is possible to switch between modes, subject to timetabling constraints, although only a limited range of modules are available in the evenings.

The International Tourism Management programme comprises eighteen 20 credit modules. In line with all business related programmes at UEL, the BA (Hons) International Tourism Management shares a number of modules with other degree awards in the Royal Docks Business School. This allows you to specialise in areas of interest after Level 1 of the programme if you choose to follow a different programme at that point..

The programme structure for single honours students is highlighted below. Breakdowns for major, minor and joint programmes are found in ‘What you will study when’:

International Tourism Management (Single honours):

Modular Structure

A one-year sandwich placement is available between Level 2 and 3 to all students

The programme will be delivered exclusively at the Royal Docks Business School Building and at the UEL Docklands campus where you will use our networked facilities. We will teach you how to maximise your potential and benefit from these powerful resources.

You will develop proficiency as a researcher using our library facilities and extensive, subject specific online databases. We will encourage you to develop skills for life including competence in professional writing, team working and presentation techniques.  In addition, student learning is supported via UELPlus, our virtual learning environment which has the added benefit of improving your information technology skills. Therefore when you enter employment you will have a very broad range of skills that will enable you to effectively demonstrate and apply what you have studied in your degree.

• It is the policy of the Royal Docks Business School to include information all assessments and assessment criteria in module handbooks.
• Assessment methods include different types of coursework, presentations and examinations.
• Level 1 assessment comprises coursework, presentations and some short tome constrained tests but there are no formal examinations.
• Your marks in Level 2 and 3 modules will determine your final degree classification; Level 1 marks are not used for this purpose but you must pass all modules at Level 1.

Work placement

Between your second and final year you can gain valuable work experience by working full time in an organisation. You should note that we assist you in finding a placement with a suitable organisation.The placement is normally paid, thus reducing the financial burden of degree study.

There are several other major advantages of this placement:

• it enables you to put into practice the ideas you have previously learnt.
• when you return for the final year you will be able to critically analyse your study in the light of your own practical experience.

You may undertake a project at Level 3 on a topic that you have chosen in consultation with a supervising member of staff. You will receive specific guidance on its preparation in modules taught in the proceeding semester, and at Level 2, so you will be well prepared!

You will also find that mini projects or group work exercises feature in some of the modules taught in the degree, throughout each of the three years

Studying for a degree is not just about acquiring knowledge but is also about developing a set of skills and confidence which are valued by employers. The programme is designed to help you develop knowledge, skills and experience. We will help you to reflect upon your learning and recognise how you have developed. This will help you to present yourself in the best possible light to employers.

To enhance your prospects of employment after graduation, we offer two optional modules based on practical work. At Level 2 you have the opportunity to choose an additional module in which you undertake a volunteering project. At Level 3 you may choose a work-based learning module where you gain credit for academic work undertaken in relation to your workplace.

International development and how tourism contributes to social and economic change; tourism planning; concepts and impacts of sustainability; how international destinations are marketed and portrayed; the role global Non Government Organisations in tourism development, be it in terms of environmental protection or tourism workers’ rights; sports tourism; the impacts of the 2012 Olympics on the London region; the management of tourism sites and destinations; and  the relationship between cultural heritage management and tourism…;

If you want to work in tourism in the public, private or voluntary sector, then this programme is for you!

• Listening to, and working with others,
• Finding solutions to management problems,
• The challenge of reading and thinking about, many different subjects from, sustainability to marketing, from tourism planning to travel logistics,
• The challenge of understanding the links which may exist between many different, subjects relative to international  tourism,
• Evaluating how globalisation affects tourism business,
• Working with others from different cultures

then you will probably enjoy studying for the degree in International Tourism Management.

If you want to combine International Tourism Management with other subjects you can, subject to availability and timetabling.

The International Tourism Management programme is designed to combine with other programmes that run across UEL. As stated above, International Tourism Management can be combined as either a major, joint or minor award when taken in conjunction with other awards. Typical combinations might include:

• International Politics
• Sociology
• Human Resource Management
• Accounting
• Business Economics
• Anthropology

For details on possible combinations see the Combined Honours web pages at http://www.uel.ac.uk/combined/programmes/index.htm

Studying International Tourism Management with another subject may increase the range of career choices open to you.

Talk to your careers adviser, they should be able to give you further advice or come and see us on an Open Day, the details of which you can find on our web page.

The International Tourism Management programme is designed to combine with other programmes that run across UEL. As stated above, International Tourism Management can be combined as either a Major, Joint or Minor award when taken in conjunction with other awards. Typical combinations might include:

• Events Management
• International Politics
• Sociology
• Human Resource Management
• Accounting
• Marketing
• International Business
• Business Economics
• Anthropology

For details on possible combinations see the Combined Honours web pages at http://www.uel.ac.uk/combined/programmes/index.htm

Studying International Tourism Management with another subjects may increase the range of career choices open to you.

Talk to your careers adviser, they should be able to give you further advice or come and see us on an Open Day, the details of which you can find on our web page.

International Tourism Management offers a broad understanding of tourism and the opportunity to focus on specific areas such as sports tourism, cultural tourism and sustainable tourism management. The programme is designed to equip students with the skills sought by companies and organisations involved in tourism, culture and hospitality as well as other associated leisure and service sector industries. Tourism related revenue contributes annually some $3.6 trillion to the world economy, which is the equivalent to 8% of world exports and 11% of the world’s GDP. Currently over 240 million people are employed worldwide in tourism related jobs; the equivalent of 8% of the global workforce.  Numerous career opportunities exist for future graduates in the airline, hotel, catering, cultural or leisure industries. The London 2012 Games are expected to contribute to Tourism as a growth sector of the economy, with many job opportunities ranging from managers, researchers, marketers, event managers, tourism planners, agents and promoters. Careers in tourism extend beyond tourism businesses and opportunities will also exist in the voluntary and public sector, both in the UK and overseas.

(A) Introducing you to degree level study:

• we have designed the assessment and teaching processes throughout the first year so that you are progressively introduced to degree study
• we have developed a specific module in the first year that gives you the techniques needed for degree level study

(B) Academic and administrative support :

• our staff at the Royal Docs Business School Help Desk  will be able to answer the queries you may have about the operation of your degree
• a personal tutor will be allocated to you for each year of study who can advise on academic matters and personal development planning
• the year tutor for your programme and/or programme leader can help if you have programme related issues you wish to raise

The Docklands Campus:

In September 2006, the Royal Docks Business School relocated to our state of the art campus at the UEL Docklands campus. The campus boasts a large range of brand new student facilities including new, modern lecture theatres, IT labs and Library.

Field Trips

Tourism specific modules offered on the programme will include a range of field trips to tourist sites in and around the London area. These trips will be used to highlight aspects of management practise and serve as examples of the application of tourism related concepts.

Study Abroad:

During your second year, in semester B, you can study in Europe, but be taught in English if you wish. We have links, with the benefits of additional funding direct to you from the EU Erasmus Programme, with universities in

• France,
• Italy,
• Germany,
• the Netherlands and
• Finland

where you will study courses which we have previously agreed, and the grades for which will count towards your degree classification.