Foundation Degree (FdA) Tourism Management

For every 10 credits, students should engage with around 100 notional hours of learning. This will be approximately 30% direct learning contact and 70% independent student learning.

Year 1 (Level 4)

Global Dimensions of Tourism (10 credits, compulsory):
This module aims to provide insights into the phenomenal growth and variance of global tourism. It will focus on destinations, regions and continents, their past and current levels of visitation and future anticipated trends. Furthermore, the module aims to examine tourist typologies, motivational factors and the characteristics of tourism which may determine the choice of destination. (Written Assignment 100%)

Introduction to the UK Travel and Tourism Industry (10 credits, core):
This module aims to provide an overview of the Travel and Tourism Industry in a UK context. Whilst initially identifying the key definitions and terms, the module will explain the roles and responsibilities of the private, public and voluntary sectors and the key components and their interrelationships relating to the travel and tourism industry will be explored. (Presentation 100%)

The Cruise Industry (20 credits, compulsory):
This module aims to develop the student’s awareness of the global world of cruising, furthermore, it will chart the development of the sector examining how cruising was once viewed as an exclusive and elite experience but is now developing into more of a mass market type holiday and the fastest growing sector in the tourism industry. The module will use a number of case studies to look at motivational factors as to why people choose cruises and the various types of cruises offered by many cruise companies, including the various types of cruise itineraries and excursions now available. Job roles both onshore and offshore will be discussed as well as the paramount importance of security and health and safety aboard a cruise ship.

Employability Based Learning 1: Career Planning (20 credits, core)
This module enables students to carry out a number of employment related tasks required by employers to increase the opportunities of employment. To achieve this, students will reflect on their own learning and development to date, developing through this process a greater awareness of their own interests, skills and personal characteristics in the context of careers and work experience and identifying what is important to them in making an effective career decision. Students will develop their understanding of what they need to do to be employable and compete effectively in the job market, identifying resources, support and opportunities to achieve this. (CV and Cover Letter 10%, Action Plan 10%, Evaluation Day 30%, Reflection 50%)

Business Finance (20 credits, compulsory)
The module introduces the fundamental concepts and principles of accounting and finance. The module will focus on understanding the key concepts and principles of financial accounting in order to be able to interpret financial statements. The course focuses on the fundamentals of financial accounting and will begin by introducing students to accounting and finance concepts and terms, before moving on to financial and management accounting techniques which will include the production of financial statements such as income statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements and forecasts. This knowledge will be used to enable the student to interpret financial information using financial ratios, with a view to improving the quality of decision-making. (Open Book Exam 50%, Report (Individual) 50%

Information Management (10 credits, compulsory)
The module introduces the variety of information types encountered in business and the importance that Information Technology plays in underpinning modern business practice, and investigates the purpose of information systems in business. It will promote an understanding of the variety of systems essential for a full and effective use of technology and examine the increasing number of methods of communication in speeding up the use of information. In addition, it will identify effective statistical methods for managing information and decision making within an organisation. (Investigation 50%, Presentation 50%)

Marketing and Innovation (20 credits, compulsory)
This module introduces students to marketing principles, and the importance marketing planning. Students will examine how to apply the marketing mix to achieve results. They will learn the underpinning theories and models and apply them to real–world examples. (Written Assignment 40%, Report (Group) 40%, Presentation 20%)

Research and Study Skills (10 credits, core)
This module develops the study skills of the students, enabling the production of sound academic writing and introducing the concept of critical thought. It will enable students to develop skills in academic research, writing and reflection. (Written Assignment 100%)

Year 2 (Level 5)

Human Resources Management (20 credits, compulsory):
This module aims to enable students to understand the development of HRM and the resource view of the organisation. It will discuss the principal functions and activities of Human Resource Management and the contribution to the achievement of organisational objectives. Students will explore the processes of recruiting, selecting and developing the talent and skills of the organisation, and the links between performance and reward in a contemporary context. (Written Assignment 100%)

Conference and Event Management (20 credits, compulsory):
This module will develop the students understanding of the diversity, protocols and operations underpinning the modern conference and event management sector; developing and applying skills that take into consideration the holistic design and operational factors required to meet client needs. (Report 40%, Case Study 60%)

Business Tourism (10 credits, compulsory):
This module aims to cultivate the student’s interest in business tourism and explain how leisure tourists are just one aspect of the tourism industry. Business Tourism has emerged as one of the most profitable sectors of the travel and tourism industry, particularly given the general propensity of business travellers to spend more money than leisure travellers. Both Corporate Incentive Travel and Corporate Hospitality are large growth areas which are business tools designed to change consumer behaviour to increase company morale, improve profit, cash flow and employee and customer engagement. Highlighting the many specialist agencies offering employment in this area. Exhibitions are an enormously important part of the marketing activities of most types of business, to showcase the products and services, and is important for the largest multinationals to small family businesses and is another niche market in the business travel and tourism area. (Written Assignment 100%)

Experiential Tourism (20 credits, compulsory):
This module aims to provide students with an awareness of how Experiential Tourism represents a growing opportunity within the tourism industry and how tourism operators develop their business and expand markets. It explores the need for focusing on the development and management of memorable tourism experiences that engage visitors. These experiences can be inherently personal, engage the senses, and make connections on an emotional, physical, spiritual and/or intellectual level – fostering repeat visitation and word-of-mouth promotion. The students will have an opportunity to study and research authentic experiences designed to connect travellers to special places, people and cultures both locally and internationally. (Written Assignment 50%, Presentation 50%)

Impacts of Tourism (10 credits, core):
This module will examine the nature and geography of the impact of global tourism, discussing theories related to the social, cultural, economic, political and environmental impacts of tourism and identify the drive for new strategies that would sustain tourism over the long-term, whilst providing more benefits to local communities and minimising environmental damage. (Group Exhibition 100%)

Employability Based Learning 2: Skills for Leadership (20 credits, compulsory)
This module develops the students’ understanding of various topics needed in modern leadership, and maps to Chartered Management Institute (CMI) units. These include presenting and communicating data that supports decision making, management of individual and team performance and how to improve performance. (Written Assignments 100%)

Research Methods (20 credits, compulsory)
The aim of the module will be for students to understand and reflect upon the nature of a research proposal, the aims and applications of research, and the methods and procedures for conducting research with competent use of a statistical software. (Research Proposal 50%, Presentation 50%)