The Programme

University College Birmingham (UCB)

It is an internationally recognized specialist provider of education, management development and consultancy to the hospitality, tourism and leisure industries. As the UK’s only specialist institution of its kind, the UCB draws students from around the world – with over 40 countries being represented in 1996. The UCB is renowned for both its excellent facilities and the expertise of its staff. Indeed in 2007 it achieved University Status following a rigorous quality inspection. The College, which was formerly known as Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies, is now known as University College Birmingham (UCB).

A number of Postgraduate programmes are available from the UCB’s Postgraduate Centre: all combining the high academic qualities expected from study at this level with a realistic and industry-relevant approach. These programmes are accredited by (and lead to the award of degrees of) the University of Birmingham.

Specialist programmes are offered in the fields of hospitality management, leisure and tourism management, retail and consumer management and care management. All programmes combine a business and management core applied specifically to the relevant sector, supplemented by technical specialisms.

The Postgraduate Centre

An industry-relevant approach is adopted in all programmes and a major strength of the Centre lies in the breath and expertise of the staff.

It is the level of specialism, coupled with dedicated teaching resources and a close working relationship with the international hospitality sector, which has attracted students to the College from around the globe and has led to us playing a leading role in educational networks throughout Europe, North America and Asia. These links ensure that the College will remain at the forefront of new developments and innovations in hospitality training and education. More importantly, our students are well received by the hospitality industry and its allied sectors, able to play their part in shaping the future of what will be the world's largest industry.

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Programme Aims and Features

The programme leads to the award of a BA (Hons) Hospitality and Tourism Management of the University of Birmingham.

Aims:

• To develop students' knowledge and understanding of the hospitality and tourism sectors, their commerical and economic settings, and the impact of customer trends on provision.

• To develop technical, supervisory and management skills relevant to the provision of hospitality within the tourism sector setting.

• To evaluate and apply, within the commerical context of hospitality operations and tourism destinations, appropriate theories and concepts from generic management and business areas.

• To analyse and evaluate complex issues in the field of hospitality and tourism and develop reasoned proposals with respect to such issues.

• To develop skills in reseach within the field of hospitality and tourism.

Special Features:

This is a specialist final stage degree programme for students who have a career target in (for instance) the provision of food, beverage and accommodation services within the context of a tourism destination. Examples of such venues include cultural and heritage sites, conference or cinema complexes, theme parks and all-inclusive holiday complexes. These could be the focus of rural or urban tourism. The distinguishing features of the provision is that it is for people who have been attracted to the destination and whose need for hospitality is moulded by their tourism activities. The programme would also be relevant to students who were considering working in the cruise industry, activity-based holidays or in events management. This is a developing sector and consumers have ever-more sophisticated needs and expectations, creating particular characteristics, managerial and operational challenges.

Core business and management skills are developed through application to the hospitality and tourism environment. Specialist technical modules and industry related assignments help the student to develop knowledge of the niche sector and to develop a range of skills in areas such as problem solving and working with others.

In the final stage, issues of a more strategic nature are explored and the emphasis is firmly on the future environment. The Research Project provides an opportunity for students to carry out a detailed investigation into a relevant topic. The Research Project may take the form of a dissertation or an applied research activity.

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Programme Structure

The programme consists of 5 modules which between them generate the 120 credits required for the successful completion of the honours top-up degree. The normal duration of the programme is 20 to 24 months.

The 5 modules offered are as follows:

Module 1: Destination Management
Module 2: Hospitality Operations Management
Module 3: Resources Management
Module 4: Research Project
Module 5: Strategic Management

Unit Descriptions

This module has been designed to facilitate the study of tourist destinations in the context of social, economic and environment change. The module examines destinations from the perspectives of visitors and hosts, whilst examining the strategies employed to maximise the benefits to all stakeholders from the destination.

This module examines issues faced by operations managers in service industries. A problem solving approach is adopted, examining generic issues in relation to the operations arena rather than addressing departmental areas in isolation. A case study approach is adopted throughout this module, with case studies based on international scenarios.

This module examines issues faced by those managers who have direct responsibility for effective management of organisational resources. The module focuses specifically on how organisations can assess their performance and the need for organisational flexibility within an ever-changing and competitive business environment. As such, the module integrated the subject areas of finance and human resource management, within the context of prevailing global economic conditions. These issues are analysed in relation to the array of changes in the economic environment. Module delivery will consist of a number of lectures, together with the use of case studies and/or journal analysis.

The Research Project is a key mechanism through which the skills of independent learning, problem solving, analysis and assimilation and presentation of data are developed. The project essentially requires an appropriate writing style to communicate the application and management of research, in-depth analyses and evaluation of research findings and an appraisal of approaches adopted.

This module introduces students to the discipline of strategic management as it addresses the overall long-term direction to be taken by the organisations. The module adopts a structured approach to the full range of strategic management issues inherent in determining corporate strategy within a dynamic environment, whilst addressing the key issues associated with the analysis of direction, choice and implementation and control of strategy.

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Programme Duration

The minimum time for completing of the programme is normally 20 to 24 months of part-time study.

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Modules Rotation Matrix

The modules are arranged as shown below. There are 3 entry points, for modules which are delivered in

• August,
  
• December and
  
• April.
  
  
  

  Session	Entry at Aug	Entry at Dec	Entry at Apr
  Aug-Nov	Module 1
  Dec-Mar	Module 2	Module 2
  Apr-Jul	Module 3	Module 3	Module 3
  Aug-Nov	Module 4	Module 4	Module 4
  Dec-Mar	Module 5	Module 5	Module 5
  Apr-Jul		Module 1	Module 1
  Aug-Nov			Module 2

  
  

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Programme Delivery

The teaching associated with each module takes place in a teaching "block" of 7 days. A supporting pack of documentation, which includes

• preparatory notes,
  
• structured pre-block reading and
  
• a work-based mini research project related to the module,
  

is delivered to candidates at least 4 weeks in advance of each block.

Assessment is usually by one assignment or individual case study for each module. Many of these assignments will be related to the student's own workplace, encouraging the application of theory to practice. Modules 2 and 5 are usually assessed by examination.

Birmingham-based centre staff will deliver the teaching blocks. In addition, the Programme Manager from the Postgraduate Centre will provide pastoral support throughout the programme. Students are encouraged to communicate regularly with the college staff by e-mail, fax and telephone. Help and advice will be provided to students using these means of communications. Students are also recommended to send all their written assignments to the Postgraduate Centre for checking before handing in the final version for marking.

Caritas will act as a local administrative point and provide the following support:

• issuing of learning materials;
  
• providing a detailed Student Handbook;
  
• monitoring of student progress;
  
• providing fax and postal services for connecting students with appropriate Postgraduate Centre staff; alternatively students may choose to communicate with the Postgraduate Centre staff by email or
• phone on their own;
  
• collecting assignments, which will then be sent to the UK for marking;
  
• providing a venue for the block teaching in Hong Kong;
  
• providing a venue for local support group meetings so that students will not be alone in study;
  
• acting as a local contact point for queries and problem solving backup;
  
• offering English language support to individual students at extra cost.
  

It is essential for students to read all study pack contents and allow sufficient study time before the teaching block of each module.

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Attendance Requirements

Each module entails a teaching block of 7 days. The lectures of each teaching block will be conducted by the same lecturers from the Postgraduate Centre who deliver the programme in the U.K. It will be timetabled well in advance, typically conforming to the following programme:

Attendance at scheduled lectures is a normal expectation, and it is to students' advantage to do so. In addition to successfully completing the course requirements for each module, students are required to have attended at least 80% of the lectures in each module.

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Programme Content

The programme is constructed on a flexible, modular basis. It is designed to provide clear links for progression between awards, allowing students to build towards a Bachelor of Arts qualification through the acquisition of credits over time, or to complete their studies with an award which recognises achievement at an appropriate level.

The course adopts an international focus, with specific local (Asia-Pacific Rimland) case studies used wherever possible, in both learning and assessment activities.

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Graduation Requirements

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Entry Requirements

UCB is experienced in providing programmes for students from many countries and therefore recognises a wide range of qualifications and/or experiences. The following qualifications are the norm for entry:

English Requirements

An English language qualification such as

• TOEFL score of at least 550,
  
• IELTS score of at least 6.0 and
  
• GCE/GCSE 'O' Level
  
• HKCEE Grade C

Academic Requirements

• A two-year full-time course at a higher level, e.g. a Higher National Diploma; OR
  
• two years relevant professional experience and an appropriate educational background.
  

If you are a business professional without the normal qualifications shown above, but with a good track record and experience in a related industry, your application will be confidentially considered on an individual basis.

If you currently work in an industry which is unrelated to hospitality, it may be possible to join this programme, or one of the UCB's other Professional Development Programmes or Postgraduate awards. The programme team would be pleased to give you confidential and sympathetic advice.

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Tentative Schedule

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Fees

The total tuition fee is HK$57,200.00 for consecutive completion of the full programme.

Students who have deferred in one or more than one session(s) will be subject to any revision(s) in tuition fees applicable to the extended session(s) of study.

The payment arrangement is as follows:

Each instalment covers the

• tuition fees,
  
• programme notes,
  
• study guides,
  
• assignment marking and feedback,
  
• degree certification, and
  
• official transcript
  

of the module to be taken within three months.

Fees paid are not transferable.

Fees paid will not be refunded unless there is a premature cessation of the programme (a very unlikely case to occur) in which case refund will be made within one month after the commencement of the session.

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Application Procedure

For all applicants, the duly completed application form must be submitted in person, to be accompanied by:

• originals and copies of educational qualifications and/or professional qualifications;
  
• originals and copies of evidence of length of service in employment deemed helpful to the application;
  
• copy of Hong Kong Identity Card or passport;
  
• 2 recent photographs; and
  
• an application fee of HK$200 in the form of a cheque payable to "Caritas - Hong Kong".

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Closing Dates for Application

Applications must reach Caritas before commencement of a module, i.e.:

• To start with a Aug-Nov module: to reach Caritas before July 15
  
• To start with a Dec-Mar module: to reach Caritas before November 15
  
• To start with a Apr-Jul module: to reach Caritas before April 15
  

Pre-reading materials will immediately be sent by Caritas to an accepted applicant who has paid the first instalment of tuition fee. Applicants are advised to submit their applications as early as possible to allow more time for pre-reading and preparing themselves for the first module.

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Contact Information

HONG KONG
	Programme Officer BA (Hons) Hospitality and Tourism Management
	Centre for Advanced & Professional Studies Caritas Francis Hsu College 11 Caine Road Central Hong Kong
	2508 9122
	2524 0659
	caps@cfhc.caritas.edu.hk
UNITED KINGDOM
	The Postgraduate Centre University College Birmingham
	Summer Row Birmingham B3 1JB United Kingdom
	44 121 693 5959 or 44 121 604 1000 Ext. 283
	44 121 608 7100 or 44 121 200 1376
	marketing@bcftcs.ac.uk

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Local Registration

The BA (Hons) Hospitality and Tourism Management has been registered with the Education and Manpower Bureau in accordance with the Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance (CAP. 493). The Course Registration Number is 251101.

According to the Ordinance, it is the discretion of individual employers to recognize any qualification to which the courses may lead.

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