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 Objectives

The programme leads to the award of a Master of Arts of the University of Birmingham.

Aims:

To develop individual management potential by developing skills in problem solving, broadening and extending knowledge, whilst increasing the ability to make, implement and evaluate decisions at both operational and strategic levels.

Hospitality Management is approached as a multidisciplinary body of knowledge, skills and techniques which can be applied to any organisation in the hospitality sector and to other service orientated public and private enterprises. The programme aims to provide relevant opportunities for students to develop their knowledge and skills in the hospitality industry, regardless of the extent of their previous study in the area.

Objectives:

• To produce hospitality business management specialists with the necessary knowledge and skills to be able to manage effectively in a fast-changing environment.
  
• To help students develop the necessary qualities for senior management positions within the hospitality sector and in particular their decision making capabilities.
  
• To further develop students' skills of analysis and communication.
  
• To approach the study of hospitality from a realistic management perspective, rather than a philosophical or sociological approach.
  
• To develop students' skills in designing, conducting and applying research in the field of hospitality management.

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Programme Structure

All MA students must complete 6 modules plus a 12,000-word Dissertation. The 6 modules offered are as follows:

Module 1: Tourism for the International Hospitality Business

Module 2: Operations Decision-making

Module 3: Resources Management

Module 4: Research Methods

Module 5: Hospitality Business Development

Module 6: Strategic Risk Management

Unit Descriptions

This module examines the impact of tourism activity on the operation of hospitality enterprises. Key issues relating to product packaging, consumer preferences and marketing responses are explored together with macro issues, such as regulation and planning.
The emphasis in the module lies in the effect tourism activity and development has on the hospitality sector at the local, national and international level.

This module examines issues faced by operations managers in service industries through the adoption of a problem solving approach. A systems approach is taken in that the module examines generic issues in relation to the operations arena rather than examining departmental areas in isolation.

The module helps prepare the student for the 'live case study' which will normally form the basis of assessment for the module Hospitality Business Development.

This module examines issues faced by those managers who have direct responsibility for resources management. These issues are analysed in relation to the array of changes in the economic environment.

Module delivery will consist of a number of key lectures, together with the use of case studies and/or journal analysis. The assessment will take the form of a critique of an industry based scenario.

It is the aim of this module to give students the essential research tools, skills and expertise that they will need as managers in their chosen service industry sector. These will be rehearsed by students undertaking a study on a topic of their own choice, developing their skills through

• planning,
  
• researching and
  
• reporting the study for a dissertation.

Students completing this module have the opportunity to develop their knowledge of Business Strategy, Marketing and Sales, Finance, Operations and Human Resource Management through application of concepts to realistic scenarios/case studies. It is anticipated that one case study/simulation will run for the greater part of the units thus exposing students to planning, evaluation and re-planning scenarios.

Students completing the unit will be better equipped to make business planning decisions within the complex environment of the hospitality industry. They will recognise the importance of co-ordination between varying departments and understand the implications of their strategic decisions at an operation level.

This module examines the nature and complexities of decision-making in the hospitality environment, exploring the challenges of operation in both stable and unstable environments. There is an emphasis on understanding the complexity of strategic perspectives in both the internal and external environments as well as in appreciation the subtlety, inconsistencies, bureaucracy and political decisions inherent in guiding the future direction of hospitality organisations.

The dissertation requires students to engage in a detailed investigation into a topic selected in consultation with their tutor. The subject of study will be a relevant hospitality issue reflecting the interests and experiences of the student.

The dissertation will demonstrate the student's ability to apply the knowledge and skills developed in the Research Methods module, in the exploration of hospitality issues, which arise from the other taught modules of the programme.

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Programme Duration

The minimum time for completing of the programme is normally 30 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.

Students who start with Module 1 will normally proceed from Module 2 to 6 respectively. After these they will proceed to the Dissertation.

Students who start with Module 2 will normally proceed to Module 3, Module 4, Module 5, Module 6 and Module 1 respectively. After these they will proceed to the Dissertation.

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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.

Assessments can take the form of an essay, individual case study, and individual or group presentation. Many of these assignments will be related to the student's own workplace, encouraging the application of theory to practice. Module 6 is usually assessed by examination.

Birmingham-based centre staff will deliver the teaching blocks. In addition, the Postgraduate 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 Master 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 good Honours degree of an approved university or its equivalent, OR
  
• other qualifications judged satisfactory for this purpose and a minimum of one year's relevant professional experience.

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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Schedule

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Fees

The total MA tuition fee is HK$78,000.00 for consecutive completion of the full programme.

The tuition fee for entry in 2008 is subject to further notice. 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 3 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 26
  
• To start with a Apr-Jul module: to reach Caritas before March 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 Master of Arts Hospitality 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 Master of Arts Hospitality Management has been registered with the Education Department in accordance with the Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance (CAP.493). The Course Registration Number is 250042.

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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