MSc International Hotel and Tourism Management

Transcription

1 Programme Specification MSc International Hotel and Tourism Management Valid from: September 2014 Faculty of Business

2 SECTION 1: GENERAL INFORMATION Awarding body: Oxford Brookes University Teaching institution and location: Oxford Brookes University Final award: Master of Science (MSc) Programme title: International Hotel and Tourism Management Interim exit awards and award titles: Postgraduate Diploma in International Hotel and Tourism Management Postgraduate Certificate in International Hotel and Tourism Management Brookes course code: BH57 UCAS/UKPASS code: P JACS code: N800 Mode of delivery: Face to face Mode/s of study: Full-time, part-time or sandwich Language of study: English Relevant QAA subject benchmark statement/s: Subject benchmark statement: Master's degrees in business and management (2007) External accreditation/recognition: EPAS the European Foundation for Management Development's Programme Accreditation System. Faculty managing the programme: Business Date of production (or most recent revision) of specification: October 2013

3 SECTION 2: OVERVIEW AND PROGRAMME AIMS 2.1 Rationale for/distinctiveness of the programme The development of the international tourism industry continues at a pace, despite economic downturns, political unrest and natural events. Fundamental to the tourism industry are the hotel, and wider hospitality and tourism businesses delivering tourist experiences and helping to build and support the economic infrastructure of developed, developing and emerging countries. This programme focuses upon the interplay between the macro and micro aspects of the tourism and hospitality environment and the approaches and practices taken to leading and managing hotel, hospitality and tourism businesses. This programme offers students an opportunity to further develop and enhance their existing relevant knowledge, skills and competencies to accelerate their careers in hotel, hospitality and tourism management. For this reason the MSc in International Hotel & Tourism Management is often referred to as our developmental programme in the suite of Masters programmes offered by the Oxford School of Hospitality Management (OSHM). This programme builds upon students previous knowledge in the sector and has been developed at a time when the global hospitality and tourism industry is undergoing a period of dynamic change. Many factors are transforming the business environment and the context in which hotel, hospitality and tourism businesses operate. These include: the advent of the global market place; advancing technology and e- commerce; the emergence of other major international trading blocs (such as South and East Asia); the willingness of former communist and reforming communist regimes to embrace the market; the increasing consumerism evident throughout the world; and the significant global growth of hotel, hospitality, travel and tourism coupled with the growth of environmental and responsible tourism concerns. The OSHM postgraduate programmes have been developed using the concept of lifelong learning and this MSc should be seen as another step in this process. The programmes are academically rigorous and place responsibility on individual students to continue to study outside formal classroom based sessions; they encourage students to develop the skills needed to study independently by helping identify and set learning goals; implement them; and then to reflect upon what each individual has achieved so they can become reflective practitioners. In line with other postgraduate programmes at Oxford Brookes University the MSc in International Hotel & Tourism Management reflects the postgraduate attributes vital for employability. This programme is notable in that it builds upon existing academic literacies and challenges students to develop their understanding of the international hotel and tourism sectors at both operational and corporate levels. This programme also emphasises the research literacy, critical self-awareness and personal literacy and global citizenship which are critical for successful accelerated career development in the international hotel and tourism sector. 2.2 Aims of the programme The programme is concerned with the development of critical enquiry and reflection, together with enhancing participants existing professional knowledge of and expertise in the international hotel and tourism industries. The aims of this programme are therefore to develop:- Additional ability to contribute to and evaluate contemporary debates and research in the area of international hotel and tourism management; Further critical and independent thinking as the basis for management and leadership in the international hotel and tourism sector; Ability to act as an effective future manager and leader in the international hotel and tourism sector, providing support to colleagues, subordinates and other stakeholders; Advanced knowledge, understanding, skills and experience needed to undertake research in the international hotel and tourism industry and wider business and social contexts; An enhanced capacity to communicate and collaborate across cultures and backgrounds, and work effectively with complex relationships associated with the international hotel and tourism industry and beyond; Ability to evaluate perspectives, policies and performances at individual, organisational, destination and macro levels; Detailed awareness of the social, economic, ethical, political and technological issues associated with the international hotel and tourism industry, and the wider context.

4 SECTION 3: PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES Knowledge, understanding and skills: Students will be able to: 3.1 Academic literacy AL 1. Propose, justify and recommend international financial, human resource and marketing managerial decisions for international hotel and tourism organisations 2. Plan strategies and tactics, and adapt effectively to unusual and unexpected situations in an international hotel and tourism environment 3. Critically appraise international hotel and tourism business from an inter-disciplinary and global context 4. Evaluate the current strategic position of international hotel and tourism firms and recommend future strategic directions 5. Critically evaluate generic management theory within a chosen specialist area, and apply this to the context of the international hotel and tourism industry - also in RL 3.2 Research literacy RL 6. Construct a complex argument using the integration of information from a variety of sources - also DIL 7. Conduct an original theoretical research project, which is at the forefront of contemporary hospitality and tourism 8. Design methodologically appropriate research instruments for data collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of information in hotel and tourism management 3.3 Critical self-awareness and personal literacy CSAPL 9. Learn, reflect and research actively, independently and reflectively as part of your development 10. Apply a self-development approach to personal development planning as a future leader in a complex and dynamic environment 11. Evaluate business ethics from a responsible business leadership perspective - also in AL 12. Proactively identify and exploit opportunities for learning in the work place; and critically reflect upon theoretical and work place learning 3.4 Digital and information literacy DIL 13. Effectively select and use applied information technology to evaluate high quality information and record learning, 14. Make effective use of digital technology including library and learning resources, social media and internet applications where appropriate 3.5 Global citizenship GL 15. Participate and work effectively in multi-cultural groups showing cross-cultural awareness and valuing human diversity 16. Reflect habitually and question one's own and others' values, culture and perspectives in order to develop ethical and responsible approaches to leadership and management actions 17. Interpret the complex relationships between different stakeholders in the international tourism and hotel industry, in the context of wider global developments, in order to devise and recommend appropriate organisational strategies

5 SECTION 4: PROGRAMME STRUCTURE AND CURRICULUM 4.1 Programme structure and requirements: The MSc programme comprises eight compulsory modules and one optional module for the full MSc award. The optional sandwich award involves students taking P58960 Professional Development module. Module Title Module Code Credits Status for MSc Status for PG Dip Status for PG Cert Placement Marketing Across Cultures Managing People Across Cultures Strategic Financial Management P C C C Semester 1 or 3 P C C C Semester 1 or 3 P C O O Semester 2 Contemporary Issues I P589xx 10 C O O Semester 2 Corporate Risk Governance P C O O Semester 2 Research Methods * P C O O Semester 2 Dissertation P C O O Semester 2 & 3 or 3 & 1 Mentoring & Leadership Development Professional Development (52 weeks) P589xx 10 C O O Semesters 1, 2 and 3 or 2, 3 & 1 P O O O Semesters 1, 2 and 3 or 2, 3 and 1 post taught component Events P589xx 20 O O O Semester 1 Revenue Management P589xx 20 O O O Semester 1 Intercultural Leadership P O O O Semester 1 Tourism Digital Distribution Strategies P O O O Semester 1 Independent Study P O O O Semesters 1, 2 or 3 Key: C = Compulsory Module, O = Optional module * pre-requisite for Dissertation FULL AND PART TIME MODES The mode of study is: full-time, part-time or sandwich. All students are registered for the award of MSc in International Hotel and Tourism Management. The award of Postgraduate Certificate (60 M level credits) or Postgraduate Diploma (120 M Level credits) may be awarded to students who do not achieve 180 M level credits. The full-time mode of study is one-year of intensive academic learning focused on the classroom and library, with group work and independent research. Students must ensure they have sufficient funds to

6 pay both their tuition fees and to provide for their accommodation and living costs. Although many students do take some part-time work to help support their studies, it should be emphasised that this is a full-time academically demanding postgraduate Programme, which requires students to invest a minimum of 40 hours per week in studying and probably more. There are two starting options for the full-time module of this programme. The main cohort will begin the taught programme in week 0 in September each year and students conclude the taught element of their studies when they hand in their dissertation for full time and sandwich mode students this should be by the end of September the following year. A smaller cohort will be able to start their full-time programme in January joining the second semester modules with the September entrants and taking two summer block taught modules. They will then begin their dissertation and complete their elective module in autumn semester before submitting their dissertation at the end of January. For part-time students beginning in September their studies will be completed by the 30th Sept two years after initial registration. Diagrams can be accessed via the electronic programme handbook Part-time students, who are working in the hotel, hospitality and tourism industry, may also use work based learning in some of their modules; the Dissertation module also includes the option for students to undertake a practice based consultancy project. UK/EU students can participate on this programme in a part-time mode, which will normally be completed in 2 years. Part-time study has become an increasingly popular mode for mature students, who are in employment and/or have family to look after. The part-time option allows students to study without interrupting their careers and enables individuals to balance work, family and financial commitments more easily Diagrams can be accessed via the electronic programme handbook The entry requirements and fees for the part-time study mode of this programme are similar to the fulltime programme there is a small inflationary increase in the fee for year 2. Part-time students are entitled to the same tuition and supervision as full-time students (on a pro-rata basis) and have full use of all the University s facilities and social amenities, apart from the University s managed accommodation. Part-time students participate in the same lecture/workshop/tutorial learning programme as other students. Attendance will normally be expected for at least one day, or two half days, per week for most of the 2-year Programme. Apart from attending the taught sessions, part-time students will also have to study in groups with full-time students, and this may involve additional meetings at different times of the week, as well as undertaking independent study researching and writing coursework assignments to pass the required modules. Part-time students should expect to invest a minimum of 20 hours per week on their part-time study programme. Since many hospitality and tourism employers operate flexible work patterns, students should be able to negotiate the time required to attend classes. It is possible for students to change their mode of study if their circumstances change, or because they feel a different mode of study would suit them better. UK/EU students can either study on this Programme as a full-time (one-year) student or as a part-time (two year) student. Normally, UK/EU students do not need to study this Programme in the sandwich mode, since most graduates are able to find suitable employment in hotel, hospitality and tourism organisations in the UK after completion. However, there is no reason preventing a UK/EU student from taking the sandwich mode if they wish. International students can either study on this Programme as a full-time student (one-year) or as a sandwich student (two year). However, international students are not allowed to study on this Programme as a part-time student. 4.2 Professional requirements The hospitality and tourism industry is an unregulated profession though there are many associations which work to promote professional standards within the sector. The Institute of Hospitality (IoH), Hospitality Finance Revenue Management and IT professionals association (HOSPA), and Tourism Society. The MSc in International Hospitality, Events & Tourism Management is part of the suite of postgraduate programmes within the Oxford School of Hospitality Management at Oxford Brookes University. The School has delivered postgraduate programmes in hotel, hospitality, travel and tourism for the last 25 years and developed a wide range of industry and employer links from across the world, which helps support the programmes and alumni employment. The School s perspective is to embrace all areas of the hospitality and tourism industry, and to support individuals to identify their strengths and skills, based on critical reading of the evidence, practice and reflection. Students are encouraged to become members of relevant professional bodies and follow their codes of ethical practice and lifelong learning, attaining individual accreditation if they so wish.

7 SECTION 5: PROGRAMME DELIVERY 5.1 Teaching, Learning and Assessment Teaching and learning approaches The learning, teaching and assessment strategy is designed to provide students with a wide range of different approaches. This combines a variety of experiences in terms of teaching style, coursework assignments and the student learning experience. Each module, and each module leader, has their own particular methods of learning, teaching and assessment. The School and University has a welldeserved reputation for innovative teaching and many module leaders have developed Oxford Brookes innovative learning experiences in their teaching and assessment strategies. These different approaches are important to provide students with a stimulating learning environment. However, the programme maintains strong quality control mechanisms based on student and external examiner feedback to ensure that each module delivers high quality. The teaching, learning and assessment strategies of the programme are interrelated. The aim of the programme team is to provide a learning environment where students will readily participate in the learning process. Students will be actively involved with, and contribute to, their own learning through structured activities and discussions led by tutors and fellow students. Emphasis will be placed upon an applied approach to resolving environmental, managerial and individual issues informed by theoretical models and acquired practice, utilising the accumulated knowledge within the programme community. A detailed profile of knowledge, understanding and skills that will be developed is given in each Module Guide issued by the Module Leaders during the programme. Teaching methods will be student centred within a lecture/seminar or workshop approach to programme delivery. Classes could involve tutor input, analysis of case studies, problem-solving activities, computerbased business simulations, presentation of papers, analysis of data for decision making and directed reading and research. Students will be encouraged to contribute through both individual and group activities during classes with tutors but also in similar activities outside of normal class contact time that are student led. For example, outside of classes students will be expected to organise themselves to undertake group or individual research activities, directed reading, prepare presentations and reports, analyse case studies and where appropriate prepare themselves for examinations. The programme has an emphasis on the development and application of research skills, reflecting the view that a successful career is likely to depend increasingly on students capacity for conducting wellgrounded empirical and literature-based research and analysis. Tutors have a wide range of research experience and interests and this body of research and expertise will be available to students to facilitate and guide their own research projects and assignments. These research interests also feed into the teaching process and provide a core of research on which students may draw in the course of their learning. Although this may be termed a taught Masters programme, some of the most important skills acquired are those of independent learning. Students experience a wide variety of learning and teaching methods at the University, which is student-centred, participative and interactive, however they are expected to take a great deal of responsibility for their own learning. A key element of the philosophy underpinning these Masters programmes is encouraging engagement in students Personal Development Planning to help improve students personal effectiveness. During the induction programme, students will be introduced to the concept of personal planning and reflection; and encouraged to set personal learning goals for the entire programme. These skills will be developed across the modules and specifically within the Mentoring and Leadership Development module. Throughout the year, students will have opportunities to observe and participate in activities and discussions with executives; they will need to develop an awareness of how individual and collective actions and behaviours impact on themselves and others. Becoming a reflective learner underpins our postgraduate ethos. To achieve this, students need to engage in critical self-reflection and to give and receive feedback from each other and from tutors. We believe this is such an important element of students personal development that individuals are required to submit an assignment at the end of the programme as part of the Mentoring and Leadership Development module, when the dissertation is submitted.

8 HOURS OF STUDY Each module is worth a number of credits (the programme is worth 180 M (7) level credits). The amount of time each student will take to achieve the learning outcomes for a module will vary according to the needs and ability of the individual. However, the modules are designed so that each credit equates to approximately 10 hours of learning. Therefore a module worth 20 credits is expected to require 200 hours of learning. Some of these hours will be through class, online contact time (via a Virtual Learning Environment) and others will be through independent study. The tuition hours in the table below are for guidance only and should not be taken as exact. Class time and independent learning time Module Module Credits Taught Hours Selfmanaged Study Hours Total Hours Marketing Across Cultures Managing People Across Cultures Strategic Financial Management Contemporary Issues in HET Corporate Risk Governance Research Methods Dissertation Mentoring & Leadership Development PG Elective SUPERVISED WORK EXPERIENCE The development of students employability skills, through work-based learning and engagement with external organisations, forms a critically important element of the programme. Students can undertake placements in the second year of the programme post the taught component of the MSc. Students are supported by a dedicated team of academics and administration staff to ensure that they secure a placement that matches their aspirations and abilities. We realise the importance of matching students with the right placement and our team have extensive experience of matching students with appropriate employers. Students are guided in understanding the competences employers value and in how to articulate their achievements through job application and interview stages. Students are therefore not left to find their own placement but are instead guided towards employment opportunities by our highly experienced tutors. All students will be prepared and interviewed by the team here at Oxford Brookes and then matched to specific employers from our extensive network of employers. Our range of placement employers is diverse and extensive, so we can ensure that we have something to suit most students. During the placement year support includes workplace visits and on-going advice and encouragement from dedicated academics allocated as placement tutors.

9 EXTRA and CO-CURRICULA OPPORTUNITIES There is a very wide range of extra and co-curricula learning opportunities within the School, and students are very much encouraged to take full advantage of these. Learning experiences are greatly enhanced for those students who engage in activities such as the volunteering programme in Romania, international field trips to Kenya and Europe, engaging in competitions, attending lectures and events with guest speakers, panel discussions or external conferences, or by organising student events, assisting with staff consultancy, working with our employer mentors, or mentoring less experienced students. POSTGRADUATE ATTRIBUTES The Postgraduate Attributes are addressed through the teaching and assessment across all the Modules. The development of Academic Literacy is the focus for the first two semesters students will engage with contemporary debates in business and management and their application and evaluation within the international hotel and tourism industry. The underpinning knowledge base is multi-disciplinary drawing on strategy, human resources, accounting, marketing, decision-making, ethics and global development and the programme encourages students to draw from this broad range of academic disciplines. Research Literacy underpins every module as student evaluate the robustness and credibility of the research and evidence base but it is also explicitly addressed in the Contemporary Issues and Research Methods module with the Dissertation module enabling these research skills to be developed. Critical self awareness and personal literacy is a central focus for the Mentoring & Leadership Development module. While all modules encourage students to develop as active, independent and reflective learners, the Mentoring and Leadership Development module helps students structure their development with the support of an industry mentor from the Bacchus Mentoring programme. The semester one modules provide a more directive learning environment and in the second and summer semester students develop their independent and reflective learning skills, managing their own time and taking personal responsibility for setting and meeting deadlines. Digital and Information Literacy is also developed throughout the programme. Students will develop core skills in being about to identify and evaluate key digital based resources as well as develop some technological skills in the communication and presentation of information. Global Citizenship is also deeply embedded in the programme. Not only are critical global (cultural and institutional) debates incorporated into modules such as Marketing across Cultures, Managing People Across Cultures and Corporate Risk Governance but students engage in cross-cultural activities which develop their understanding and skills for tackling issues of equity, social justice and sustainability. ASSESSMENT Assessment reflects the aims and learning outcomes of the programme and is initially designed at programme level to ensure a suitable combination of methods. In particular, assessment is concerned with development of appropriate graduate attributes in relation to the practice and implementation of effective and responsible management in the international hospitality and tourism industry. Assessment at module level has to measure the achievement of all of the module learning outcomes, and for each component of assessment, the particular module learning outcomes which are being assessed are identified. The module learning outcomes have been designed so that when all modules have been passed, the programme learning outcomes have been achieved. The relationship between modules and programme learning outcomes is recorded in a mapping document. The assessment strategy is informed by the Brookes Assessment Compact, with an emphasis on assessment for learning, and hence the importance of learning from feedback both formal and informal. During induction, students receive a schedule showing when coursework is due, and formal when formal feedback can be expected. They also take part in a marking exercise, wherein they have to evaluate real coursework answers from previous students, using the assessment criteria. Thus they gain insight into the meaning of assessment criteria and see how it can be done well, or not so well!

10 Examination as a form of assessment is used in several modules. This is because it is important to ensure that students obtain a broad knowledge of the subject area covered by modules as the various topics are interlocked in complex ways, so that a coursework task covering just one aspect of the whole can only provide a partial view. Examinations use a variety of different kinds of question; including short answer questions, calculation based questions and essay questions; in order to achieve different learning outcomes. 5.2 Assessment regulations The programme conforms to the University s Academic Regulations; section B4 Regulations for Postgraduate Taught Programmes The Programme also embeds the principles and practices within the Brookes Assessment Compact. Assessments are carefully designed to contribute to formative developmental feedback and can incorporate peer feedback as well. All module guides include specific assessment criteria which are clearly communicated and an assessment calendar is also produced. SECTION 6: ADMISSIONS 6.1 Entry criteria The programme is designed to attract students from a range of backgrounds and nationalities. Due to the developmental nature of the programme successful applicants will normally have a minimum of a good second-class honours degree in hotel, hospitality, or tourism or business and management plus at least one year's work experience in the hotel, hospitality and tourism industry. Entry will also be subject to two satisfactory references (one of these must be an academic reference). Those who have a diploma rather than a good second-class degree, may be eligible for entry provided they have compensatory work experience and can demonstrate career development. In addition normally entrants to the programme should possess the following: English as a first language or for applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate that their level of English is appropriate for study at postgraduate level. In addition to the academic entry qualifications applicants must have one of the following or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University as set out in the list produced by the International Centre for English Language Studies (ICELS): (i) British Council IELTS: level 6.5 with a minimum 6.0 in reading and writing and speaking and listening; (ii) TOEFL score of 575 or above for the paper-based test, or 233 or above for the computerbased test; or for the internet based test; (iii) Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: grade C or (iv) O-level English Language or GCSE English Language: grade A, B or C; Applicants may be required to take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) to support their application. Normally a score of at least 550 would be expected. Exceptionally where candidates show that they have qualifications or experience, or both, that demonstrate that they have knowledge and capabilities equivalent to those possessed by holders of the qualifications listed above, they may be admitted with dispensation from the requirement to possess those qualifications. The design and integrative nature of the MSc means it is not appropriate to award admission with credit. All candidates must produce a satisfactory personal statement and perform a satisfactory interview with a member of the Programme team to secure an offer on the programme.

11 SECTION 7: STUDENT SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE Induction An induction programme is provided before teaching begins in the first semester, providing the opportunity to meet fellow students outside the classroom situation. It also introduces the philosophy of the programme, the rationale for its design and delivery, and provides insight into what is expected of students. It will also introduce students to the facilities of the wider University. Whilst the main activities take place in the week prior to teaching, other events will be scheduled for later weeks. People A number of people are available to support, guide and assist personal development during the programme. The Programme Lead and Programme Administrator work as a team to ensure the programme runs smoothly, and the Programme Lead acts as Academic Advisor for students. The Module Leaders and Module Tutors provide academic tutoring and answer subject specific queries during modules. The Student Support Coordinators can provide one-to-one support, advice and guidance on a range of issues, such as personal and family problems, disability or sickness, learning difficulties and money worries. They offer the opportunity to talk to someone who is not connected to academic studies and can refer students to other services available within the University, which include: Counselling, Student Disability and Dyslexia Service, Medical Centre, International Students Advisory Service, plus specific support for mature students. For International students, Oxford Brookes International represents a dedicated support team dealing with specific issues you may have on coming to a new country to study. Study skills support is provided by the University s Upgrade service, which provides bookable tutorials and a drop-in service on all campuses plus an online directory of study skills resources. English language support is also available. Programme and Module Guides Handbooks (electronic) are provided for both the programme and for each module. The Module Guide provides: Contact details of the Module Leader and Tutors Specific content and learning outcomes Week by week topics and activities Details of required class preparation Recommended and required reading Coursework assessment including the task, learning outcomes, assessment criteria and deadlines. Careers Centre support The University Careers Service offers guidance on career planning as well as practical advice on CV writing, mock interviews and assessment centres, tutorials and careers counselling. Its online vacancies database Talent Bank details internship and graduate job opportunities plus volunteering and project work. Students in the Oxford School of Hospitality Management benefit from a dedicated office for placement, graduate and employment opportunities within the international hotel, hospitality and tourism industry. SECTION 8: GRADUATE EMPLOYABILITY The employment students enter after graduating from the programme very much depends on each individual s skills, experience and expertise. Our alumni have entered a variety of careers, and the School has a strong external reputation as a preferred source of graduate recruits. Graduates consistently secure graduate-level positions with prestigious employers and a number of top employers in the international hospitality industry chose only to recruit from this programme at Oxford Brookes, and from no others in the UK. Examples of the positions attained by recent graduates include: Corporate Trainer Manager, Inter-Continental Hotels (Belgium), Business Development Manager, Beachcomber Hotels (Mauritius), Postgraduate Researcher, Oxford Brookes University (UK), Personal Assistant to the General Manager, Marriott Canary Wharf (UK), Conference and Banqueting assistant manager, Cardiff Marriott (UK), Financial Assistant, Mandarin Oriental, London (UK), Operations

12 Manager, Hotel, Tourism and Development Services (Indonesia), Night Auditor, Radisson, Stansted, (UK), Front Desk, Malmaison, Oxford (UK), Consultant, Arthur Anderson Consulting (UK), Assistant Airport Business Development Manager, Meridiana Airlines, Sardinia (Italy), Conference and Banqueting Coordinator, Hilton Hotels, London Gatwick (UK), Financial Controller, Novotel, Phuket (Thailand), India Travel Specialist, Audley Travel Group (UK), Research Analyst, PriceWaterhouseCooper, London (UK), Trainee Revenue Manager, Novotel, Paris, Marketing Executive, Almaty Airlines, Kazakhstan SECTION 9: LINKS WITH EMPLOYERS The Oxford School of Hospitality Management (OSHM) works with a range of external partners in the form of independent consultants, company executives, and practicing managers across all functions and areas within the international hospitality and tourism industry. Such employer engagement includes guest lectures, panel discussions, awarding prizes for achievement, mentoring, live projects/case studies and careers presentations. The OSHM also hosts networking events where students benefit from the chance to communicate with key members of the hospitality industry, gain advice and build their contacts. There are also a series of guest lectures by visiting Fellows and Professors are organized throughout the year to provide students with current and topical hospitality and tourism perspectives. There is a regular programme of weekly careers presentations, and currently more than twenty companies come to recruit OSHM graduates and postgraduates. These companies are prestigious UK and international hospitality firms which include Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, the IHG Group, Richmond Creative Events and Lexington Catering. Many students gain highly relevant experience during their optional paid supervised work experience. They are supported in securing a placement by a dedicated team of staff to ensure that their placement matches their aspirations and abilities, and through preparation in their first year of study. Employer partners for work experience include major international groups such as Four Seasons, Marriott International, Rezidor, and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, and UK-based companies including Malmaison and Hotel du Vin, and in prestigious owner-managed properties such as The Breakers in Palm Beach Florida and Claridges. The Bacchus Alumni Society is a worldwide network of hospitality graduates from Brookes and friends or associates of the OSHM. It is with the support of this association that the Bacchus mentoring programme, linking final year students with senior figures in industry, has become such a success. Relationships and networks developed through this scheme are seen to be rewarding and of immense value to both students and industry mentors. That so many alumni want to stay connected is testament to the quality of the educational experiences offered and the regard in which OSHM is held within the industry. Oxford Gastonomica is a specialist centre for the study of food, drink and culture that is recognised internationally and has developed relationships developed with many well-known and respected patrons. Its key objectives are to provide a forum for the study of food and drink and their place in culture. It is an open and accessible organisation, bringing together the public, academics, students, food industry professionals, and those working in the creative arts. SECTION 10: QUALITY MANAGEMENT The reputation of the Faculty of Business is underpinned through membership of, and programme accreditations received from the Association of MBAs; Professional Associations, such as the Institute of Hospitality; and the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). In 2011 this programme was re-accredited by EPAS the EFMD's Programme Accreditation System. This global organisation brings together the world s leading business schools and companies for networking and benchmarking activities, to enhance management development and education. Accreditation of the hospitality and tourism MSc programmes run by the Business School at Oxford Brookes University means the curriculum and approach to teaching has achieved high standards and been approved by external assessors from the EFMD. The Faculty of Business is widely regarded as one of the best within its peer group. The programme has a rigorous quality validation against the level 7 Masters standard for Higher Education in the UK. Such validation is carried out by a panel drawn from the whole of Oxford Brookes University, plus external representatives from the profession. The teaching and assessment quality is monitored through strict internal procedures, and continually audited by an external examiner from another University. There is also a formal annual review and a periodic review every seven years.

13 Quality assurance of the Programme is addressed in a number of ways:- Module evaluations (for each module) Annual student experience surveys Subject Committee meetings held once a semester to enable staff and students to feedback on the programme A rigorous annual and periodic review process to ensure the currency of the programme An external examining process that follows the university guidelines - Systematic end of module and end of programme monitoring and evaluation