Aboriginal Tourism Operations Certificate

Transcription

1 Aboriginal Tourism Operations Certificate The ATO Certificate Program offers students the skills and knowledge to seek employment in the tourism industry. Graduates of the ATO program are trained for positions in cultural tourism, ecotourism and many other entry-level positions in the tourism industry. Each semester includes field experience projects and placements that will develop hands-on skills and promote networking within the tourism industry. After a student has completed the ATO certificate program, the student can continue on another year to complete the ATM program. Graduates of the ATM program are trained for planning, marketing and managing a successful tourism business. When the student completes the ATO program, they are encouraged to work in the tourism field during the summer before returning to the ATM program. Both NEC Aboriginal Tourism programs developed courses that align with the BC provincial core curriculum. Diploma graduates can ladder into a number of public tourism degree programs. In addition to meeting the learning outcomes specified in the BC Provincial core curriculum, the NEC Aboriginal Tourism Programs train qualified tourism professionals who provide high quality customer service and tourism experience based on traditional Aboriginal culture and values. Our most important mission is to widely support the countryside and urban Aboriginal communities of British Columbia by contributing to the success of the Aboriginal Tourism field. Graduates will be able to practice in a variety of settings including aboriginal tourism companies, public and non-profit tourism organizations. Entrance Requirements Grade 12 diploma or equivalent Minimum C average in Grade 12 English Minimum C average in Grade 11 Math OR Over 21 years of age or older at the date of application Minimum 1 year related work experience Complete a Learning Assessment Test (Please contact Admissions for further information on this requirement) Program Cost $5, (Tuition only) 1

2 SEMESTER 1 TSM 101 Business Communications TSM 105 Computer Applications TSM 110 Introduction to Aboriginal Tourism TSM 114 Heritage Recovery and Interpretation TSM 115 Aboriginal Interpretation Field Experience SEMESTER 2 TSM 113 Customer Services in Tourism TSM 120 Special Events Management TSM 125 Cross-Cultural Tourism TSM 112 Ecotourism TSM 116 Ecotourism Field Experience SEMESTER 3 TSM 117 Practicum Preparation Seminar TSM 118 Practicum 2

3 Semester 1 COURSE NAME: Business English COURSE NUMBER: TSM 101 CREDIT ASSIGNMENT: 3 DEPARTMENT: Aboriginal Tourism Operations TOTAL HOURS:45 Professionals in business communicate using specialized writing as well as formal and informal presentations, research reports, and persuasive public speaking in meetings and other forums. Writing skills will be challenged based on workplace examples and activities will assist in the development of communication skills for the fast-paced business environment. The workplace requires increasingly specialized technical and professional communication skills. This requires a solid basis in grammar, precise language and effective editing. With an immense amount of information at our fingertips, skills to effectively sift and combine information for effective communication are necessary. Many jobs require complex electronic communication as well as effective oral presentations. COURSE NAME: Computer Applications Level I COURSE NUMBER: TSM 105 CREDIT ASSIGNMENT: 3 During this hands-on computer training, students will develop basic knowledge of computer operations and business software including Windows XP, Word, Outlook, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint. This includes Windows operations for setting up, copying, deleting and moving files and folders; Word operations to create, format and locate documents; Outlook ing, contact database use and calendar appointment tracking; Excel spreadsheet design, formula control with cell addressing, financial problem solving, and charting; PowerPoint flyer creation and presentation techniques; Access database creation, sorts, and queries. 3

4 COURSE NAME: Introduction to Aboriginal Tourism COURSE NUMBER: TSM 110 CREDIT ASSIGNMENT: 3 DEPARTMENT: Aboriginal Tourism Operations TOTAL HOURS:45 INSTRUCTOR: Tanya Skvortsova tskvortsova@necvancouver.org An overview of the local, regional and global tourism industry: its key concepts, language, the social and economic impacts, and issues and trends in tourism. Special emphasis will be placed on the eight sectors of tourism, the geography of First Nations in Canada and Aboriginal tourism operations in BC, Canada and the world. COURSE NAME: Heritage Recovery and Interpretation COURSE NUMBER: TSM 114 CREDIT ASSIGNMENT: 3 DEPARTMENT: Aboriginal Tourism Operations TOTAL HOURS:45 INSTRUCTOR: Donna Lester-Smith, BA, MA, PhD Candidate dlsmith@necvancouver.org and Phone: (NEC) This course, Heritage Recovery and Interpretation explores issues central to the overall goals of Aboriginal Tourism, such as the process used by First Nations communities to record their history, recover traditional skills and repatriate cultural artifacts. Students will draw on this knowledge within their own communities through research and develop presentations and displays for sharing their culture with visitors. The greater ATO program goals are to prepare graduates with the skills, knowledge, and abilities to be effective tour guides in any tourism operation such as fishing and wildlife lodges, cultural tours, and First Nation tourism fields and interpretation operations.the course will be delivered using a variety of classroom learning and practices within our communities. Graduates will be able to practice in a variety of settings including aboriginal tourism companies, such as fishing and wildlife lodges, and cultural tours within public and non-profit tourism organizations. 4

5 COURSE NAME: Aboriginal Interpretation Field Experience COURSE NUMBER: TSM 115 CREDIT ASSIGNMENT: 3 INSTRUCTOR: Tanya Skvortsova Interpretation activities will include preparing and sharing cultural foods, performing songs, dances and storytelling using regalia. Students will lead tours, interpret carvings and other traditional art works, greet and host visitors in various settings. Strategic tours will be arranged to interpret the interpreter at tourism attractions such as museums, heritage centres and First Nations communities, historic sites and with tour operations, travel information centres and travel businesses. Behind the scenes tours with a focus on delivery will be arranged with seasoned interpreters at the aforementioned tourist attractions. 5

6 Semester 2 COURSE NAME: Customer Services in Tourism COURSE NUMBER: : TSM 113 CREDIT ASSIGNMENT: 3 DEPARTMENT: Aboriginal Tourism Operations TOTAL HOURS: : 45 This course provides students with the ability to design and implement a service management program to achieve consistent quality service at all levels of an organization. Specific attention is given to the service team-culture, service sales skills, and the importance and role of First Nations hospitality. First Host certification is part of the course. COURSE NAME: Special Events Management COURSE NUMBER: TSM 120 CREDIT ASSIGNMENT: 3 This course surveys special events management and planning with some focus on First Nations events such as cultural festivals and community gatherings. Students will learn to prepare and design a event business plan for an event, which could be used for sponsorship proposals 6

7 COURSE NAME: Cross-Cultural Tourism COURSE NUMBER: TSM 125 CREDIT ASSIGNMENT: 3 Tourism in general and Aboriginal Tourism in particular, often involves people from different cultures meeting and learning from one another. This course will deal with theoretical and practical issues arising from cross-cultural environments including differing cultural values, business practices and social customs. Effective communication and negotiating skills across cultural differences will be enhanced by the activities in this course. COURSE NAME: Customer Services in Tourism COURSE NUMBER: : TSM 113 CREDIT ASSIGNMENT: 3 DEPARTMENT: Aboriginal Tourism Operations TOTAL HOURS: : 45 This course provides students with the ability to design and implement a service management program to achieve consistent quality service at all levels of an organization. Specific attention is given to the service team-culture, service sales skills, and the importance and role of First Nations hospitality. First Host certification is part of the course. 7

8 COURSE NAME: Ecotourism Field Experience COURSE NUMBER: TSM 116 CREDIT ASSIGNMENT: 3 This field experience course provides workplace-based learning opportunities and classroom development activities. The field experience will allow students to practice the principles and skills learned during classroom study and develop industry competencies required to succeed in the tourism industry. The students will connect with managers and employees; build employment linkages and establish the foundations of a student s career. This ecotourism field experience course will include activities like nature walks, outdoor traditional feasts, medicine and food plant walks, conducting special events and other venues. Students will develop skills in leading groups and individuals to experience the natural world including traditional ecological knowledge, natural resource harvesting and traditional stewardship of lands. Students may participate in a variety of workshops including: search and rescue, camping skills, native customs and traditions, outdoor games and activities, ecotourism equipment and clothing. 8

9 Semester 3 COURSE NAME: Practicum Preparation Seminar COURSE NUMBER: TSM 117 CREDIT ASSIGNMENT: 1 DEPARTMENT: Aboriginal Tourism Operations TOTAL HOURS: 7 This course offers a general overview of work experience and the process of creating positive working relationship. During the seminar the students will write their current resume and cover letter and practice their interview skills. The students will review the expectations for the practicum, the goals and tasks of the practicum and the practicum evaluation procedures. COURSE NAME: Practicum COURSE NUMBER: TSM 118 CREDIT ASSIGNMENT: 3 DEPARTMENT: Aboriginal Tourism Operations TOTAL HOURS: 100 During this practicum the students are expected to work as staff team members to help provide customer service. They will develop customer service skills in the practicum company, based on the customer s needs and interests. 9