Programme Specification University Diploma in Hospitality Business Management University of Derby Online Learning Commencing September 2015 (MM August 2017) JACS code Valid for delivery at N862 University of Derby Online Learning [Type text]
Table of contents SECTION ONE: GENERAL INFORMATION... 4 Programme Title... 4 Award title... 4 Interim awards:... 4 Mode of Study... 4 Programme start date/review date... 4 Awarding Institution... 4 Faculty Managing the Programme... 4 Institution(s) Delivering the Programme/Joint Honours Subject... 4 Relevant external subject benchmark statement(s)... 4 External Accreditation... 4 JACS Code(s)... 4 SECTION TWO: OVERVIEW AND PROGRAMME AIMS... 5 Overview... 5 Programme Aims... 5 SECTION THREE: PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES... 5 Knowledge and Understanding... 6 Intellectual Skills... 6 Practical / Subject Specific Skills... 6 Transferable Skills... 6 SECTION FOUR: PROGRAMME STRUCTURE... 7 Structure and Curriculum... 7 Modules: Level 5... 7 Programme Structure... 7 Personal Development Planning (PDP)... 8 Statement of Ethics... 10 SECTION FIVE: PROGRAMME DELIVERY... 10
Online Learning and Teaching Methods... 10 Assessment... 11 General approach... 11 SECTION SIX: ADMISSIONS... 12 Process... 12 Entry Criteria... 12 SECTION SEVEN: STUDENT SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE... 14 Student Support... 14 Module Support... 14 SECTION EIGHT: POST PROGRAMME OPPORTUNITIES... 14 SECTION NINE: EMPLOYER LINKS... 14 Appendix 1: Module Mapping Matrix... 15
SECTION ONE: GENERAL INFORMATION Programme Title University Diploma in Hospitality Business Management Award title University Diploma in Hospitality Business Management Interim awards: N/A Mode of Study Part-time, Online Distance learning Programme start date/review date Start date: September 2015 Period of Validation: Indefinite Awarding Institution University of Derby University of Derby Online Learning (UDOL) Faculty Managing the Programme University of Derby Online Learning (UDOL) Institution(s) Delivering the Programme/Joint Honours Subject University of Derby Relevant external subject benchmark statement(s) QAA Degree Subject Benchmark Statement for Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism (2008) QAA Foundation Degree Qualification Benchmark (2010) QAA Subject benchmark statement Business and management (2014 draft for consultation) External Accreditation This programme has been accredited by the Institute of Hospitality, UK. JACS Code(s) N862
SECTION TWO: OVERVIEW AND PROGRAMME AIMS Overview University Diploma in Hospitality Business Management offers you the opportunity to integrate your own professional experience with academic learning. It is designed for the industry professionals seeking for opportunities for structured learning to develop deeper insight of the industry and profession as a part of continuing professional development (CPD) and intend to equip you with the skills and knowledge relevant to their employment and further academic progression. It will enable you to develop knowledge of the industry and theories behind practices, techniques to search and analyse information and present your findings, and awareness of your own skills and developmental needs to succeed in your career. Programme Aims The programme aims to prepare students for a higher level of study through developing skills to: use a range of techniques to undertake critical analysis of information, and to propose solutions to problems arising from the analysis of the hospitality industry; effectively communicate information, arguments, and analysis, in a variety of forms and deploy key management techniques effectively in the hospitality industry; undertake further training, develop existing skills, and acquire new competences that will enable them to assume responsibility within a hospitality business; and have: qualities and transferable skills that enhance employability and enable them to progress to higher qualifications; the ability to utilise opportunities for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and lifelong learning. This programme is studied part-time through the medium of online learning. SECTION THREE: PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES Learning Outcomes describe the skills and abilities you are expected to acquire as a result of successfully completing this programme. They are divided into four categories: Knowledge and Understanding general areas of knowledge Transferable Skills general skills that are universally applicable to employment, further education, etc. Intellectual Skills cognitive or "thinking" abilities Practical & Subject-Specific Skills practical abilities
Appendix 1 shows how the learning outcomes listed below map across to specific modules. The learning outcomes for this programme take into considerations: Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)at level 5 QAA Degree Subject Benchmark Statement for Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism (2008) QAA Foundation Degree Qualification Benchmark (2010) QAA Subject benchmark statement Business and management (2014 draft for consultation) Knowledge and Understanding You will obtain knowledge and understanding of: the principles of hospitality management and the way in which those principles have developed; the operation and management of organisational resources; the impact of the external environment on the implementation and operation of hospitality businesses; the holistic approach of applying appropriate theories and concepts from the generic management areas in hospitality business context; the main methods of enquiry in the hospitality management context; appropriate format and presentation of written piece of work, including the Harvard System for referencing Intellectual Skills You will acquire and develop the intellectual skills which will enable you to: assess and evaluate management scenarios and work based situations; interpret data and text; evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems in hospitality work place context; recognize the limits of your knowledge and how this influences analysis and interpretations of information. Practical / Subject Specific Skills You will acquire and develop the practical skills which will enable you to: produce academic and professional documentations; carry out and appraise activities in the work place with due regard for safety and risk assessment; identify work place issues and propose solutions. Transferable Skills You will acquire and develop the key life skills that will enable you to: express the ideas you have obtained through written and visual work; work effectively both in a team and on your own; apply basic statistical and numerical skills to management information; use Information Technology eg Web and Internet, databases, spreadsheets and word processing.
SECTION FOUR: PROGRAMME STRUCTURE Structure and Curriculum The programme will have three 20 credit modules, each of which will be equivalent to 200 learning hours. The curriculum is built around three prescribed modules. There will be one module available in each trimester, which will enable you to complete the programme in one year. The programme is studied on a part-time basis and the modules chosen have particular importance in preparing you for the world of work or further enhance your career prospects and prepare yourself to progress onto a full BA study. There are three entry points for this programme in autumn, spring and summer. Modules: Level 5 Prescribed Modules: Researching and Reporting Hospitality Management: Theories in Practice Professional Development for Success All modules bear 20 credits and you are required to achieve 60 credits. Programme Structure When viewed holistically the programme contains a combination of all the learning design types that specifically reflect the nature of online learning. These are identified in the module specifications as: Self-paced, supported online learning (S) Self-paced, supported online learning in combination with Collaborative online learning (SC) Portfolio-based, reflective online learning (P) Prescribed Autumn Researching and Reporting (S) Spring Hospitality Management: Theories in Practice (SC) Summer Professional Development for Success (P)
Personal Development Planning (PDP) The programme team regard the integration of PDP into the programme as an essential requirement towards supporting student centred learning. This is essential also to one of the main outcomes of the programme that of employability. This is promoted through development planning within the modules. Drawing on the model and range of graduate skills identified by Jackson, Sibson and Riebe (2013), these are grouped and mapped against each learning design type to ensure that you have the opportunity to develop all of them within your programme. To support the understanding and development of these skills you will be offered a skills diagnosis opportunity at the beginning of your programme. From this you will be directed to a range of resources to help you to develop your own competencies. During your programme you will be directed to activities that assist you in developing your career plan, your use of tools and technologies and your academic scholarship. The types of activities you encounter will be appropriate for the module (and learning design type) you are studying. This approach will give you the opportunity to develop and demonstrate new skills within your module and as you progress through your programme.
To support the understanding and development of these skills you will be offered a skills diagnosis opportunity at the beginning of your programme. From this you will be directed to a range of resources to help you to develop your own competencies. You are able to network with peers at the programme level as well as the module level, all of whom are professionals in the hospitality industry, globally located hence interaction and collaborative work offers you excellent networking opportunities. During your programme you will be directed to activities that assist you in developing your career plan, your use of tools and technologies and your academic scholarship. The types of activities you encounter will be appropriate for the module (and learning design type) you are studying. This approach will give you the opportunity to develop and demonstrate new skills within your module and as you progress through your programme. Jackson, D., Sibson, R. & Riebe, L. (2013). Delivering work-ready business graduates-keeping our promises and evaluating our performance. Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability, 4 (1), 2-22.
Statement of Ethics All students are required to comply with research governance and ethics principles whilst undertaking their programme of study. SECTION FIVE: PROGRAMME DELIVERY Online Learning and Teaching Methods This programme is underpinned by the University of Derby Online Learning s Academic Framework. This framework outlines the teaching and learning approach taken within modules delivered through the online mode. Modules within this Diploma programme use the Self-paced, Supported Online Learning learning design, the Collaborative Online Learning design and the Portfolio-based, Reflective Online Learning design. The key features of self-paced, supported online learning are: You can work through the module at your own pace, with a tutor and peer group to call on for support, with a set of optional tasks to undertake to support your learning and with explicitly identified formative assessment activities about which you receive online feedback and guidance from your online tutor. You are provided with a set number of units of learning content. Content can be textual; can include video and audio material, screencasts or presentations with voiceovers. Each unit of content contains optional tasks for you to undertake to apply or process the content. These activities will include suggestions for postings you could make in the community space for the module. Each module contains explicitly identified formative assessment activity that you can undertake and for which you can expect to receive feedback from your tutor. You may be provided with the opportunity to participate in a set number of live classroom sessions during the module (and recordings of these sessions will be made available to everyone on the module). The key features of collaborative online learning are: At a set point or points within the module, you are required to participate in online collaborative activity with a small group of your peers which contributes towards your final assessment for the module. A primary responsibility of the tutor will be to facilitate the assessed collaborative activity. The collaborative activity will take place within a private space for each group within the module s Community space on Blackboard. You are provided with a set number of units of learning content. Content can be textual; can include video and audio material, screencasts or presentations with voiceovers. Some of the units of content contain optional tasks for you to undertake to apply or process the content. There will be a community space / discussion area for the module which is the primary space for you to receive support from tutors and peers. The community space / discussion area will be lead and managed by online tutors.
You may be provided with the opportunity to participate in a set number of live classroom sessions during the module (and recordings of these sessions will be made available to everyone on the module). The key features of reflective online learning are: As you work through the module, you are set activities that require you to contribute to a portfolio' of work which contributes to your final assessment for the module. The portfolio or collection of reflection (which may be a blog or journal) can be used to assess knowledge, to assess reflective skills (such as analysis, synthesis or evaluation, often higher level skills) or to assess development over a period of time You are provided with a set number of units of learning content. Content can be textual; can include video and audio material, presentations with voiceovers. There will be a community space / discussion area for the module which is the primary space for you to receive support from tutors and peers. The community space / discussion area will be lead and managed by online tutors. A primary responsibility of the tutor will be to facilitate and provide formative feedback on the production and development of your portfolio of work. You may be provided with the opportunity to participate in a set number of live classroom sessions during the module (and recordings of these sessions will be made available to everyone on the module). More detail on the University of Derby Online Learning s Academic Framework (which has been approved by the University s Academic Board) can be found at: http://www.derbyonlinelearning.co.uk/content1.asp?menuid=3641&courseid=udo7714 Assessment General approach Modules are typically assessed through one or more coursework assignments. Depending on the nature of a given coursework assignment, you may be given the assignment specification at the beginning of the module for hand-in before a set deadline or at the end of the module. Normally, you receive feedback on coursework within three weeks of submission or completion. Modules also provide ample opportunities for formative feedback to guide you in your learning. A common approach is for activities to be set based on the content of an online unit and then provide you with the opportunity to discuss this work in online discussions. The feedback may be in groups or to you individually. Coursework assignments take a range of forms such as report, portfolio, or group discussions. Coursework assignments may be individual or collaborative (i.e., involve group work), and all of them require independent research in addition to studying the unit materials provided. Assignments will be submitted in line with the University s requirement for the electronic submission of all assessment tasks. The assessment strategy for students undertaking the Level 5 programme online also takes into account the different learning needs of online students. The following principles also inform our approach:
To include a range of assessment types, with these being viewed holistically, within and across a programme structure. To ensure that you are well-informed in advance of a module of the assessed online activity. To ensure that at the very beginning of a module you are made very clearly aware of the specific, assessed, activities or online participation that will be required of you and of the assessment criteria involved. To take a well-planned approach to the initiation of new or unusual assessment activity, paying attention to the need for clear instructions and opportunities to undertake low-risk preparatory activities to support familiarity with the technology involved or the development of new skills. To ensure that sufficient time is allowed within modules where there are multiple assessment types for you to grasp the different approaches to assessment. Assessments for all modules have been designed to be inclusive for all students. Further detail on the University of Derby Online Learning s approach to assessment can be found within our Academic Framework: http://www.derbyonlinelearning.co.uk/content1.asp?menuid=3642&courseid=udo7714 This programme operates within the University s Regulatory Framework and conforms to its Assessment Regulations for Undergraduate Programmes. SECTION SIX: ADMISSIONS Process The primary function of the admissions process is to ensure that there are grounds for believing that you are adequately prepared and will successfully complete the programme of study leading to the intended award. Entry Criteria Within the context of the University s Mission Statement, equal opportunities and the Admissions policy, the course aims to attract a wide range of applicants. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all ages as long as they can be considered adequately prepared to succeed on the programme. There are no upper or lower age limits for entry to the course. All applicants must satisfy the entry criteria but also be suitably prepared to achieve the aims and objectives of the programme. All applicants must have professional experience within the hospitality industry which includes a minimum of one year full-time or equivalent at any levels (e.g. operation, supervisory, or management); sufficient to enable you to reflect on the core elements of the discipline. In addition to the professional experience, Applicants will be required to possess the equivalent of level 4 qualifications (e.g. Higher National Certificate, Certificate of Higher Education, Higher Apprenticeship, etc.) in hospitality or relevant subject e.g. tourism, business, management, etc. An applicant s significant life and work experience can be taken into consideration through Recognition of Prior Learning, but the admissions decision will be based on a case-by-case basis.
Students who are not native speakers of English will be required to demonstrate a level of proficiency adequate for study at degree level. This will generally be assessed by one of the recognized international tests in English proficiency such as IELTS with a minimum of 6.0.
SECTION SEVEN: STUDENT SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE Student Support For online students there is an Online Student Orientation which serves the purpose of highlighting the particular needs of online study and to prepare students for the online learning environment. This orientation is available to you before formal entry to the programme and is accessible to you throughout your studies. As an enrolled student there are a number of support mechanisms available including; Online Learner Advisors team who provide advice and guidance on administrative, technical and pastoral support issues; Subject specialist Academic Leads who are able to provide academic guidance and are also able to refer students to central university services designed to support their academic and personal development within the programme. Within the University of Derby Online Learning s Academic framework we also discuss student support and the opportunities available to students. More detail in this area is available from UDOL Academic Framework. Module Support Problems or questions regarding a particular module should be directed initially to the Associate Academic, the person who leads the online module. If they are unable to help, you should then contact the Online Learner Advisors team for guidance and they will provide assistance on what to do next. SECTION EIGHT: POST PROGRAMME OPPORTUNITIES Students who undertake the University Diploma in Hospitality Business Management will be able to pursue a range of professional and academic opportunities. Upon completion of your study, you may wish to advance your career in the industry. This programme also provides a foundation for further study at undergraduate level in hospitality or similar areas of study such as tourism, leisure, or business studies, including BA (Hons) in International Hospitality Business Management at University of Derby Online Learning. SECTION NINE: EMPLOYER LINKS This programme has been designed following consultation with the international hospitality professionals in relation to the industry needs for development of specific skills. It has been accredited by the Institute of Hospitality, a professional membership body of managers who work and study in the hospitality industry.
Besides, a number of Online Tutors are located internationally with established links with employers, and in some cases, they are currently working at management positions in the hospitality industry. University of Derby Online Learning also works closely with the Department of Hotel, Resort and Spa Management, College of Business. This department maintains on-going relationships with local, regional and international hospitality employers. All students on this programme will have worked within the hospitality industry to varying degrees and they are able to contribute to enrich peer learning experiences through contributing to group discussions or collaborative work with their own insights of the industry affairs. The programme will also provide excellent opportunities to expand their industry networks internationally. Appendix 1: Module Mapping Matrix University Advanced Diploma in International Hospitality Business Management Researching and Reporting Hospitality Management: Theories in Practice Professional Development for Success Knowledge and Understanding the principles of hospitality management and the way in which those principles have developed the operation and management of organisational resources the impact of the external environment on the implementation and operation of hospitality businesses the holistic approach of applying appropriate theories and concepts from the generic management areas in hospitality business context the main methods of enquiry in the hospitality management context appropriate format and presentation of written piece of work, including the Harvard System for referencing Intellectual Skills
assess and evaluate management scenarios and work based situations; interpret data and text; evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems in hospitality work place context; recognize the limits of your knowledge and how this influences analysis and interpretations of information. Researching and Reporting Hospitality Management: Theories in Practice Professional Development for Success Subject Specific Skills produce academic and professional documentations; carry out and appraise activities in the work place with due regard for safety and risk assessment; identify work place issues and propose solutions. Transferable Skills express the ideas you have obtained through written and visual work; work effectively both in a team and on your own; apply basic statistical and numerical skills to management information; use Information Technology eg Web and Internet, databases, spreadsheets and word processing.