In the context of tourism and events management students need to be acutely aware of their responsibility for good practice in the field. A key strength of fieldwork is that it requires students to project a range of practical, organisational and intellectual skills onto a `real-world' tourism and/or events issue. The purpose of this module is, therefore, to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate a detailed understanding of tourism and events management from the point of view of a number of different destinations, organisations and stakeholders by studying it first hand. Furthermore, it enables students to apply knowledge and skills gained through the lecture-based modules to `real-world? tourism and events study. The module also focuses on a holistic approach to tourism and events development, emphasising the interconnected nature of economic, environmental and socio-cultural dimensions. In addition to viewing the subject material from a different perspective, the module offers opportunities to develop insights into project management practices both in the UK and overseas and to consider the cultural issues arising from multi-functional and/or multi-national teams.

The `out-of-classroom' activities organised into a series of visits and the residential provide a tangible bridge between local, national or international concerns. They will also provide students with knowledge and understanding of selected observational and field-based methodologies and techniques used in collecting, analysing and presenting tourism and events information. As well as introducing specific case studies and examples relevant to various themes relating to tourism and events management, the module will provide students with the skills needed to describe and explain the results of their practical work and relate these to existing bodies of tourism and events knowledge. Other topics will include an examination of the concepts and characteristics of specific tourism and events organisations, products, structures, operations and interactions with, and impacts on the built and natural environment; the identification and formulation of research questions or problems to enable students to observe and comment on tourism and events developments and to conduct field-based research.

Details of specific visit locations, activities and the content of the residential field trip will be included in the module handbook annually.

The learning strategies will require students to commit 150 learning hours (including the residential), of which 36 hours will consist of contact time. Lectures (12 hours) will provide students with a broad overview and the conceptual frameworks needed to appraise the theoretical aspects of tourism and events management; the role and justification of fieldwork; visit planning and field/practical work from a domestic and international tourism and events management perspective; background and contextual information on organisations and locations to be visited. Group workshops, tutorial support activities and guest speaker/industrial visits (24 hours) will provide students with the opportunity to undertake secondary and primary research, develop and use a range of analytical techniques and critical thinking skills to apply their acquired knowledge and underpinning theories to cases and scenarios, and to complete data analysis and interpretation exercises in preparation for the visits, residential and assessment.

A further 114 hours of independent study, which will include the residential and other visits, will require students to read, think about and evaluate a range of tourism and events management issues and other case study preparatory questions which will form the basis of the class discussions and visits/residential agenda. Students are also required to organise and review their lecture notes and undertake preparatory reading and research on assigned material in order to participate in, and lead, class discussions individually and as part of a group. In addition, students will be expected to take responsibility for visit planning and organisation and to observe and record tourism and events management activities, look at tourism impacts and talk to tourism providers.

Details: The independent portfolio of 3000 words (100%) will assess all Learning Outcomes.

Bowdin, G et al (2006) Events Management. Butterworth Heinemann
Cooper C et al (2005) Tourism: Principles and Practices. Longman
Lennon, B & Cleves, P (2001) Fieldwork Techniques and Projects. Collins
Page S, J (2007) Tourism Management: Managing for Change. Butterworth Heinemann

Library
The Internet

Specific sources of information and reading lists appropriate to the visits and residential fieldtrip will be issued during the first meeting with each student cohort.