This Professional Practice module will enhance the students’ understanding of what it means to be a business professional within the Tourism and Travel Industry. This module will support the preparation for their future career by encouraging them to develop, put into practice and evidence the skills and behaviours that employers want to see.
The ‘Professional Practice’ approach ensures that as a developing professional the students understand how to learn effectively and efficiently either in the workplace or in a simulated context. They also learn how to use all the resources available to reflect on their progress. This module involves planning, conducting and reflecting on their own ‘performance episodes*’ and a more general reflection on their overall professional development to date. The written reports and reflections become part of their growth and productivity E-portfolio** which they will maintain throughout their programme.
In addition, they will have the opportunity to test, review and evidence their skills development via the on-line resources provided throughout the programme, which support the general skills required by employers. As such this module aims to,
1. Build understanding of the expected workplace knowledge, skills, competencies and attitudes so that they become intrinsic performance and growth motivators.
2. Ensure the adoption of skills, attitudes and behaviours that improve self-awareness to aid reflective practice.
*A performance episode is defined as an initiative that the students take, made up of tasks, which develops their skills, and which involves both selecting knowledge from the programme and interacting with others. It must be measurable so that they are able to reflect on their professional skills development.
** The growth and productivity E-portfolio is a digital internet-based tool within which they can store all evidence of their work, feedback from stakeholders, their reflections and their Individual Development Plan (IDP). It allows them to share their journey with others and to organise elements of it to help them progress further.
• Knowledge, skills and behaviour assessment LO1
• Work context analysis LO2, LO3
• Learning processes and Learning trajectories as vital to career WBL LO2
• The nature of professional knowledge LO2, LO3
• Using knowledge in practice LO1, LO2
• Reflective practice LO1, LO3
Seminar Schedule will examine the following topic areas specific to the Tourism industry:
Introduction to the graduate recruitment context and career expectation vs. reality (bridging the information gap on careers information)
‘A day in the life of…’ entry level careers day
Developing a personalised CPD/ The graduate recruitment and selection process
Preparing for Management/Transition to leadership in a tourism industry context
Workplace Mental Health (including pilot stress and fatigue, effect of flexible / smart working, managing a remote workforce, cultural and human factors as they relate to tourism, and the decline of traditional work space & potential loneliness)
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving (incl decision making and analysis)
Collaboration and Teamwork
Communication Skills (verbal, written, question – right time / right person)
Creativity and innovation using curiosity (aka thinking outside the box)
Transition from University to work (facebook/Instagram culture, attention spans and task completion expectations, transitioning from similar peer group to diverse workforce)
How to succeed at applications within the tourism industry
How to succeed at CV writing within the tourism industry
How to succeed at Interviewing within the tourism industry
Planning your career/Career Coaching (Alumni from Industry guest lectures)
Delivery of the module will consist of lectures and contextual seminars. The module will be student centred. Students will be encouraged to reflect and discuss in addition to module materials including newspapers, textbooks and on-line sources to identify aspects relevant to their areas of study.
Sessions will provide the opportunity for the whole class to come together and to interact with the lecturer who will provide the theories and help to expedite the student’s professional development.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
LO1: Recognize, review and reflect upon the skills, behaviours and attitudes needed to perform current and/or future roles within the profession,
LO2: Demonstrate an ability to self-organise and communicate information clearly and effectively.
LO3: Identify the use of stakeholder feedback and self-review as a source of reflection and further learning and challenges.
