Postgraduate Courses in Hospitality Management
Differentiate yourself from the rest of the field with an industry relevant masters degree – it only takes on year to make a lifetime’s worth of difference! The hospitality industry is a major employer throughout the world. In the UK it accounts for 29% of all expenditure on food, consists of some 250,000 outlets and employs over 2.5 million people, 300,000 of whom are in management positions. The lack of formal training is a major concern, with some analysts suggesting that industry growth is hindered by a lack of trained staff, including managers. It is anticipated that an additional 30,000 trained managers and supervisors will be required between now and 2010. A postgraduate course in Hospitality Management will make a huge difference to your career prospects. The hospitalitity industry is in need of graduates with relevant training and expertise. A postgraduate course in Hospitality Management will provide you with an edge and a firm grounding in your future career.
The industry is made up of a range of different types of organisation from international hotel chains to small family run businesses. A substantial proportion of those who work in the industry are employed in the public sector.
Over the past decade, the priority accorded to hospitality education, training, management, and research has changed substantially. The number of students studying the subject for vocational or purely academic reasons has significantly increased. The University of Brighton recognises the importance and value of hospitality as a social and economic phenomenon that is a reflection of some very hard realities that have been forced upon this large and growing industry. There are a whole range of policy issues, many dealing with environmental concerns, that require astute analysis and eloquent communication for their resolution if the industry is not to founder.
The School’s courses are for participants who have a broad interest and/or previous knowledge in their chosen industry and who would like to contribute to and benefit from the programme of study. Many participants are continuing their studies straight after a first degree or returning to full time study after a period of work whilst others choose to study part time while continuing to work. For others, a postgraduate course in Hospitality Management represents a new direction. In view of the investment time and money, it is important to find a course, which will enhance your career prospects as well as prove, stimulating and challenging.
The masters degree and research courses in the School of Service Management have been designed to develop the skills and knowledge that today’s managers need now and in the future. They combine sound management education with the flexibility to specialise in areas of particular interest. As such they place graduates in an advantageous position to enter hospitality management careers or to advance in their current careers. Participants are encouraged to be creative, rigorous analysts and leaders of change whilst maintaining concern for the environment.
The MA Hospitality Management is located on the University’s Eastbourne campus at the School of Service Management, part of the Faculty of Management and Information Sciences. The School was the first in the UK to focus on Service Management and during the last 13 years has specialised in developing professional managers for the service industries. The course reflects a strong management emphasis and the majority of staff members have previously worked in the service industries as managers or consultants, with many continuing to undertake professional consultancy and research projects.
The School is committed to providing high quality teaching and research, wider access to education, equality of opportunity and a lively learning environment. The School’s aim is to maximise the potential of all members of its community by encouraging self-confidence and by nurturing development for the personal and professional enrichment of students and staff.
The student body consists of a diverse range of backgrounds, nationalities and cultures. There are students from all over the world studying with the School and it is not unusual for a third of service management students to come from outside of the UK. Students come from many regions including Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East, the Far East, Africa and Australia.
Upon graduation some students go on to develop careers in the UK whilst many undertake work in some of the more remote corners of the globe. Graduates are expected to take up a range of senior positions within their chosen industry. Whatever your personal objectives, we are confident that our programmes offer you the flexibility and challenge you need to achieve your aspirations.
The MA Hospitality Management is designed to enable students to develop a depth of knowledge of management theories and specialised aspects of tourism and hospitality management.
Students of the MA programme will explore their own value and belief systems and share their ideas with colleagues from a variety of backgrounds, and are encouraged to examine and reflect critically upon their approach to management, their perspective on the industry as a whole and their own sector in particular.
A vital aspect of the study is to develop and broaden the students' ability to analyse, debate and challenge current theory and to evaluate/argue alternative approaches and to develop investigative research skills which will enable students to progress to research degrees or undertake internal and external organisational consultancy. You won't regret studying a postgraduate course in Hospitality Management. Upon graduation, you will be able to be forward looking, critical and analytical when approaching management problems and issues within the tourism and hospitality industry. Don't delay, apply now for a postgraduate course in Hospitality Management to springboard your career.
For more information please visit our website www.brighton.ac.uk/ssm or contact the admissions office on (+44) (0) 1273 643645.
Contributed by: Birte Schmitz
Marketing and Recruitment, School of Service Management
University of Brighton
