Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management

Purpose

The purpose of the Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management is to provide opportunities for students to develop their applied and cognitive competencies in the acquisition, interpretation, understanding and applications of hospitality management principles. The student will be able to analyse and explain management decisions in the context of a hospitality unit or company. Students achieving this qualification will be able to identify, select and apply managerial skills, to a range of research methodologies and techniques under both familiar and unfamiliar conditions. The curriculum is designed to emphasise management in a hospitality setting, with the focus on financial management, Human Resource management and general management. The research project is designed to promote independent, creative and innovative thinking, and problem solving. The aim is to produce employable graduates with well-developed managerial, research and entrepreneurial skills.

Rationale

The Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management provides vertical articulation option for students. Furthermore, it provides articulation from the Diploma into Postgraduate studies giving access to Postgraduate studies to students who might not have met the Degree entry requirements.

The university is developing a School of Hospitality and Tourism Studies and programmes that will help meet the National and Provincial needs for well educated people to work in the hospitality and tourism industries. The Mpumalanga Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS) has established hospitality as a priority sector as the Province has the natural and cultural resource base upon which to develop a sustainable industry on the one hand and on the other, take advantage of the expanding markets for international and domestic travel.

The Hospitality industry is therefore, seen as a panacea for many economic and social harms in Mpumalanga. Consequently, by offering an Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management the university will be supporting the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy and thereby develop the sector as a driver of economic activity and diversification. The Tourism Satellite Account for 2015 (SSA, 2015:41; 44) estimated that the Hospitality sector constituted 1.66 per cent of the tourism industry's contribution towards the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of South Africa and provided for 68 705 jobs in the tourism industry in 2014. With such a huge contribution to the GDP the need for additional skilled labour in hospitality has been recognised by the University to realise the industry's full potential in the country.

According to the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sports Sector Education Training Authority (CATHSETTA) the Hospitality sector is regarded as one of the fastest growing sectors of South Africa's economy. It is one of the key stimulants for economic growth, wealth creation and economic empowerment. Through the Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management qualification, the University will contribute to the sustainability of the Hospitality industry of Mpumalanga. Furthermore, by offering an Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management, the University will be supporting the strategic responsible growth objectives of the Draft National Tourism Sector Strategy (RSA NDT, 2010:14), namely to develop people, to provide decent work for employees in the tourism industry, and to deliver a world class experience to consumers in the Hospitality industry. Given the afore-mentioned points the need for an Advanced Diploma in Hospitality at the University cannot be overemphasised. In addition, this qualification will provide an important opportunity for progression for those students who wish to continue with their studies at the Universities. It will also provide a route into further postgraduate studies (Honours, Masters and Doctoral studies) that we are planning in this field.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The University accepts Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as an integral part of education and academic practice. It is acknowledged that all learning has value and the university accepts the challenge to assess prior learning that is aligned to programmes and award credit (through Credit Accumulation and Transfer) to promote lifelong learning. The purpose of the RPL and CAT policy is to recognise prior learning in order to provide for admission to programmes, grant advanced placement in programmes and grant credits for modules using the principles and processes that serve as basis for RPL practices.

Entry Requirements

• Diploma in Hospitality Management, Level 6.

Or

• A National Diploma (Food and Beverage Management), Level 6.

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at Level 7, totalling 120 Credits.

• Hospitality Financial Management, 30 Credits.
• Hospitality Industry Law, 30 Credits.
• Hospitality Management, 30 Credits.
• Research Methodology and project, 30 Credits.

1. Integrate knowledge and skills of hospitality management and develop a deep understanding of the theories and principles that underpin the field of study.
2. Understand the contested nature of knowledge and that knowledge advances through research.
3. Undertake a substantial independent research project by identifying problems, selecting an appropriate research method from a range of methods, collecting and analysing data and in scientific communication.
4. Consider any ethical implications of the research and respond accordingly.
5. Gain experience through individual and group assignments and projects.
6. Understand the interdisciplinary approach where the connectedness of internal and external systems is emphasised.
7. Become independent learners and take responsibility for learning and development.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Appreciate the interrelated nature of knowledge fields.
• Incorporate an in-depth knowledge of hospitality management into all planning projects and assignments.
• Evaluate and critique existing plans for hospitality enterprises in relation to issues of finance, ethics, Human Resource Management, and relevant legislation.
• Demonstrate a high level of knowledge and understanding in separate management plans for two enterprises.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Demonstrate an understanding that knowledge is often contested and that there may be different ways of knowing.
• Review existing hospitality enterprises and make suggestions as to how latest ideas, theories, principles, laws and practices can be incorporated.
• Select and apply theories and processes amongst diverse clientele to optimize the success of their hospitality enterprise.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Demonstrate an ability to formulate research questions, select appropriate methodologies, collect, analyse and synthesise data, and present data in written and verbal form.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Understand different value systems.
• Evaluate and critique existing Hospitality enterprises in terms of ethics.
• Develop plans for different enterprises by taking into account issues of ethics.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Collect and collate information from a range of sources, manage that information, and communicate the results in spoken and written forms.
• Evaluate and use available tools for written and spoken communication appropriately based on the audience.
• Compare and use available tools for data analysis appropriately to address the question.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Demonstrate an understanding of how hospitality enterprises and management plans take a systems approach and successfully link the individual components.
• Evaluate and critique existing plans in terms of the extent to which they take a holistic approach to the hospitality industry.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Take full responsibility for and be accountable for their contribution.
• Reflect accountability in fields such hospitality.

Integrated Assessment

The university understands the central role that assessment plays in education and the need for assessment to be fair, transparent and rigorous. All assessment is carried out in terms of the university's policy. The following assessment will be integrated into the Advanced Diploma: Hospitality Management.

The following assessment forms will comprise the formative and summative

• Assignments.
• Tests.
• Group work.
• Quizzes.
• Business plan presentation (oral).
• Project proposal presentation (oral).
• Project proposal written assignment.