Master of Tourism and Hospitality Management

Purpose

The purpose of the Master of Tourism and Hospitality Management is to develop the ability of the student to question, analyse and interpret tourism and hospitality management issues within a global context, with a focus on industry-specific sectors.

This purpose is achieved through the delivery of a research-based dissertation at the Master's Level where the student will show evidence of scientific research and the ability to reflect on issues in the context of tourism and hospitality management. The programme therefore assists in the continuing professional development of managers.

The Master of Tourism and Hospitality Management provides postgraduate students with the opportunity to develop and enhance their intellectual competencies and practical skills required to effectively manage tourism and hospitality systems, cognisant of changes in its external and internal environments. Students are therefore equipped to reflect on the changes in strategic requirements of tourism and hospitality organisations and the implications thereof in local, national and international contexts.

Rationale

The remarkable growth of the South African tourism industry over the years drove the industry towards being structured into tourism and hospitality sectors and sub-sectors. Differences between these sectors have become evident at the operational level. The demand for differential operational competence is now sufficiently covered by undergraduate programmes.

The increased demand for higher level career development through tourism and hospitality postgraduate programmes is evident in that:

• Industry has grown in complexity and competitiveness over the years. This change in life cycle is verified by international peer-reviewed conference papers and journal papers in the field of tourism and hospitality showing diversification in scope and depth. As a result, the demand for postgraduate competence to support complex strategic decision-making at the industry-wide level has grown.
• Government and industry demands that postgraduate programmes should focus on strategic issues generic to both sectors in order to promote the broad South African tourism experience. This demand is explained by most postgraduate candidates being positioned in high level tourism and hospitality leadership and managerial positions where tourism and hospitality strategy is interpreted as an integrated system.

It is assumed that the learner is able to develop a research proposal for the intended research project.

Recognition of Prior Learning

The Faculty of Management and the School of Tourism and Hospitality (STH) 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 STH accepts the challenge to assess prior learning and award credit that is aligned to STH programmes to promote lifelong learning.

The STH manages Recognition of Prior Learning according to the University of Johannesburg's Recognition of Prior Learning policy. The Recognition of Prior Learning process is guided by a Recognition of Prior Learning application, selection and assessment form. Applicants are guided by the Recognition of Prior Learning information brochure and student assessment preparation guidelines, and assessors by the manual for Recognition of Prior Learning implementers.

Access to the Qualification

Access to this qualification is open to learners in possession of Bachelor degrees in Tourism Management or Hospitality Management or an equivalent qualification in tourism and hospitality management.

This is a research-based qualification requiring the production of a dissertation at the appropriate level for a Master's Degree.

• Identify a suitable research topic in the environment of the tourism and/or hospitality industry.
• Select an appropriate research approach.
• Conduct research using a range of quantitative/qualitative methods and a variety of analytical techniques and information technologies.
• Produce and present a research dissertation to advance knowledge in tourism and/or hospitality management, in an acceptable format.

The following associated assessment criteria are applicable to the Exit Level Outcomes

• The research topic is relevant to tourism and/or hospitality management in South Africa.
• Appropriate research methodology is applied and data and information are sourced, analysed and synthesised in a meaningful and accurate way for the purposes of the research and, where applicable, reference is made to overseas practice.
• Appropriate language and correct terminology is used in research documentation and in the dissertation.
• Recommendations are made in the dissertation based on the research done that can inform tourism and/or hospitality management and related aspects of tourism.
• The dissertation meets the necessary standard in terms of quality standards in terms of both format and content.

Integrated Assessment

Assessment of the qualification's learning outcomes forms an integral part of the teaching and learning process of the Master's programme. In achieving these learning outcomes students are required to comply with six steps.

• Prospective STH postgraduate students are required to submit a three-page preliminary research proposal for evaluation by the STH Research Committee. The committee serves to evaluate the viability of the project and to allocate STH resources. Based on the student's research interest, the STH Research Committee allocates a supervisor to the student.
• The student develops a final research proposal for approval by the STH Research Committee under the guidance of the STH appointed supervisor. As part of the approval process, the student presents a research proposal to a departmental research panel. Based on the recommendations of the research panel, the student finalises the proposal, after which the title and the external examiners are approved by the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee and appointed.
• The student and the supervisor establish a schedule against which progress may be monitored by the supervisor and the STH Research Committee.
• After finalisation of the research output, the research dissertation is submitted to the previously appointed examiners. The student needs to attain the supervisor's approval to submit the dissertation for external assessment. The student is responsible for incorporating the recommendations of the external examiners in collaboration with the supervisor.
• The final mark of the dissertation is calculated in accordance with the requirements determined by the Faculty Board, approved by the Senate and contained in the relevant faculty rules and regulations. The results are considered by the relevant Faculty Board for approval and sent to Senate for noting in accordance to the University's Higher Degrees and Postgraduate Studies Policy.
• The student, in collaboration with the supervisor, publishes the results in an accredited journal according to UJ and STH policy and procedure.

Formative and Summative Assessment

In terms of the research component of the proposed qualification, the supervisor will be responsible for the diagnostic and formative assessments of the product in order to provide feedback in terms of the final evaluation criteria. Teaching and learning of research methodology topics are promoted in this manner and is also a way of monitoring student progress.

Internal and external moderation/examination

External moderators are appointed to ensure the quality of the proposed Master of Tourism and Hospitality Management programme.

The University of Johannesburg requires that moderators should be experienced assessors with knowledge of the learning field, in whom other assessors have confidence and who are experienced Moderators or have undergone training in moderation.

Students' research products are finally evaluated by a suitably qualified, internal examiner and by two suitably qualified external examiners on a Master's Degree level. The process of using two external examiners ensures that internal examination procedures are externally verified.

Students receive written and/or oral feedback on all assessments from the assessor. The date, time and place of feedback are communicated in writing to students as part of the assessment plan.

Where practical, students receive feedback within two weeks of assessment submission. Feedback is provided by one or more of the following methods:

• A written assessment feedback report
• Marking checklist
• One-on-one interview
• Verbal feedback

In line with the University of Johannesburg Assessment Policy, assessment results are confidential. An individual student's assessment results are not disclosed to fellow-students or unauthorised staff members. Class lists on notice boards include only the relevant student numbers and the results. Constructive feedback which takes the purpose of the assessment into account is provided.