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Hospitality

View the employability skills

Degree courses in hospitality focus strongly on developing critical and analytical problem-solving and general/transferable attributes to prepare students for employment in the business world of the hospitality industry.

A graduate in hospitality typically will have the ability to:

Knowledge

  • exhibit the development of knowledge in their particular subject area
  • appreciate and apply the need for a multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approach to study, drawing from service, research and professional contexts
  • understand the subject through academic and professional reflective practice
  • apply relevant theories, concepts and knowledge in an industry context
  • demonstrate knowledge of corporate social responsibility issues.

Intellectual skills

  • research and assess subject specific facts, theories, paradigms, principles and concepts
  • critically assess, analyse and evaluate evidence and interpret data, text and trends using appropriately acquired information
  • develop the ability to identify, analyse and develop a range of solutions to routine and non-routine problems and evaluate these solutions within the context of the problem
  • identify and solve problems through the use of innovative techniques and approaches
  • develop critical thinking skills that enable appropriate responses to industry challenges
  • respond to moral, ethical, environmental and safety issues which directly pertain to the subject domain including relevant legislation and professional codes of conduct.

Subject specific skills

  • understand the operation and management of a range of physical, financial, human and technical resources
  • apply theory to the solution of complex problems within the core areas of hospitality
  • analyse and evaluate food, beverage and/or accommodation service systems, their implementation and operation
  • understand and apply the theories and concepts underpinning consumer behaviour within the hospitality context and develop appropriate responses to this
  • analyse the quality of the service encounter and its impact on the consumer and the service provider
  • identify and respond appropriately to the diversity of stakeholders in the hospitality industry such as customers, employees, organisations and government and external agencies
  • apply, within the hospitality context, appropriate theories and concepts from the generic management areas of operations management, finance and management accounting, human resources and organisational behaviour, services marketing, information systems and technology
  • display an insight into the structure of the hospitality industry and the contribution that it makes to the global economy
  • evaluate the factors that influence the development of organisations operating within the hospitality industry
  • review and analyse the political, technological, social, environmental and economic factors which affect the supply of and demand for hospitality.

Transferable skills

  • exercise communication and presentation skills
  • make a sustained argument with clear structure and presentation
  • interact effectively with individuals and groups, organise a team effectively and treat others' values, beliefs and opinions with respect
  • evaluate and reflect on the effectiveness of team and one's performance or contribution, including leadership of a group
  • demonstrate learning from work experience, including in some cases an industrial placement
  • organise work and learn independently, plan and be responsive to change
  • make independent judgements and analyse own performance in relation to personal and career development
  • apply numerical tools and techniques for handling figures and statistics using numeracy and ICT skills
  • take responsibility for own learning and continuing professional development by developing the knowledge and understanding of how to learn, recognising the importance of personal development planning, the ability to demonstrate skills developed, and to present evidence
  • be reflective and self-critical and perceive self in relation to others
  • plan, design, execute and communicate a piece of independent work using appropriate media.

The special nature of the hospitality industry has led to the development of higher education provision for students wishing to pursue careers in hospitality management. The diverse richness of hospitality degrees means that while some are rooted in social science perspectives, others are highly pragmatic and focus on vocational elements. This is distinct in its content and delivery from generic business studies programmes as it provides students with an appreciation of the range and complexity of applied management in the hospitality context.

A degree in hospitality offers graduates a high-quality professional and academic education that equips them with a range of intellectual, business and vocational skills that are required for a career in hospitality and which also have great relevance in many other sectors.

The QAA benchmarking group made use of the UCAS directory in identifying those course titles that properly fall within the remit of the group. The current scope of the group is degrees with the following titles:

Hospitality studies; hotel management; hotel and restaurant management; catering management; hotel, catering and institutional management; hotel, restaurant and bar management; hospitality business; hospitality business management; European hospitality management; international hospitality management; international hotel and catering management; institutional management; catering technology; culinary arts; licensed retail management; events and conferencing management; hotel and hospitality management and cruise and gaming courses.

Where the subject programme title contains the word 'management' then students should be able to demonstrate vocationally relevant managerial skills and knowledge. Where a programme title contains the word 'studies' then students should be able to critique the contributions of relevant academic disciplines and to display an integrated knowledge of the subject domain. The subject community has active links with professional bodies and associations and practical engagement with employers ensuring the area is at the forefront of industry relevance. A graduate in hospitality will have an understanding of the concepts underpinning the consumer experience and a concern for enriching the life experiences of people, both as consumers, participants and providers.

The QAA Subject Benchmark Statement upon which the Student Employability Profiles for hospitality, leisure, sport and tourism will be based is under review. The Employability Profile for tourism and updated versions of those for hospitality, leisure and sport will be available on www.heacademy.ac.uk/hlst from 2008.


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