INDUSTRY READINESS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module represents the final stage in the employability and professional development journey within the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management's undergraduate programmes. It is designed to equip students with the skills, confidence, and professional insight required to transition successfully into graduate employment.Students will engage in a structured, real-world learning experience through a dedicated partnership with an industry professional. work on a live industry-based project in conjunction with industry personnel. This collaboration will expose students to current industry practices and challenges, allowing them to apply academic learning in a practical, business-focused environment.The project will require students to explore a real organisational issue, develop analytical and technical competencies (including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, data analytics, strategy development etc), and deliver actionable recommendations. The student¿s professional growth is the aim, contributing to their industry awareness, communication skills, and strategic thinking.This hands-on experience serves as a capstone for students¿ employability development, strengthening their readiness for the dynamic demands of the hospitality, tourism, and events sectors.

Module provider

Surrey Hospitality & Tourism Management

Module Leader

GANBERT Sylvia (Hosp & Tour)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None 

Module content

Academic and Transferable Skill Development:

• Analysis of business and sensitive commercial data

• Verbal and non-verbal communication skills (including: presentation skills, business report writing, online communication techniques and taking feedback)

• Self-reflection and awareness through analysis of own skill development and current levels Applied Professional Development for Hospitality and Tourism:

• Employability: general and sector-specific skill set requirements

• Developing professional identity and impact by managing the mentor relationship

• Working with industry professionals and learning from experience (from self and professionals)

• Business ethics and corporate social responsibility

• Business awareness and acumen

• How to manage your industry identity and communicate with impact

• Leadership skills and proactive relationship management

• Networking in both internal and external organisational contexts

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy for this module is designed to reflect real-world professional expectations and provide students with the opportunity to engage directly with industry practitioners. Students will work on an industry-based project that addresses a recognised challenge or opportunity identified in collaboration with a potential industry mentor.Sectors of the industry will serve as a live case studies, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical, business-oriented context using relevant industry data and contacts.As part of this module, all students will be expected to demonstrate enhanced proficiency in several areas such as Microsoft Office tools or Canva (e.g., Excel, PowerPoint, Word), supporting their ability to conduct analysis and deliver clear, professional recommendations. Students will be required to produce practical, insight-led solutions and communicate these effectively.Summative Assessment:

• Individual Industry Report ¿ A professional analysis of the identified business issue, including recommendations.
• Individual Reflection ¿ A critical evaluation of personal learning, industry engagement, and skill development throughout the project.

• In-class Q&A and discussion-based learning
• Group discussions and activities on SurreyLearn
• Scheduled 1-to-1 feedback sessions with academic staff
• Guidance and input from the industry mentor

Module aims

• The aim of this module is to engage students in a practice-based learning experience that enhances their professional development and industry readiness. Students will work on a live, industry-focused project designed to expose them to real-world business challenges and develop their ability to apply academic knowledge in a commercial context.
  
  As the final stage in the employability and professional development thread embedded across all SHTM undergraduate programmes, this module supports students in critically reflecting on their personal and professional growth from Levels 4 to 6. It also encourages the refinement of their professional identity through exploration of key issues such as leadership, career progression, and external networking.
  
  By conducting applied research and developing evidence-based business recommendations, students will demonstrate their capacity to navigate industry-relevant issues and strengthen the core competencies required for graduate-level employment.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The key teaching and learning strategy is designed to encourage students to enhance and reflect upon the key skills and values required to launch their professional identity and successful career in the hospitality and tourism industries through ongoing mentor guidance and academic support.

 

The module will draw upon a range of teaching and learning techniques to encourage students to actively engage and reflect upon their position as students and as future professionals in the hospitality and tourism industries.

 

This will reflect the aims and learning outcomes above and will comprise of a range of classroom-based techniques including: lectures, class discussion, presentations, industry analysis, role play scenarios, industry mentor visits from alumni and industry partners, that are designed explicitly to develop students’ critical ability and comprehension of the issues addressed. Students and mentors will also be expected to meet at least twice face to face. Classes and sessions will be delivered both in teaching rooms and at the mentor’s host business. Additional readings, activities, online resources, and lecture slides will be available on SurreyLearn.

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures 

• Classroom support sessions

• One to one mentor/mentee sessions (guided learning)

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MAN3162

Other information

Surrey's Curriculum Framework is committed to developing students with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities in the following areas: 

Digital Capabilities: Learning to navigate SurreyLearn, is an essential part of the module. Teaching and learning materials are provided in a number of formats (e.g. captured content, documents, mock calculation, Excel workbooks etc), and students are encouraged to use various methods for communication. Students also works with Excel spreadsheet if the project requires other exercise which helps them familiarizing themselves with functions and formats of the software. Other data analysis maybe required for their individual projects.

Employability: This module provides students with a working knowledge of key conceptual foundations for equipping students to use their knowledge of the topic to make strategic, technical and operational business decisions in the service industry with the aim to solve key issues in the industry. This knowledge and decision-making skills will naturally be developed over time with more experience in their career This module continues to build on the ability to critically analyse data with the aim to develop problem solving skills

Global and cultural understanding: In this module, students are naturally part of the most globalized industry in the world. As such, students develop global and cultural understanding in various terms eg purchase behaviour, employee behaviour, cultural management etc  

Resourcefulness and Resilience: This module equips students by using practical examples and exercises to critical analyse and data that is key to understanding the subject that they are researching. This allows students to build resourcefulness and resilience in developing a problem-solving mindset through financial accounting problems and risks in the context of service businesses. 

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.