EVENT INNOVATIONS - 2025/6

Module Overview

Event Innovations introduces students to cutting edge technological and advanced event innovation and practices required to respond to the dynamic international event environment. This is a central part of our commitment to develop students' digital capabilities. For example, from XR Event Technology to host virtual events right through to intelligent technology solutions increasingly adopted across event venues to deliver contemporary and sustainable and economically viable events. This module provides a unique opportunity for students to hear from, talk to, and engage with industry leaders across a range of different business, sporting and cultural events and contexts.

Module provider

Surrey Hospitality & Tourism Management

Module Leader

KENNELL James (Hosp & Tour)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

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

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

1. Event technologies

2. Intelligent technology solutions

3. 5G and 6G technology

4. Developments in ticketing

5. Event payment systems

6. VR and XR technologies

7. Enhanced social media communications

8. Innovation theory

9. Enhanced service and operational delivery

10. In-depth event case studies. 

These topics are designed to enhance students' digital capabilities and knowledge on the technologies available to deliver contemproary events. This is key if we want to create a resilient and sustainable events industry in the future. 

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

For Assignment 1 a 2000 word report will be required as advised by the module leader

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to achieving the Learning Outcomes stated above.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

Assessment 1:

• A group presentation providing a critical analysis of the either the service, operational or the strategic value of a chosen technology (or set of related technologies) for the global events industry (LO: 1, 2, 3).

Assessment 2:

• An individual report that chooses a particular technology (or set of related technologies) and provides an in-depth and critical analysis to suggest how it can be applied to a specific event of the student's choosing. Student's wil explicate how and why the technology will deliver potential service, operational and/or strategic value (LO: 1, 2, 3, 4).

Formative Assessment and Feedback:

Assignment 1
Students will receive verbal feedback form tutors immediately after their presentation. They will also receive a feedback sheet giving further details and their grade.

Assignment 2
Students will receive feedback via Surrey Learn this may be in written and/or audio format.

Module aims

• Expose students to cutting edge practices and advanced technological solutions adopted across the global events industry to develop students' digital capabilities and understanding.
• Illustrate how these new practices technologies are increasingly essential to operational and service delivery and the success, sustainability and resilience of events in the years following the global COVID-19 pandemic.
• Provide a series of in-depth case study insights by bringing industry leaders to talk about the technologies they have developed and/or adopted across their events contexts.
• Examines theories of innovation to conceptually understand how and why cutting edge practices and advanced technological solutions have been applied by event managers.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

Taking into account some of the key pillars discussed below, the learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Increase student critical understanding of cutting-edge practices and technological innovations in a range of event contexts, and to understand key digital capabilities and opportunities for delivering contemporary events.
Increase student knowledge of how and why these cutting-edge practices and technological innovations play a key role in the success of events in the years following the global COVID-19 pandemic as part of improving the sustainability and resilience of the sector;
Increase student knowledge of theories of innovation, to enable students to transfer ideas across contexts to improve applicability and employability. 
Increase student ability to present both a pitch to industry professionals and report on future innovations for a specific event of the student's choosing -- key for improving soft skills and digital capabilities. 

The learning and teaching methods include:

During the semester there will be live guest seminar slots led by an industry professional talking about specific cutting edge practices or advanced technological innovation. This will be supported with lecture and seminar content detailing theories of innovation to provide conceptual frameworks and underpinning. Students will have ample time to work and collaborate with students in a supporting space. 

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: MAN3196

Other information

This module adopts the university curriculum framework, which aims to develop learners with strong capabilities in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module contributes to the development of all of these:

 

Employability

Students will be expected to produce a realistic presentation and report on their chosen technology and its implications for the practice of events, which will draw on contemporary research and analysis. As such, the students will be required to demonstrate and apply research and analytical skills transferable to many workplace contexts. In addition, guest lecturers will present up-to-date insight from industry and provide an opportunity for students to directly learn from events and technology professionals.

 

Digital Capabilities

The foundation of this module is focused on technology and improving digital capabilities for integrating technology to tackle operational, service, and strategic challenges in the planning and delivering of events. Further, the preparation of their assignment will require students to use appropriate digital tools and methods, as well as engage with the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), SurreyLearn, and video conferencing platforms such as Microsoft Teams to facilitate learning.

 

Resourcefulness and Resilience

Delivering contemporary events requires resourcefulness to tackle consumer needs and to deliver high quality experience -- and we discuss the role of technology for enabling this. The integration of technology is also essential to ensure that in a post COVID events sector, event professionals are utilising technology to keep up with industry standards and consumer demands. The integration of new hybrid event solutions and purely online events now, including those situated in the metaverse, are being central to the events industry In addition, the module will provide the students themselves with opportunities to further develop these skills, as they learn in and contribute to the workshops and reflect on their own experiences and problem-solving abilities.

 

Sustainability

Sustainability is central to this module - particularly the need to create sustainable business models through the integration of technology. The use of technology to deliver events from a distance to help reduce carbon footprints through the reduced need to travel will be covered in this and what this means for the future of environmentally friendly events. 

 

Global and Cultural Capabilities

The study of events and technology requires international and cross-cultural perspectives. The module workshops will provide students with the opportunity to study international case studies of event strategies, and to understand diverse perspectives. In addition, the workshops will require students to work in groups with other students from diverse backgrounds. This will broaden their world view, challenge their perspectives, and enhance their understanding of the values, norms, and behaviors, which exist in other cultures.

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.