CONSULTANCY FOR THE VISITOR ECONOMY - 2025/6

Module Overview

This a practical module that provides the opportunity for students to collaboratively undertake a real consultancy project on behalf of an external industry client. Students will use project management, interpersonal and analytical skills in order to deliver a consultancy project that meets the needs of a client and supports businesses and organisations towards a successful and sustainable future. This module will enable students to draw upon the knowledge that they have acquired throughout their programme, and will strengthen students’ creative, digital and innovation skills, builds students’ resilience and resourcefulness, cross-cultural competencies, and provides a pathway into employability through the skills developed and direct industry interaction.

Module provider

Surrey Hospitality & Tourism Management

Module Leader

WINCHENBACH Anke (Hosp & Tour)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): 60

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• The role of management consultancy.


• Project management.


• Preparing and costing proposals.


• Basic data collection and analysis techniques.


• Planning.


• Strategy.


• Delivering recommendations and presenting findings orally and in writing.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Reassessment of the group report will be conducted through a piece of extended individual essay that will be aligned with the module aims and outcomes. Reassessment of the group presentation will be conducted through the slides of a PowerPoint presentation that will be aligned with the module aims and outcomes.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students’ with the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to plan, design and deliver a small consultancy project in the Visitor Economy.

Thus, the summative assessments for this module consists of:

A written group project and a linked group presentation that will allow students to demonstrate their ability to collect and analyse information, to formulate evidence-based recommendations and to present these to the client, assessing learning outcomes 1,3 and 4.

An individual reflective report that reflects on how the consultancy project was undertaken, the role of the individual, relationships between team members, what has been learned, how the changes to the way in which the project would be tackled if it was to be repeated, and possible future career aspirations in consultancy or related fields, assessing learning outcomes 1,2,3 and 4.
 

Formative assessment and Feedback

Teams will be asked to submit an outline plan of the group project as a formative assessment. Feedback will be provided to allow groups to progress with the preparation of the final report (summative assessment). Each team will meet with one of the teaching staff on at least four separate occasions during the semester to provide updates on how the consultancy project is faring and to receive feedback. Written feedback will be given on both the group report and group presentation.

Module aims

• Give students the opportunity to collaboratively undertake a consultancy project in the Visitor Economy in different contexts.
• Students will have the opportunity to conduct a small consultancy project for a client from inception until presenting the recommendations to the client.
• To develop students¿ skills in researching fast-moving contemporary issues (in areas such as sustainability, policy, employability, marketing/ PR, and digital innovation) and develop business-focused solutions, using a range of academic and industry source material and databases.
• To develop students¿ presentation, creativity, and analytical writing skills, as well as reflective capabilities.
• Serve as a foundation for students to develop innovative solutions for complex business tasks and equip students with consultancy knowledge, skills, confidence and competencies to succeed in their future careers.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to develop students’ ability to plan, design and deliver a small consultancy project.

Furthermore, the learning and teaching strategy is designed to develop students’ cultural awareness, digital literacy, confidence and competence in working with others, leadership, communication skills, employability and professionalism.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• lectures to illustrate theories.


• seminars and mentoring meetings to apply theories to practice and deepen the learning .


• guest speakers to provide links between theory and consultancy practice.


• supported group work via individual group appointments with dedicated tutor.


• regular self-organised client meetings and feedback points.


• group presentations.

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: MAN3251

Other information

This module aligns with the five pillars of the Surrey Curriculum Framework:

Digital capabilities: Throughout the module students learn to navigate and utilise the Virtual Learning Environment @ Surrey (SurreyLearn) and other digital resources and client and online databases to aid their learning and undertake research. Students are encouraged to use current media such as WeChat, Whatsapp, Teams, Zoom, and utilising cloud/file sharing for communication and team working. Appropriate use of digital media and communication platforms is critically important in consultancy, and through use and discussion of these students gain an awareness of their roles and teamworking capabilities, as well as in client interaction.

Employability: Consultancy in the Visitor Economy is an increasingly important task now and in the future. Being strong and supportive collaborators across diverse teams, critical and creative thinkers and effective communicators who excel in employing evidence-based reasoning, and develop innovative solutions to real-world issues, and present these confidently, clearly and fluently in writing, visually and orally are key to build confidence, resilience and enhance employability.

Global and cultural capabilities: Consultancy in the Visitor Economy inherently requires international and cross-cultural perspectives, collaboration and communication. Case studies in this module draw on a wide range of international and diverse perspectives, and students will develop their ability to work in groups effectively with other students and clients from diverse backgrounds to broaden their world view, own perspectives and interpretations and reinterpreting issues against a broader spectrum of ideas and representations.

Resourcefulness and resilience: The module content and structure are centered around resourcefulness and resilience, both in terms of resilience of the tourism, hospitality and events organisations who participate as clients, as well as fostering student resourcefulness and resilience. Students will develop an opportunity-centered mindset and leadership, demonstrating confidence in responding effectively to opportunities, challenges, problems, and setbacks, reflecting and learning from own performance and experiences, and develop solutions.

Sustainability: Sustainability is at the core of all degrees at SHTM, aligning with the UN Sustainable Goals. Lectures and seminars, as well as projects give students the opportunity to explore specific topical aspects of sustainability depending on their projects. Sustainability issues discussed in this module and addressed in projects include, for example, environmental or social sustainability communication and actions developed for clients, improvements in dignified and decent work, economic growth, responsible destination policies and management, gender equality etc.

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.