The University of Northampton’s Events, Tourism & Hospitality (ETH) department is one of nine subject areas within the Faculty of Business and Law (FBL). It offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, led by a team of experienced tutors from a range of industry and academic backgrounds.
The team are committed to growing their relationships with local businesses to make sure the curriculum is continuously evolving to reflect the trends and skills required by industry. All courses include practical components embedded within the core course curriculum and students work on live client briefs in each year of study.
The curriculum is supported by an Industry Partner Group, comprising eight local organisations spanning events, tourism and hospitality, who contribute their time and expertise to support students in developing the industry-specific skills they will need to enter the job market
upon graduation.
Careers in these industries span its various sub-sectors and include, for example, event production in festivals, conferences, sporting events, etc., travel management and tour operations, hotel/spa/resort management, restaurant/club/bar hospitality management, venue/tourist attraction management, destination marketing, heritage management, corporate hospitality, customer service and many more, not to mention the range of roles also available within the associated supply chains.
ETH’s academic portfolio includes undergraduate programmes in Events Management and International Tourism Management and postgraduate (Masters) programmes MA International Tourism Development and MA International Hotel Management. This academic year has seen the launch of a series of CPD opportunities for industry professionals, focusing on embedding the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated the events, tourism and hospitality industries across the globe, but it has been inspiring to see the resilience shown by local businesses through the challenges of lockdowns, furloughs and stops-restarts over the past 18 months. It is heartening to see local businesses opening up again and taking confident strides towards ‘building back better’.
The University’s ETH team is keen to do its bit to support local stakeholders in making the most of the opportunities that lie ahead. In June 2020, it became an official signatory to the Future of Tourism Coalition, formalising a long-standing commitment to promoting sustainability in events, tourism and hospitality, and shaping the next generation of industry professionals to approach all business challenges with sustainability at the forefront of their actions.
With expertise in product development, risk assessment and crisis management, operations management and marketing communications, the University’s ETH can help with live projects and events through
Graduate recruitment and student placements
Research and development
Bespoke staff training opportunities
Project planning, delivery and evaluation
The ETH team has growing links with Northamptonshire’s ‘Britain’s Best Surprise’ initiative, instigated and led by the Lieutenancy with University, Visit England, SEMLEP, West and North Northamptonshire Unitary Council support, to help promote the county’s tourism, heritage, cultural and hospitality sectors. The team is also keen to support local schools and colleges in getting their students to engage with the UNSDG agenda at an appropriate level.
There is so much potential for the local events, tourism and hospitality industries. The work that needs doing is extensive, but it has the potential to be exceptionally rewarding for all stakeholders. The ETH team welcomes enquiries from local businesses, charities, associations, schools and colleges as ETH is keen to play an increasingly active role in the county’s post-pandemic recovery – and the growth of the Northamptonshire destination brand and visitor economy.
Let’s all help put Northamptonshire on the map and help the county build back better!
To find out more contact Ivna Reic via ivna.reic@northampton.ac.uk or 01604 892062, or Adrian Pryce at adrian.pryce@northampton.ac.uk or 07720 297402
Subject Lead,
Events Tourism & Hospitality, Faculty of Business Law
University of Northampton
