The Tourism Society - People in all the right places

Postgraduate qualifications in destination management developed by the Tourism Management Institute (TMI) and higher education partners Leeds Metropolitan, Bournemouth and Lancaster Universities, have been integrated into job specifications for different levels of tourism role within a Regional Development Agency:  the postgraduate certificate is now a desirable qualification for specialist advisors, the postgraduate diploma for senior specialist advisors, and the MSc for managerial posts within the tourism team at ONE North East.

Now the destination management section of the Tourism Society, TMI hopes that other agencies involved in destination management will make similar links between job roles and the qualifications, encouraging more practising destination managers to sign up for the courses. Cathy Guthrie, CPD Co-ordinator, said: “We welcome this move and will be talking to other national, regional and local agencies to gain equal recognition and support for these professional qualifications.”

Course leader Dr. Philip Long (Leeds Metropolitan University), is delighted:
“These part time courses are delivered online so that professional destination managers can fit their study around work and social commitments. They are the first postgraduate qualifications specifically designed to set the academic, management and leadership skills and knowledge required by today’s destination leaders precisely in the destination management context. That ONE North East has now embedded the qualifications in its career structure shows just how relevant and practical the courses are for today’s destination management professionals.”

Ends

This press release can also be viewed on TravMedia
 
Notes to Editors:

The Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma and MSc in Destination Management have been developed by Leeds Metropolitan, Bournemouth and Lancaster Universities in response to a brief from the Tourism Management Institute.  The Certificate was launched in October 2008 with endorsement from People 1st, and the first cohort of destination management practitioners enrolled on the Certificate in January 2009.

The qualifications are awarded by Leeds Metropolitan University and delivered via X-Stream, an online learning environment.  Students are able to access the materials at any time, allowing maximum flexibility to fit study in and around work and family commitments.  Course material and assignments are specifically designed to be relevant to students’ place of work, enabling students and their employers to get maximum benefit from participation in the course.

Students may apply at any time, and courses normally start in September and January of each year.  The next intake will be in September 2010. 

Normal progression is from PG Certificate, to PG Diploma and on to MSc. Costs are £2250 for the Postgraduate Certificate, £2250 for the Post Graduate Diploma and £800 to complete the dissertation leading to the award of MSc.

Enquiries regarding applications should be addressed to the Course Administrator, David Holt:  d.holt@leedsmet.ac.uk  Tel: 0113 812 6771

For an informal discussion, please contact either
Dr. Philip Long MTMI,
Course Leader:
p.e.long@leedsmet.ac.uk
Tel: 0113 812 8545

or

Dr. Cathy Guthrie, FTMI FTS
Tourism Society CPD Co-ordinator
cpd@tmi.org.uk
Tel: 01467 620769  Mob: 07802 679489

Details, including case studies and testimonials from current and past students are also available on the Tourism Management Institute web site, www.tmi.org.uk, by links from the Tourism Society web site, www.tourismsociety.org, and on the individual partner university web sites