Fancy a career in tourism and hospitality?
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Students at the International College of Management, Sydney. |
Thanks to a partnership with the International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS), Macquarie University will offer a new industry-focused tourism and hospitality Masters degree in 2006.
The Master of Commerce in Business (Tourism and Hospitality) will feature four core units taught at ICMS and four electives which can be studied at either ICMS or the Graduate Accounting and Commerce Centre (GACC) at Macquarie University.
"We believe that International Tourism will be a flagship unit," says Professor Peter Eddey, Director of GACC. "The other core units are Tourism and Hospitality Marketing, Facilities Management (Managing Hotels and Facilities) and Hotel Management Simulation. We've never run a program around simulation before, so it's the closest students will get to the practical experience of actually running a hotel."
The electives on offer have been designed to complement the core subjects and include Human Resources Management, International Marketing and Managing Service Relationships.
"We are in a great position to give a very good educational service to those people who aspire to be top managers in an increasing area of the Australian economy," says Helen Bowers, Program Development Coordinator at ICMS.
Prerequisites and length of study
Students at ICMS come from a variety of backgrounds, with around 70 per cent from overseas. Those wishing to undertake a Master of Commerce in Business (Tourism and Hospitality) don't necessarily have to possess a tourism background. Students must be keen, have good English and a credit average in their first degree. Those students without a background in business must complete a preliminarily program of four units in marketing, economics, finance and accounting.
Program length depends on the background of the student. If international students have sufficient business background they can complete one year of full-time study, or extend it to 18 months. Australian students are able to undertake the MCom in Business on a part-time basis.
About ICMS
ICMS has been a strategic partner of Macquarie University since 1998, with the Graduate Accounting and Commerce Centre forging a link in 2002. This partnership has benefits for both the College and the University. Recently, ICMS won the New South Wales Tourism Award for Excellence in Tourism Education and Training, for the second year in a row.
The College is run like a five-star establishment. Students will not only have a top class education, but will also experience what it is like to be in a high-level service business. The College has an emphasis on presentation, and students must attend lectures dressed in business attire, as if they are serving the public.
Benefits of study
"I believe the Master of Commerce in Business (Tourism and Hospitality) will offer a significant lift in the quality and management of the tourism and hotel industry," says Bowers.
With a high profile in the industry, the College is a major focus for recruitment. Postgraduates from a wide range of backgrounds will be assured of an entry level position in tourism and hospitality management.
For further information contact Helen Bowers at hbowers@icms.edu.au or Professor Peter Eddey at peddey@efs.mq.edu.au The website for ICMS is at www.icms.edu.au/