Curricula

Objectives

The object of the course
In this course you will gain important skills needed in the digitalizing tourism industry as a business manager.You will gain insight about digital trends and how to utilize these in the tourism industry. After completing this course, you will know how to develop digital services in order to mediate experiences both online and offline.

Course competences

The learning objectives of the course
You understand the impact of digitalization in tourism and the role of different digital services along the customer journey. You recognize the value of digital services for different customer segments. You have basic knowledge of the user-centred design and evaluation of digital services. You understand how to develop digital services.

Content

The principal contents of this course are (1) Digital services and touchpoints along the customer journey, (2) Customer insight in the digital context, (3) The basics of user-centred design, (4) Digital customer experience, and (5) Analytical evaluation of existing digital services.

Learning materials and recommended literature

Benckendorff, P., Sheldon, P., Xiang, Z. 2019. Tourism Information Technology. 3rd Edition. CABI Publishing.
Smashing Magazine & Traynor, D. 2012. User experience design. Freiburg, Germany: Smashing Media GmbH.
The digital roadmap for tourism in Finland

Teaching methods

Recorded webinars/video lectures, independent reading materials and information search, online discussions, peer feedback. Project work including research, video presentation, development plan. Other independent assignments.

Practical training and working life connections

Course includes various visiting industry specialists (video lectures) supporting student's knowhow about tourism industry development and future aspects.

Student attends a visit to Digi & Game Center, supporting the building of local networks and industry knowledge. Visit can be done indepently in person or by attending a pre-recorded virtual tour.

Student does a development plan for a tourism/hospitality company. Topic can be chosen from student's own work environment or from given development projects that are done in cooperation with tourism company partners.

Exam dates and retake possibilities

No exam

International connections

Course content includes international case examples from tourism industry. Project work in course can be done for an international tourism company.

Alternative completion methods

Student can complete the course project work in his/her own work environment. This needs to be agreed with student's employer and course teacher in advance to the beginning of the course.

Student workload

Distance learning (135h)
Webinars/video lectures 10h
Project work 40h
Independent study, assignments 25h
Independent study, reading material 60h

Content scheduling

Online implementation summer 2022 starting on May 2022 and ending on August 2022. Moodle as learning environment. Course implementation has no mandatory webinars.

Content divided into modules that include assignments. Each assignment has a specific deadline throughout the course. Final deadline at the end of the course.

Course is suitable to students who are working during studies because video lectures and learning tasks are saved to Moodle and can be done independently by given deadlines.

Further information for students

Project work in course can be done independently, with a pair or in a small group. Guidance is only provided through pre-recorded video instructions by teacher. No personal guidance available during summer months.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Evaluation criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Assessment is based on learning objectives and is both qualitative and quantitative. Assessment is implemented by students (self-assessment), peers, and the teacher. Unless otherwise defined in the curriculum, a course accepted as completed is assessed on the following five-step scale:

0 (Fail) You do not meet the minimum criteria set for the course.

1 (Sufficient) You can describe the impact of digitalization in tourism. You identify the value of digital services. You can explain how to develop digital services.

2 (Satisfactory) You describe the impact of digitalization in tourism. You explain the value of digital services.You illustrate and give examples how to develop digital services.

Evaluation criteria, good (3-4)

3 (Good) You explain the impact of digitalization in tourism. You distinguish the value of different digital services. You can evaluate digital services and produce a plan how to develop them.

4 (Very Good) You can analyze the impact of digitalization in tourism. You can compare the value of digital services for different customer segments. You create a concrete development plan for digital services based on evaluation.

Evaluation criteria, excellent (5)

5 (Excellent) You show critical thinking in analyzing the impact of digitalization in tourism. You analyze the value of digital services for different customer segments. You display creativeness in the evaluation process of digital services. You construct a concrete development plan based on evaluation.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge about digitalization in tourism