Curricula

Objectives

The tourism and hospitality industry is perhaps the most international and intercultural profession in a world where most every profession is exposed to aspects of intercultural interaction. In addition, the field requires a wide variety of “soft skills” for to complete tasks within one’s own culture and in another’s. These skills include, for example, problem solving, successful interpersonal engagement, professional writing, presentation skills, teamwork, communication competency, and many more. Thus the objective of this course is to expose the student to a variety of basic concepts of intercultural interaction as well as to use many soft skills as a means to put that knowledge into action.

Through this course, the student will develop knowledge of many concepts that influence interaction within the tourism industry, not just when abroad but also within one’s home culture, and how these apply to one’s clients, one’s professional interaction, and one’s own attitudes and behaviors.

The student will have opportunity to apply a variety of soft skills in translating intercultural concepts into actions, thereby increasing one’s professional competencies.

Finally, the students will lay the foundation for learning how to work with dissimilar others that will facilitate not only their academic studies but also their career goals within the tourism and hospitality industry.

Content

The nature of culture
Dimensions of cultural variability
Cultural values and expression
Culture’s impact on communication
How to apply meta-communication
The non-neutrality of knowledge
Conflict negotiation and management
Culture’s impact on teamwork

Learning materials and recommended literature

Most materials used in the class will be distributed through Moodle by the teacher and, when appropriate, guest teachers. Typically, these are peer-reviewed academic journal articles and materials prepared by the instructor. The course may also require students identify and read peer-reviewed journal material that they themselves gather from reliable academic sources (i.e., library databases).

Teaching methods

This course is a mixture of lecture, experiential learning activities, independent work, and exercises that teach/reinforce several of the "soft skills" so necessary in the tourism industry: multicultural group work, reflective assessment, presentation skills, academic research, etc.

Practical training and working life connections

All the content presented in the course (intercultural and cross-cultural topics) and learning processes (group work, presentation skills, academic research and writing) are key foundations for developing competencies important in both one's internship experiences and working life. Additionally, interaction with peers from multiple cultures provides students insights and working skills useful in an international professions such as hospitality and tourism.

Exam dates and retake possibilities

This course, by its experiential and social constructivism focus, does not have exams. Assessments involve both individual and group work assignments. If a student requests a re-take of an assignment, this can be discussed with the teacher within 3 weeks of receiving a final grade in Peppi. If the assignment in question is the result of group work, the student may need to join a group the following semester to complete that assignment.

International connections

There may be international visitors who present course content, either in person or online.

Alternative completion methods

Students are expected to attend classes as scheduled and complete assignments in a timely manner. In exceptional cases, the student and teacher can discuss alternatives.

Student workload

Total 135 h, which typically breaks down into the following student responsibilities:
Lectures 35 h
Assignments 40 h
Identifying and reading materials 20 h
Out-of-class multicultural group work and similar activities, 40

Content scheduling

Lectures will be typically be face-to-face delivery in the classroom, although some guest instructors may be online. More information when the course starts.

Further information for students

Individuals tasks typically are graded based on a total of 100 points for the course. Each assignment (as well as portion of the points awarded for engaged participation and attendance) is allotted specific points (accompanying the assignment description in Moodle). At the end of the course, the points accumulated by each student will be translated into the university's scale of 0-5. In this point system, students much earn 45 points to pass the course with a 1; students earning 85 points or more will be awarded a 5.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Evaluation criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

1 (Sufficient) Student has achieved the basic knowledge and applicability of cultural issues within the industry and soft skills practices. Thus, the student may be able to identify aspects of culture and intercultural interaction but possesses only a superficial understanding of the complexities that international or intercultural environments bring to interpersonal and professional activities.

2 (Satisfactory) Student has demonstrated a general understanding and applicability of cultural concepts and has a developed a basic ability to express those concepts through the soft skills necessary for a professional career in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Evaluation criteria, good (3-4)

3 (Good) Student presents a clear understanding of the various elements of intercultural interaction and can demonstrate through the soft skills the relationship between knowledge and practice in intercultural contexts.

4 (Very Good) Student demonstrates understanding of intercultural issues, perspectives, and concepts, how these relate to the tourism and hospitality industry, and can present well many of the soft skills introduced during the course.

Evaluation criteria, excellent (5)

5 (Excellent) Student consistently demonstrates his/her ability to synthesize various perspectives on and concepts related to culture and intergroup interaction as well as reflect well on how those components of culture impact their own life and future work in the tourism and hospitality industry. These individuals also demonstrate significant skill in the various soft skills introduced throughout the course.

Prerequisites

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