NZIM/ATTTO Diploma in Tourism Management

NZIM/ATTTO Diploma in Travel Management

Practicum or research project

1. Level and credit

This course is worth 20 credits at Level 5.

2. Length of course

The course should take around 200 hours of student self-directed and supervised study.

3. Provision of practicum or research project

The practicum or research project will be offered only by accredited providers.

Any institution may be accredited to teach the practicum or research programme under an agreement with NZIM. The institution must demonstrate to NZIM that it has the resources and expertise to deliver that component of the programme.

Accredited providers of the practicum will pay an annual fee for the moderation process.

Click here for a list of accredited providers.

4. Description

Students undertake one of the following activities, as negotiated with the practicum or research supervisor:

Detailed observation and analysis of a tourism/travel workplace or a specific function in a tourism/travel workplace.
An action learning cycle relating to the resolution of a tourism/travel issue or the introduction of a tourism/travel innovation into the workplace.
Research into some aspect of the tourism/travel industry. This may be undertaken with relation to a particular enterprise or on an industry basis.
Any similar applied research activity that may be considered appropriate.

The project may be completed in pairs or groups but when this occurs the provider must show how a group mark and an individual mark will be assigned to the candidates.
Please note: Participants need to relate the practicum to their own industry.

5. Outcomes

The participant will show:

application of processes of

planning
information gathering
analysis
problem-solving
review.

Detailed understanding of theory and practice in at least one area of management.
Competence in managing human relations, including

involving others in the research or reporting
using others as a resource
ensuring that different cultural perspectives are considered as appropriate.

Ability to comply with ethical considerations

6. Learning process

Participants will negotiate with their supervisor an appropriate learning or research contract, which must specify:

purpose
goals and outcomes
methodology or processes
consultants, participants and their roles
ethical considerations
timeline
reporting processes

Participants undertake the agreed contract, reporting regularly to their supervisor and negotiating any changes as they proceed.

Participants present for assessment at the conclusion of the contract.

Throughout the project participants keep a log in which they detail events, conversations, issues, decisions and conclusions. This will be used for formative assessment purposes.

7. Ethical requirements

Any practicum or research project should meet basic ethical criteria, including principles of usefulness, privacy, informed consent, participation and feedback. All providers should have internal processes to determine whether a project meets acceptable criteria.

Where a provider has no process for determining that the projects meet ethical criteria, they will submit the proposal to ATTTO or NZIM for their approval.

8. Supervisors

As well as understanding of the tourism or travel industry, supervisors must have knowledge and understanding of research methodology and ethical requirements.

8.1 The roles of the supervisor

Ensure that the project is valid, useful and ethically sound.
Advise on appropriate research processes, techniques and tools
Check regularly on the progress of the projects, and ensure that processes are implemented appropriately
Coach participants in good practice.

9. Planning the practicum

A planning guide is available for all accredited providers to distribute to students. This guide provides a description of the requirements of the practicum, together with a planning outline.

Click here for the practicum planning guide.

10. Assessment

10.1 Assessment description

Candidates must undertake one of the following activities, as negotiated with their supervisor:

1. A detailed observation and evaluation of existing systems, functions, processes or procedures within a specific tourism or travel workplace. This activity will necessitate a period of work within the workplace.

Examples of systems, functions, processes or procedures include, but are not limited to:

training and education processes
complaint resolution procedures
processes and procedures relating to the collection and interpretation of market research data
staff recruitment procedures
customer service procedures
client feedback systems

2. An action learning cycle relating to either:
(a) the resolution of an issue related to a specific tourism or travel workplace or
(b) the introduction of a tourism or travel innovation into a workplace.

Examples of issues might include, but are not limited to:

quality assurance programme compliance issues
staff retention
dealing with seasonal demand
under-capitalisation
ticketing
sales organisation
computer database issues
meeting OSH requirements

3. Any similar applied research activity that may be considered appropriate and which satisfies the practicum outcomes as outlined above.

The practicum may be completed in pairs or groups only when this is deemed appropriate by either the supervisor or the workplace under study. When this occurs the supervisor must show how a group mark and an individual mark will be assigned to the candidates. In all cases each candidate must individually demonstrate the practicum outcomes as outlined.

As part of the summative assessment process, feedback from the workplace on the candidate’s performance must be sought.

10.2 Assessment process

Each candidate for the practicum will be assigned a supervisor.

Candidates will negotiate with their supervisor an appropriate learning or research contract, which must specify:

the nature of the project i.e. detailed observation and evaluation of a tourism or travel workforce OR an action learning cycle OR other research based project
the specific workplace or workplaces on which the practicum is to be based including the names and positions of key contact people within the organisation(s)
expected goals and outcomes (these must be consistent with the practicum outcomes as outlined above)
methodology or processes to be used, including a detailed description of how the candidate(s) will interface with the identified workplace(s)
any relevant ethical considerations
the project timeline
reporting processes to be used, including how industry feedback will be sought.

This contract must be approved by the supervisor and a representative from all travel workplaces involved in the project prior to commencement of the project.

It is the sole responsibility of the candidate to find a workplace on which to base their practicum and to negotiate the appropriate working conditions with that organisation. If candidates experience problems with this then they should contact their supervisor.

Participants undertake the agreed contract, reporting regularly to their supervisor and negotiating any changes as they proceed.

Throughout the project candidates must keep a log in which they detail events, conversations, issues, decisions and conclusions. This may be used for formative assessment purposes.

10.3 Assessment Weighting

Research proposal or contract (15%)
Industry report and/or feedback (15%)
A formal report of the project (which may include an oral presentation) (70%)

The project will be assessed by the supervisor or assessor appointed by the provider.

11. Moderation

As part of their accreditation to teach the programme, providers need to ensure that they have an appropriate internal moderation system for moderation of the practicum.

The external moderation of the practicum/research project will be undertaken by a qualified moderator appointed by ATTTO. All accredited providers of the practicum will advise NZIM on an annual basis of their intention to provide the practicum. Providers will submit to NZIM a minimum of two marked student reports, together with the assessment schedules and marking guides.

External moderation will take place each year for the first two years of accreditation. After two years moderation requirements will be based on the ongoing ability of the provider to ensure that assessment processes are consistent and at an appropriate level.

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