First in our series is the University of Surrey, who like all education settings have faced many challenges over the last year. However, it was inspiring to hear about their positivity, continued success and exciting plans for 2021. Mark Ashton MRes BSc AUS FIH, Senior Teaching Fellow at the University of Surrey tells us more…
Tell us a little about what makes the University of Surrey such a special place to learn.
We have three key ingredients that make studying at Surrey so special. They are the rich mix of the beautiful campus setting we have on the edge of Guildford; the top facilities we provide including the student-run Lakeside Restaurant and Coffee Shop; and the teaching staff, many with extensive industry experience enabling them to put theory into context. They provide world-class academic research together with a wide range of opportunities for students, and staff, to mix with professional speakers from industry and leading researchers in the field. It is a truly multicultural and international school.
Tell us about your greatest success.
Whilst Surrey consistently tops the league tables nationally and internationally in our subject area of Hospitality and Tourism Management, our greatest success comes in the form of our graduates – the longevity of our programmes means we now have a network of over 12,000 alumni worldwide.
How have you had to adapt due to the pandemic?
Over the last year we have moved to a ‘hybrid education model’ – a blend of online and campus-based learning. This has meant adapting resources and teaching methods and an opportunity to provide students with free, personal, digital copies of their essential textbooks. Beyond this we have also adapted the curriculum to this fast-changing situation to ensure students appreciate the real-world challenges faced by our sector. Examples include pivoting our hospitality events module to students running virtual events and the opportunity to engage with additional industry guest speakers due to the ease of them joining modules digitally.
How have you supported young people looking to get into hospitality during these challenging times?
We offer students a Professional Training Year with partners worldwide and the opportunity to participate in the University of Surrey’s Employability Award. In addition to these schemes, employability skills are threaded throughout our curriculum and considered in many of the assessments that students undertake. During COVID, we have paid increased attention to students networking with industry and have promoted the excellent series of Institute of Hospitality virtual events on topics relevant to graduate employment.
What should students be doing now to help them in a post-COVID world?
First and foremost, to continue to study hard and reach their potential on their course. Secondly, to really keep up with what is happening in industry and the amazing innovation, collaboration and tenacity we are seeing in their approach to COVID. Finally, continuing to build on their employability through building effective networks and engaging in the opportunities the University provides to help with this.
How can the industry attract more people to see hospitality as a valuable career choice?
Perhaps the pandemic will raise the value of hospitality in many people’s eyes – but it will also be important that as a sector we maintain the enhanced collaboration we are seeing now to work on this topic. The new, more flexible models of working will be something hospitality must embrace to aid its attractiveness as a career choice.
What personality traits do you think people need to succeed in hospitality?
Personable, hard-working, adaptable, tenacious, energetic, creative and innovative.
What do you think makes the hospitality industry so special to work in?
The hospitality industry can provide a career with professional opportunities that can take you anywhere in the world. It has a fast career escalator and importantly is made up of genuinely nice (hospitable) people!
What is your business focus for 2021?
One of our major focuses this year is the launch of our new online Master’s degree in International Hospitality Management with Digital Innovation – whilst this has been in the pipeline since before the Pandemic, it is exciting both in terms of its contemporary content but also its delivery medium.
University of Surrey is an Institute of Hospitality Academic Partner, why did you decide to get involved?
Once again, there is true longevity in our relationship with the Institute which we enjoy. The initial reasons for partnering which rings true today is to introduce and better support our students and alumni through this excellent professional body.
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