BACHELOR OF BUSINESS IN HOTEL AND CATERING MANAGEMENT (BLOCK RELEASE)

Why study Hotel and Catering Management (Block Release)?
You will have an opportunity to combine a training position in the hospitality & tourism industry with college education and concentrate your early studies on food production and restaurant service. These practical areas will be combined subsequently with business related subjects giving you the best of both worlds.

This will ultimately lead to a good Level 7 business degree and excellent practical competencies.

Programme Modules
A number of modules are covered on this programme including Food Studies, practical and theoretical, Hospitality Studies (Front Office Systems, Food and Beverage Systems); Hospitality Management; Financial Management; Law; Management Studies (Management, Marketing); Human Resource Management; Management Science (Statistics, Information Technology); Environmental Studies (Economics, Tourism) and an elective choice of tourism or International language from French, German and Spanish.

Due to the high level of work placement in industry during the course, graduates often take up managerial posts in leading hospitality and tourism organisation both in Ireland and abroad.

Other Essential Information

Application
A separate application form is required for this programme and is available on request from the Admissions Office. Applications will be accepted until April 30th and applicants will be invited to interview in May. All applicants will have a minimum of six months relevant industry experience at any level and be working in a hospitality or tourism property. Applicants not working in the industry but have proven experience can apply and will be considered.

Work Placements/Programme Duration
The programme commences in September and is divided into four blocks of college study and industrial placement spread over three years.

The college-based blocks are as follows:

Block 1: September to December in year one followed by thirty weeks work placement in an Irish hotel.

Block 2: September to December in year two followed by a thirty week work placement in an international environment. European students will follow this placement in an International property outside of their home country. Non-EU students will complete this period of training in an Irish property.

Block 3: September to December followed by Block 4, January to May.

Placement in Block 1 should be with the property the student is affiliated to, if the student has no such property they can work with the LINKS office for advice, guidance and support to help secure this work however the student is solely responsible for achieving this target. The second placement will take place in an international environment and shall be organised in conjunction with the LINKS office. Students will proactively work to find a suitable location that best meets their academic and learning needs. Each placement is an accredited element of the programme, if it is not completed student will not be able to progress to the next level of study.

International Links
The School has extensive international links with hotels, tourism organisations and educational organisations. In addition the school is an active member of various hotel school associations including the Association of European Hotel & Tourism schools (AEHT) and the Council for Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (CHRIE).

Recognition by Professional Bodies
Graduates are admitted as full members of the Irish Hospitality Institute and receive full exemption from the examination requirements of the Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management Association (UK), being admitted to the grade of Licentiate Member. Progression to full membership is possible on completion of a specified period working in the industry.

Additional Entry Requirements

1. A minimum of one year’s full-time experience, post Leaving Certificate, in the hotel and tourism industry.

2. Where relevant a written confirmation from a reputable hospitality and tourism establishment that the student will be given a management trainee position for the first block of work placement. This letter must constitute a serious undertaking by the establishment to accept the candidate as a trainee. Candidates are advised not to present letters which have been obtained merely to fulfill this entry requirement, as their progress on the programme may be prevented by the absence of a genuine trainee position.

Follow-on Studies
Students who receive this award may be admitted to the final year of the BA (Honours) in Hotel and Catering Management in this Institute.