Tourism (joint degree) (BTO) / BSc

Profile

The BSc programme in Tourism is a collaborative endeavour of NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences and Wageningen University. For this joint programme, which is taught completely in English, education is being provided in Breda (1st and 2nd year) and Wageningen (3rd year). The societal importance of tourism has grown significantly over the last decades and its contribution to the global economy is well documented: for 2008 922 million international tourist arrivals, Euro 642 billion of international tourism receipts and 219 million tourism jobs (7.6% of total global employment) were calculated. But tourism is more than a generator of the world's economy. It is an agent of change. It is closely connected and intertwined with major global changes in culture, politics, technology, the economy and the environment and can contribute to the solution of complex problems in contemporary societies. It affects the quality of life and social well-being of individuals and regions and plays an important role in community, regional and urban development. In this programme the tourism phenomenon is studied from three closely related perspectives that continuously interact with one another: the social sciences, the economic sciences and the environmental sciences. These perspectives coincide with the three pillars of sustainability: people, planet and prosperity (also indicated as 'profit'). To contribute truly to integrated solutions for the global political, financial and climate crises sustainability is the leading principle of both NHTV and WU and is a powerful rational for partnering in this joint programme.

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this BSc programme graduates are expected to:
- explain the characteristics and behaviour of tourists and the significance of tourism for people and societies worldwide;
- explain the structure of and interactions in the international tourism industry and the role of governments, businesses and NGO's in the development and management of destinations;
- explain the relationships between tourism development and global transformations of its social, economic, environmental, political and cultural contexts;
- execute an individual research project under supervision by defining a research problem, planning research, searching and reviewing relevant scientific literature, collecting, processing, analysing and interpreting data, and putting the results in a wider context;
- translate research outcomes into recommendations, thereby contributing to the design and implementation of (policy) interventions with a view to transform tourism into a more sustainable practice;
- function effectively in international and multicultural teams dealing with research, policy or development of tourism issues;
- reflect critically on theories, research, policy and development of tourism;
- assess ethical and sustainability issues, including ethical aspects of functioning as an academic professional;
- effectively communicate information, ideas and solutions to tourism academics, professionals and the general public, orally as well as in writing;
- pro-actively design and plan an individual learning path (under supervision) based on continuous evaluation upon personal knowledge, skills and performance to stimulate lifelong learning.

Programme Director

Drs. J.F.B. Philipsen
Phone: 0317-(4)82771
Email: jan.philipsen@wur.nl

Study Adviser(s)

P. Cremers
Email: bto.bsc@wur.nl
Phone: 0317-(4)83532
Consultation hours: weekly based on reservation at http://appointments.owi.wur.nl/bto.

Programme Committee

Chair: prof. dr. V.R. van der Duim
Secretary: M. Holleman

Internet

www.wur.nl/bto
www.bsctourism.com

Study Association

Pangea
NHTV, Mgr Hopmanstraat 1, 4817 JT Breda
Internet: https://www.facebook.com/BTOPangea

Unconditional Admission to the MSc

MID International Development Studies
MLE Leisure, Tourism and Environment