Postgraduate - Course4107 - Master of International Sustainable Tourism Management

Sustainability represents an increasingly influential facet of tourism planning, development, governance and management, encompassing a diversity of sectors as the industry continues to expand globally. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is also forecasting that the growth rate for emerging economies will be double the rate of advanced economies in the years leading to 2030 and that a sustainable industry can therefore play a significant role in the achievement of the millennium development goals.

This course draws on best practices within the broad realm of the tourism industry, policy governance and research, to develop a critical understanding of the relationships between tourism and sustainable development with a particular emphasis on emerging economies and the development of small and medium sized enterprises within them.

Effective planning and policy making for international tourism, and for the management of environmental, socio-cultural and economic consequences, requires well qualified managers with a broad and deep understanding of global business activity, and of the conceptual and applied issues involving tourism and sustainability issues. The course also includes a partially-funded field-school to study the patterns of development within an emerging economy in the Asia-Pacific region.

This course addresses tourism's potential to be compatible with the achievement of a range of objectives, including developing sustainable organisations, urban and rural development/regeneration, natural resource management and wildlife conservation, and diversifying benefits from international and domestic tourism. It facilitates the development of skills and techniques to develop tourism policies and practices in a global setting and to manage tourism development and enterprises in the direction of more sustainable practice.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

• demonstrate a sound knowledge of diverse aspects of the academic discipline
• articulate and apply an understanding of the contemporary international trends driving the industry
• demonstrate a critical appreciation of the secondary literature in the field of study
• apply a critical familiarity with many of the key texts and cultural products pertaining to the field of study
• apply advanced reading and communication skills, both written and verbal
• demonstrate advanced analytical skills
• demonstrate a thorough understanding of research methodology and ethics, and an ability to undertake a small, independent research project in one of the disciplines represented in the program.

International field schools and exchange

Students are encouraged to undertake part of their studies overseas in order to broaden their understanding of the international market and the role that a sustainable tourism industry can play in development within emerging economies. The course provides the option for students to attend a partially-funded intensive field-school to study the patterns of development within an emerging economy in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Fiji, Vietnam or Cambodia.

This course consists of 36 points of core units at level four, and one 12-point core unit and 36 points of electives at level five. All units are 12 points unless otherwise stated.

Level four

Students must complete:

• APG4389 Tourism industry and marketing
• APG4709 Sustainable tourism development and planning
• APG4710 Cultural tourism and special events

Level five

Students must complete:

• APG5717 Applied industry research
• one of the following options

Option one

• APG5721 Industry research thesis (24 points)
• 12 points of units at level five chosen from units in the sustainability program*

Option two

• 12 points of units at level five chosen from units in the sustainability program*

plus:

• APG4390 Contemporary tourism development in emerging economies and/or 12 or 24 points of units at level five chosen from units in the tourism**, sustainability* or communications and media studies*** programs
• APG5718 Industry internship or APG5724 Research project

* These units can be identified via the entry for course 3783.

** These units can be identified via the entry for course 3067.

*** These units can be identified via the entry for course 3064.

Students may apply to exit with 0114 Graduate Diploma in Tourism after successful completion of 48 points.

Master of International Sustainable Tourism Management