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 AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://opvclt.monash.edu.au/curriculum-by-design/aligning-course-outcomes-with-aqf-bologna.html).

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 exchanges

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 48 points of core units, 36 points of elective units and a 12-point capstone unit. All units are 12 points unless otherwise stated.

Core units

Students must complete:

• APG4389 Tourism industry and marketing
• APG4709 Sustainable tourism development and planning
• APG4710 Cultural tourism and special events
• APG5717 Applied industry research and practice

Capstone units

Students must complete one of the following units:

• APG5718 Industry internship
• APG5724 Research project

Elective units

Students must select one of the following options:

Option one

Students complete:

• APG5721 Industry research thesis (24 points)
• 12 points of sustainability elective units at level five chosen from those listed below

Option two

Students complete:

• APG4390 Contemporary tourism development in emerging economies
• 24 points of communications and media studies, sustainability and/or tourism elective units at level five chosen from those listed below

Communications and media studies electives

• APG5018 Celebrity, fashion, publicity
• APG5397 The first media age
• APG5398 New communications media
• APG5400 Issues in international communications
• APG5401 Media empires and entrepreneurs

Sustainability electives

• APG5426 Environmental analysis
• APG5428 Environmental governance and citizenship
• APG5433 Corporate sustainability management
• APG5434 Sustainability measurement
• APG5804 Environmental revolutions
• APG5805 The art and business of international development (6 points)

Tourism electives

• APG5382 Contemporary issues in Asia
• APG5390 Contemporary issues in tourism
• APG5398 New communications media
• APG5805 The art and business of international development (6 points)

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

Master of International Sustainable Tourism Management