Study Guide

Objective

The student understands the history and background of sustainability as well as the main theories related to it. He/she knows the core issues related to economic, ecological and socio-cultural sustainability in tourism and familiarises with the best practices of sustainable tourism around the world especially in fragile regions as the Arctic.

The student knows the basic tourism business models and various earning logics which are currently applied within the tourism industry, especially in SMEs. He/she is able to identify and illustrate the most typical business and support processes of tourism SMEs. The student knows what is required from a tourism SME to operate in a sustainable manner. In addition, he/she familiarises him/herself with some basic sustainable business development and assessment tools, standards and certifications. As the result, he/she understands sustainability challenges posed by the tourism industry and is able to seek positive changes and communicate them to customers.

Content

• History of sustainability and related theories
• Current issues and best practices in sustainable tourism around the world
• Typical business models and earning logics within tourism industry especially from the perspective of SMEs
• Best practices of sustainable tourism business models and earning logics
• Key processes of typical SMEs in tourism
• Sustainable business development and assessment tools, standards and certifications
• Opportunities and challenges of sustainable development within tourism industry and in tourism SMEs
• Sustainable mobility
• Communicating sustainability to stakeholders

Location and time

Lapland UAS, Rantavitikka Campus

Materials

Lecture material

Journal articles and other reading material is published in the beginning of the study unit.

Teaching methods

The multi-method pedagogical approach includes versatile methods such as in-class lectures, company visits, seminars and workshops and learning assignments e.g.a reading seminar The specified timetable with the contents of the learning process of six to eight weeks is planned partly together with the working life and given at the beginning of the study unit. Tutoring and assessment of the learning process take place throughout the study unit according to the assessment criteria

Employer connections

Company visit(s) in Rovaniemi region and a visiting lecturer from the Arctic Center

Exam schedules

Will be informed in the beginning of the study unit.

International connections

Companies, which are visited, have international customers.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Satisfactory (2)
The student has some knowledge of sustainability within the tourism industry and how sustainability can be applied into tourism business models and earning logics especially from a SME perspective. He/she is aware of the most typical key processes of a tourism SME. In addition, he/she understands how sustainable development and assessment tools can be applied. The student has some understanding of the current opportunities and challenges of sustainable development within tourism industry and in tourism SMEs. The assignments are completed but not always performed according to the instructions and deadlines.

Poor (1)
The student has vague knowledge of sustainability within the tourism industry and how sustainability can be applied into tourism business models and earning logics especially from a SME perspective. He/she is aware of the most typical key processes of a tourism SME. In addition, he/she has some understanding how sustainable development and assessment tools can be applied. The student understands vaguely the current opportunities and challenges of sustainable development within the tourism industry and in tourism SMEs. The assignments are completed but not always performed according to the instructions and deadlines.

Fail (0)
The student does not complete the assignments according to the instructions or does not attend the learning situations at all. He/she does not pass the assignments, tests and/or the exam as required.


These are the general assessment criteria. Please note that there might be more specific assessment criteria for learning assignments which will be given at the beginning of the study unit.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Very good (4)
The student has a very good knowledge of sustainability within the tourism industry. He/she understands very well how sustainability can be applied into tourism business models and earning logics especially from a SME perspective. He/she is able to identify and illustrate the most typical key processes of a tourism SME. In addition, he/she applies sustainable development and assessment tools in practice in a very good manner. The student understands very well the current opportunities and challenges of sustainable development within the tourism industry and in tourism SMEs. All the assignments are performed according to the instructions and deadlines.

Good (3)
The student has a good knowledge of sustainability within the tourism industry. He/she understands well how sustainability can be applied into tourism business models and earning logics especially from a SME perspective. He/she is able to identify and illustrate quite well the most typical key processes of a tourism SME. In addition, he/she applies sustainable development and assessment tools in practice in a good manner. The student understands well the current opportunities and challenges of sustainable development within the tourism industry and in tourism SMEs. Most of the assignments are performed according to the instructions and deadlines.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5)
The student has a profound knowledge of sustainability within the tourism industry. He/she understands holistically how sustainability can be applied into tourism business models and earning logics especially from a SME perspective. He/she is able to identify and illustrate the most typical key processes of a tourism SME. In addition, he/she applies sustainable development and assessment tools in practice in an excellent manner. The student understands thoroughly the current opportunities and challenges of sustainable development within the tourism industry and in tourism SMEs. All the assignments are performed according to the instructions and deadlines.

Assessment methods and criteria

The assessment criteria below is general assessment criteria. Please note that there might be more specific assessment criteria for learning assignments which will be given at the beginning of the study unit.

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

Fail (0)
The student does not complete the assignments according to the instructions or does not attend to the learning situations at all. He/she does not pass the assignments, tests, and/or the exam as required.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Poor (1)
The student has a vague knowledge of sustainability within the tourism industry and how sustainability can be applied to tourism business models and earning logic, especially from an SME perspective. He/she is aware of the most typical key processes of a tourism SME. In addition, he/she has some understanding of how sustainable development and assessment tools can be applied. The student understands vaguely the current opportunities and challenges of sustainable development within the tourism industry and in tourism SMEs. The assignments are completed but not always performed according to the instructions and deadlines.

Satisfactory (2)
The student has some knowledge of sustainability within the tourism industry and how sustainability can be applied to tourism business models and earning logic, especially from an SME perspective. He/she is aware of the most typical key processes of a tourism SME. In addition, he/she understands how sustainable development and assessment tools can be applied. The student has some understanding of the current opportunities and challenges of sustainable development within the tourism industry and in tourism SMEs. The assignments are completed but not always performed according to the instructions and deadlines.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

Good (3)
The student has a good knowledge of sustainability within the tourism industry. He/she understands well how sustainability can be applied to tourism business models and earning logics, especially from an SME perspective. He/she is able to identify and illustrate quite well the most typical key processes of a tourism SME. In addition, he/she applies sustainable development and assessment tools in practice in a good manner. The student understands well the current opportunities and challenges of sustainable development within the tourism industry and in tourism SMEs. Most of the assignments are performed according to the instructions and deadlines.

Very good (4)
The student has a very good knowledge of sustainability within the tourism industry. He/she understands very well how sustainability can be applied to tourism business models and earning logic, especially from an SME perspective. He/she is able to identify and illustrate the most typical key processes of a tourism SME. In addition, he/she applies sustainable development and assessment tools in practice in a very good manner. The student understands very well the current opportunities and challenges of sustainable development within the tourism industry and in tourism SMEs. All the assignments are performed according to the instructions and deadlines.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5)
The student has a profound knowledge of sustainability within the tourism industry. He/she understands holistically how sustainability can be applied to tourism business models and earning logic, especially from an SME perspective. He/she is able to identify and illustrate the most typical key processes of a tourism SME. In addition, he/she applies sustainable development and assessment tools in practice in an excellent manner. The student understands thoroughly the current opportunities and challenges of sustainable development within the tourism industry and in tourism SMEs. All the assignments are performed according to the instructions and deadlines.