Leisure studies education: Historical trends and pedagogical futures in the United Kingdom and beyond

This paper is an attempt to stimulate debate about the decline of leisure studies and the rise of courses and subject fields defined by sport, events, tourism management. It is argued that although this decline has happened, there are two possible futures for a re-purposed leisure studies that would ensure its survival

Computer assisted self and peer assessment: applications, challenges and opportunities

This paper discusses self and peer assessment (SPA) using CASPAR (Computer Assisted Self and Peer Assessment Ratings) – a software tool designed to aid the administration of SPA. CASPAR was piloted on eight units from six subject areas (Hospitality, Leisure, Sport, Tourism, Retail and Events). Data were gathered through questionnaires from 146 students. The paper compares the SPA process and the application of CASPAR in a hospitality operations management unit with other units to identify good practice

An examination of sport tourists' profiles and motives as for visiting Langkawi

Understanding the peoples’ motives is important in promoting tourism, since it provides a better explanation of the motive behind the motive behavior and enable tourism planner and marketer to predict tourists’ actions. The present study aimed to address sport tourists’ profiles in order to determine sport tourists’ motives. Data were collected quantitatively from 248 subjects in Langkawi using the shorten version of Leisure Motivation Scale develop by Beard and Ragheb (1983). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistic and t-test. Majority of the respondents (74.6%) were domestic sport tourists. Both domestic sport tourists and foreign sport tourists found a significant difference towards their motives while visiting Langkawi. Domestic sport tourists are more motivated to have social (M = 3.949, SP =.805; t (246) = 3.942, p =.000) and competence mastery (M = 3.942, SP =.799; t (246) = 2.575, p =.011) compared to foreign sport tourists. The results indicate that domestic sport tourists and foreign sport tourists travelled to Langkawi as they want to social with their family and friends. Based on the findings of the study, it can be used by sport tourism industry to implement effective market segmentation in Langkawi

Resource Guide in Exploring Ethics: A Practical Resource Guide for Tutors and Students

This resource guide will help staff and students who are studying social sciences in hospitality, tourism, entertainment, events, leisure. It outlines the ethical issues that they need to consider when conducting research for their dissertation or for industry-based projects. Social science is a general term used for the study of society, consumers, and employees, the manner in which those people behave and how it affects the world around us. Researching “people in our world” must be completed in a safe, fair and honest way. Whilst ethical policy for empirical research has been with us since the Nuremberg Code 1947, many universities have not yet developed resources in terms of practical ethical examples. This resource guide presents materials and examples for tutors of research methods, and also for undergraduate and masters students engaging in social science research. The Guide also contains background literature, power point presentations and practical examples. All social science research raises many ethical issues. Medical, sport and exercise research dealing with human enhancement, medicine, disease or gene therapy present ethical issues which will NOT be included in this resource guide. Sport and leisure research may include physical or drug-related elements which require students to conform to specific ethical procedures which can be found, in part, in the “Ethics and Sport” resource guide available via the HLST website

Enhancing graduate employability in hospitality, leisure, sport and tourism

This paper is work-in-progress. The purpose of the paper is to describe the aims, context and methodology of a recently approved Fund for the Development of Teaching and Learning (FDTL) Phase 5 project. The aim of the project is to develop, implement and evaluate a range of curriculum interventions to enhance the employability of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism (HLST) student

Volunteers and mega sporting events : developing a research framework

Interest in all aspects of the politics, financing, planning, management and operation of mega sporting events has been highlighted both by success stories and ongoing problems associated with Olympic Games, Football World Cups and other similar events. There is a growing literature that addresses these and related matters through both case history and comparative analyses. Within the context of mega sporting events, the issue of employment creation is an important motivator for host cities and features high on the political justification agenda for bids to host events. At the same time, the most significant working contribution to major mega events in sports, as in other areas, is provided by the very large numbers of volunteers who undertake tasks across the range of opportunities afforded by such events. Numbers of volunteers between 40,000 and 60,000 have been noted for some recent major events. Relatively little is known about these volunteers at mega sporting events and yet their contribution and wider impact is very significant, both to the events themselves and within the host community. This paper seeks to identify the evident gaps that exist in understanding areas such as what volunteers do at mega sporting events; who they are; what motivates them; how volunteering impacts upon their lives; what associated activities they do surrounding the event in the host city; and the extent to which volunteering is recidivistic. The paper concludes with the presentation of a tentative research framework agenda in order to guide future study of this important area

A Critical Review of Contemporary Practice in Internationalisation in the Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism (HLST) Subject Communities

This report identifies and critically reviews contemporary practice in the field of internationalisation within the HLST subject communities in order to inform curriculum development and pedagogy geared towards the development of international perspectives and global awareness. Drawing on current pedagogical literatures as well as staff and student consultations, it identifies a number of key points which reflect good practice in UK HLST curricula in the UK. Due to the broad disciplinary scope of the subject area in focus and the diversity of curricular activities across the UK, this critical review is selective rather than exhaustive and seeks to stimulate further discussion and research into this area

Evaluating the quality of undergraduate hospitality, tourism and leisure programmes

In this study, an instrument for measuring the quality of undergraduate programmes in hospitality, tourism and leisure (HTLP) was developed and empirically cross-validated. The study considered how total quality management (TQM) and context-input-process-product (CIPP) perspectives could be integrated to develop the framework, using documentary analysis, focus groups and content validity. Survey responses from 430 full-time teachers were used to verify the instrument for HTLP (IHTLP) via exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and six standards, 12 dimensions and 63 indicators were identified. The six standards, in terms of relative importance, are curriculum and instruction; faculty; strategic planning; administrative management; student achievements; and resources. The implications for HTLP are also discussed