UK - Educational Routes to Popular Courses

Indian students generally intend to pursue an academic stream, i.e., a degree course of 3 to 4 years duration in a foreign country. The aim is to continue and complete a postgraduate qualification and then return to India to take up a job. Many do, however, wish to stay on and work.

There are Foundation and Bridge courses which you could take before entering the university. These courses intend to `bridge the gap' between Indian education and British education.

After a degree or a postgraduate degree students register with professional organizations to become members. This assures them a status of professional competence

Studying Accountancy

In UK specialist professional bodies impart training and award qualifications in Accountancy. These qualifications are generally equivalent to under graduation.

Following are five major professional organizations in the area of Accountancy:

• Chartered Association of Certified Accountants, 29 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3EE
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, 63 Portland Place, London W1N 4A
• Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting, 3 Robert Street, London WC2N 6BH
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Chartered Accountants Halls, PO Box 433, Moorgate Place, London EC2 2BJ
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, 27 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1LA

Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA) - The ACCA conducts the professional exams in 3 stages - Foundation, certificate and professional. Minimum eligibility is 2 A-levels and 3 GSCE in 5 separate subjects including English and Maths. Students who have work experience and are graduates may be exempted from the foundation exam. Partial waivers from the professional level are given to those who have done a degree or HND/HNC in Accounting. For membership of ACCA three to five years of experience is required. ACCA offers distance learning courses also. ACCA has examination centers in almost 100 countries.

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) - The CIMA course has 4 stages of exams and practical training for membership. Applicants to the course require two A-levels and three GCSEs including English and Maths. Some exemption may be granted to those who have a BTEC (see BTEC in earlier sections) or higher national diploma or Degree in a relevant subject.

Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting (CIPFA) - CIPFA course is relevant for those keen on working for Public Bodies in UK. The course consists of three professional examinations for which the minimum entry requirements are 2 A-levels, 3 GCSE including Maths and English. Graduates are exempt from the foundation course if they have studied related subjects.

Association of International Accountants (AIA) - This has several branches in the world. In Asia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore have branches; AIA curriculum can be oriented to local requirements. The exam can be taken after study course for which eligibility is 2A levels. 3 GCSE passes including English and Maths or graduation from any discipline which may permit some course exemptions. AIA qualification is granted after 3 years work experience.

For information write to:

Association of International Accountants, South Bank building, Kingsway, Team Valley, Newcastle upon Tyne NE II OJS

Study of Maths, Business, Legal and Social Studies will also help in gaining exemption from part of the professional training.

Studying business studies

A degree in Business Studies is offered by several universities and colleges in UK. The subject includes study of economics, accounting and finance management, marketing, statistics, human resources, and law. Last year of the degree is normally spent in specialization in a branch of business management. Special feature of degree courses in UK is that it offers specialized degrees and even joint degrees. You could, e.g., do a specialized degree in strategic marketing or a joint degree in business studies and computer science.

Business studies in a degree course are offered as a sandwich course of 4 years duration or a non-sandwich course which takes 3 years.

Postgraduate courses - Postgraduate studies can be done in areas such as in management, finance, marketing, information systems, tourism management, human resource management, industrial relations etc. Course choices are diplomas, certificates or masters and last one to two years. The entry requirement is a degree/BTEC or a higher national diploma.

For MBA courses, experience and GMAT scores are considered for entry.

Professional membership - In Britain membership of professional bodies is sought for better employment prospects. In the area of Business Studies some of the professional qualifications of relevance are given by:

• City and Guilds, National Examination Board for Supervisory Management, 76 Portland Place, London, W1N 4AA
• Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, 16 Park Crescent, London, W1N 4AH
• Chartered Institute of Marketing, Moor Hall, Cookham, Maidenhead, Berkshire 8L6 9QH
• Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC), Central House, Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0HH
• Institute of Management, Management House, Catt Ingham Road, Carby, Northamptanshire, NN 171 TT
• London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examination Board (LCCIEB), Marlowe House, Station House, Sidcup, Kent DA 15 7BJ
• National Council for Vocational Qualification (NCVQ), 222 Eusten Road, London NW1 2BZ

NCVQ provides a national framework for vocational qualifications. The standards of this are laid down on the basis of the skills required in employment. Qualifications are structured by City and Guilds, and BTEC.

Studying management

In the UK, as in most parts of the world MBA or a postgraduate course in management is very popular. Most universities have a business school which conducts the MBA course as well as short management programs. In Britain private management colleges also offer short term courses as well as postgraduate courses in affiliation with universities. These MBA courses are designed to give practical inputs to managers along with academic skills. The standards as required in the job market are explored and then laid down as set standards in courses for potential managers. At the undergraduate level there are only management related courses available such as business studies. If you have studied Economics and Maths at school you certainly have better chances of entering an undergraduate course. Institutions have different entry requirements and generally 2 or 3 A-levels are required. Maths is certainly a valuable subject for someone who wishes to pursue studies in management, science and operational research. Postgraduate courses in management are of nine months duration followed by 3 months of project work. M.Sc or MA in Management offers specialization in project management, marketing, tourism, entrepreneurship, industrial relations, information systems, etc. MBA is offered as full time/part time course as well as through distance learning. In the UK most universities give favorable consideration to applicants with work experience.

Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) scores are valid for admission to most MBA courses. Students with an undergraduate degree and no work experience must opt for a diploma in management studies and then apply for a master's degree course.

Addresses for reference for applicants to MBA, MA, MS courses in Management

• Association of Business Schools, 344-354 Greys Inn Road, London WC1X 8BPX
• Institute of Management Services, 1 Cecil Court London Road, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 6DD
• Institute of Administrative, Management, 40 Chatsworth Parade Pitts Wood Orpington, Kent BR5 1RW, Web site : www.educationuk.org
• Business and Technology Education, Council Central House, Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0HH
• Institute of Management Specialists, Alexander House, 58 Clarendar Avenue, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 45A

Studying art and design

The study of art and design incorporates a wide number of fields of study. Painting, fine art, printmaking, lithography, sculpture, film, photography, cinematography, performance and computer aided design.

Types of courses - Entry to an undergraduate course is usually after a foundation course of one year duration followed by 3 or 4-year degree courses. Art education follows 2 major patterns in UK. One is related to enhancing and exploring individual creativity while the other is more technical (applied) and oriented to the industry. There are courses in graphic design, e.g., which teach techniques for print making (typography, illustration) and design for film and television including computer graphics. Industrial design, i.e., designing of products, furniture, ceramics, plastics, interiors form part of three dimensional design.

There are courses in photography, textiles, fashion, audio-visual design and multidisciplinary courses in which the study of design and other subjects is integrated. At the postgraduate level art and design courses can be pursued at the higher degree level (through research work), diploma or certificate level.

Art Teachers certificate/diploma/courses are to train those holding a B Ed degree for teaching art subjects in schools. Indian applicants for Art Teachers Certificate (ATC), Art Teachers Diploma (ATD) or for Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) must apply to the art and design colleges.



Professional designers may seek membership of professional organisations in the UK, e.g., the Chartered Society of Designers. For membership portfolio has to be submitted and membership examination has to be cleared. The address for correspondence is as follows:

• Chartered Society of Designers, 29 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3EG
• Art and Design Admission Registry, Penn House, 9 Broad Street, Hereford HR4 9AP
• Chartered Society of Designers, 29 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3EG
• National Society for Education in Art and Design, The Gate house, Corsham Court, Corsham, Wiltshire SN13 0PZ
• National Association of Fine Art Education, Department of Art, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, International House, Lancaster Street, Birmingham B4 7AT

Studying architecture

The study of architecture normally takes seven years in UK. A full time course is offered at schools of architecture in universities and other institutes of higher education. There are 2 professional bodies which regulate the course structure -

• The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), 66 Portland Place, London W1N 4AD.
• Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom (ARCUK) 73 Hallam Street, London W1N 6EE.

The study of Architecture can be done in 3 stages. The first stage leads to an honors degree and lasts for 3 years. This is followed by a year of practical experience with an Architectural firm. The second stage of the training extends for 2 years. After completion of both these stages student can register with RIBA. The third stage is the Professional Practice Examination taken during the second stage of practical training. On completion of the seven-year period students can register as architects with the Architects Registration Council of UK and become members of professional bodies. For entry essential subjects are English, Maths and Science at the GCE `A' level or class XII level.

Studying tourism

Tourism courses can be studied through many types of courses: college awards, vocational qualifications, first degrees and postgraduate qualifications.

The GNVQs and NVQs are vocational courses in the travel industry. They are available for all types of jobs in the travel sector. The NVQ can be taken after registering with one of the professional bodies. Generally students are admitted to these courses after secondary education.

BTEC course in business studies covers travel and tourism also. British Travel Agents Association is a government authorized body for a career in travel. They run travel agents certificate course at 2 levels one for travel agents and the other for travel consultants. The Travel Training Company runs the International Air Transport Authority (IATA), Air Travel courses which deal with all aspects of air travel. IATA membership can be acquired on gaining the required training points.

Undergraduate courses are of 3 years duration. Sandwich courses need an additional year of work experience.

Relevant addresses are as follows:

The Travel Training Company, the Cornerstone, The Broadway, Woking, Surrey GU21 5(offers travel tourism courses through distance education.)

International Air Transport Association, Agency Services Office, Imperial House, 15-19 Kingsway, London WC2B 6UN

Studying hotel management

Hotel and Catering International Management Association (HCIMA) is a professional body which validates hotel management qualification. It admits members as Licentiate or Corporate Members.

HCIMA recognizes a 2-year certificate course and a diploma course of 3 years duration. Licentiate members of HCIMA are certificate holders. Corporate members are those with managerial experience. First degree courses are for 3 or 4 years and these provide exemption from the Hotel and Catering International Management Association's membership examinations. Postgraduate courses are of one year duration. Research degrees take longer. Information about HCIMA membership may be asked from:

Hotel Management Association, 191 Trinity Road, London SW17 7HN

Studying engineering

Engineering qualifications like most other qualifications can be studied at several levels. There exists the craft level, technician’s level, and the advanced technician level and degree courses accredited by the Engineering Council. There are exams conducted by the Engineering Council which provide an alternative route to technical personnel to get a degree. It is particularly meant for those who have not got a professional engineers status.

Those who register with the Engineering Council after acquiring a graduate/postgraduate qualification do not need it to practice engineering but only to establish there competence as an engineer in the international job market. The various branches of engineering civil, electrical and electronics, mechanical all follow the same training pattern. At the bottom of the rung is the crafts level which is training through jobs in the industry, qualifications being given by training boards. Next are the engineering technicians who take the BTEC national diploma or higher national diploma.

First degree courses are 3-year full time courses or 4-year sandwich courses leading to a Bachelor of Engineering. The Masters in Engineering takes another year. PhD or M.Phil studies are longer.

As in most other careers engineers too register with professional bodies concerned with their area of work and get the status of chartered engineers.

Here is a list of some professional bodies in various branches of engineering:

• Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 1 Birdcage Walk, London 8W1H 9J
• Institution of Mechanical Incorporated Engineers, 3 Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JN
• The Engineering Council, 10 Malt avers Street, London WC2R 3ER
• The Engineering Council, Examination Department, Essex House, 12-13 Essex Street, London WC2R 3EG
• Engineering Careers Information Service, 41 Clarendon Road, Watford, Herts WD1 1HS
• Institution of Electronics and Electrical Incorporated Engineers, Savoy Hill, Savoy Hill House, London WC2R 0BS
• Institution of Electrical Engineers, Savoy Place, London, WC2R 0BL
• Institution of Lighting Engineers, Lennox House, 9 Law ford Road, Rugby CV21 2DZ
• Institution of Electrical Engineers, Education and Liaison Service, Michael Faraday House, Six Hills Way, Stevenage, Herts SG1 2AY
• Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, Delta House, 222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS
• Institute of Highway Incorporated Engineers, 20 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2DR
• Institution of Civil Engineers, 1 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AA
• The Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors, 26 Market Street, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 1PF

Studying medicine

Postgraduate medical studies in the United Kingdom (UK) require taking Professional and Linguistics Assessments Board (PLAB). The PLAB test is designed to assess both knowledge and skills, and ability to work safely as a senior house officer in a British hospital. The test can be taken in two parts. Part one is held at centers in the UK and in certain other countries. It consists of a single computer markable paper to a standard set using the 'Angoff method'. Part two can only be taken in the United Kingdom. If consists of a 14-station objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). This tests both clinical and communication skills. Entry to second part requires passing the first part. The second part must be taken within two years of having passed the first. Results are either 'pass' or 'fail'. The costs for part one is £ 145 and for part two is £ 430. In India the British Council Division administers the test in Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi.

Registration is generally in September for the test usually held in November.

Addresses for Contact:

Chennai
British Council Divisioin, 737 Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002,
nirupa.Femandez@in.britishcounsil.org

Mumbai
Mittal Tower 'C' Wing, 2nd Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021, vivek.singh@in.britishcouncil.org

New Delhi
17 Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi - 110001

Management Skills …are the key to career success

Whether it's a career in retailing, the media, manufacturing, supply chain, the public sector of one of the professions, every young person preparing for the world of work needs management skills in order to manage themselves, their job and those who will report to them as they climb the ladder to success.

Operational skills, budgeting, leadership, and managing people and information are all core competencies which the well equipped manger needs and it is these skills which students can learn from the Institute of Management (IM)

The IM has been established for more than 60 years and has over 86,000 individual and 600 corporate members. If offers a range of courses accommodating all levels of management at all stages of career development - from college students to CEOs of blue-chip companies.

Students make up 34per cent of the total membership. Not all are full time students. In fact many are full time workers, studying in their own time for the IM's Certificate in Management and diploma in Management. The IM also offers a range of short courses and management training programmes to support managers with their continuing professional development.

Courses are available throughout the UK in hundreds of further and higher education establishments and also through in-company training programmes, Students are attracted to study for IM qualifications for a variety of reasons. For example, Vivienne Manning, who recently won an IM award for outstanding achievement on the Certificate programme, opted for the course on the advice of her college tutor. She was unable to continue with a course in personnel management because courses in that discipline clashed with work commitments.

"My tutor suggested that an NVQ Certificate in Management would give a good grounding and that I would get a lot from the course," said Vivienne Manning, who lives in Gloucestershire. "I particularly enjoyed the human resource modules. I funded the course myself and actually managed to get another job as a personnel administrator. I assist the manufacturing director of a packaging company with a staff of 120 employees and am responsible for training and development plans and also deal with a range of resource issues," added Vivienne Manning.

Another recent IM award winner is Gordon Rutherford, a police sergeant with Cumbria Constabulary, based in Carlisle. He says his studies helped him to win promotion last September. "I always think in terms of outcomes and my aim is to achieve an MBA," said Sgt Rutherford. "I took the Diploma in Management courses as it offered a fast-track system. You learn a lot very quickly. It's very intensive. I scored high in my interview for promotion because of studying and researching for the Diploma," he added.

The IM is the leading management organisation in the UK and the largest in Europe. Through its wide ranging management development programmes it enables a broad cross section of people to develop their skills and confidence and increase their personal effectiveness.

It's students also benefits from a unique support package which includes access to the Management Information Centre, the largest management library in Europe; special discounts on books and other services and subscription to Professional Manager, the Institute's own journal.

The IM's mission is to promote the art and science of management. It aims to:

• Encourage and support the lifelong development of mangers
  
  
• Raise the level of competence and qualifications of management
  
  
• Initiate, develop, evaluate and disseminate management thinking, tools, techniques and practices
  
  
• Influence policy-makers and opinion formers on management issues.
  
  

As a membership organisation, the IM id committed to meeting the development needs of managers at every level and in every industry, in order to equip them with the knowledge, resources and access to training they increasingly depends upon to further their career ambitions.

The IM also plays an important role in influencing policy-makers and opinion formers in the UK on management issues, supported by the publication of substantial research reports on a wide range of management issues, including employment trends remuneration, management tools and the work/life balance.

Global Career Challenges - in the Businesses of Food, Land and Agricultural Management

Some forecasters are estimating a worldwide population explosion with an increase from the current 2.3 billion people to eight billion by the year 2020. This would mean that agriculture will need to produce as much in the next 25 years as it has produced in the last 10,000 years, to meet the inevitable soaring worldwide food demands.

It will not be an easy task - water requirements are set to double and top soil is being lost at a rate of around seven per cent per decade.

The main challenge will be to provide enough food without further damage to the environment and against a background of increasing difficulties due to the climatic change and the diminution and pollution of water supplies.

To meet this challenge, highly qualified and motivated professionals, armed with modern marketing, business and communication skills are essential. However, those with more traditional agricultural and land management training will also be required to back them up.

Britain’s agricultural colleges and universities offer an extensive range of courses - from rural skills training to degrees in agricultural business and land management, and beyond to postgraduate level studies.

Finding the right course is crucial and anyone wishing to join the land-based industries should carefully explore the opportunities available to them. A practical short course or diploma might be a good option for a student wishing to return to the family farm while someone seeking a career in agricultural consultancy would benefit from a degree level course followed by a specialised postgraduate study programme. Many agricultural colleges have formal links with institutions in mainland Europe and as far as Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, allowing students to explore and compare differing approaches to farming.

Above all, candidates should aim to choose a course from which they will gain enjoyment in which they are at ease. Most, if not all, agricultural colleges are in a rural setting and offer a wealth of opportunities to students from urban backgrounds as well as those who come from the rural environment.

Just some of the course opportunities include equine management, animal science, horticulture, land management, rural estate management, international agribusiness, agricultural business management, ecology and rural development. Preferred A’levels usually include one or more of the sciences and geography and work experience in a relevant area is a added bonus.

Commenting on the range of opportunities, Principle of the Royal Agricultural College Professor Barry Dent said "As we move into the new century, I am convinced that really exciting careers will open up with technical and business challenges to be overcome, careers in production, in business support and finance, in marketing, in environmental management co-ordination, in technology transfer, in importing and exporting, in international co-ordination , in developing new business enterprises, in land and estate management and in chartered surveying".

Young people who are concerned about the environment, about the safety of our food or who simply enjoy the prospect of working in the land-based sector will benefit from the study at one of Britain’s agricultural tarinign institutions. The career opportunities are endless and colleges such as the Royal Agricultural College, which draws upon a network of more than 10,000 former students start out on successful careers.

Studying Business & Management in France

When students choose to study business management in France they choose highly specialized and focused instruction. Of the 125,000 international students in France, 35,000 are studying business. France's universities and freestanding business schools offer more than 400 recognized degree programs that cover the full range of management disciplines and skills. Fifty universities offer degrees in management as part of their academic curriculum, as do 27 university-based institutes of business administration, 95 university-level institutes of technology, and 40 business schools. Programs are found in every major city in France. Top programs prepare students for careers at the very highest levels of business and government.

Specialized instruction in business got an early start in France with the creation of the first business school in Paris in 1819. Over the years, the content and methods of French business education have kept pace with the continual development of knowledge in economics and changes in business practices. University programs offer a wide range of professional education, from the general to the very specialized, that covers all sectors of management as well as advanced research. The very selective programs of the freestanding business schools are in close touch with the realities of business firms and the economic world. They train executives and managers to perform at the highest levels of trade, manufacturing, and services.

Excellence in teaching is assured by a faculty that maintains direct contact with the realities of business life. Most programs benefit from the participation of active managers and directors. Theoretical instruction is often provided by renowned members of the university faculty, particularly at upper levels of the curriculum. Frequent internships enable students continually to test theory against practice. Graduates thus benefit from a well rounded education that includes a strong multicultural and international dimension.

International students are welcomed. They may enter the universities and business schools at various points. Decisions concerning the recognition of applicants' credentials are made by the enrolling institution. Students are admitted on the basis of their academic record, an entrance examination, or another form of test. Students should inquire directly of the institutions whose programs interest them at least several months prior to the beginning of the program.

A variety of degree programs
The universities and schools offer a variety of degrees recognized by the French government. That recognition is a guarantee of quality and adherence to the highest international standards.

Students at universities may earn a degree of ingénieur maître (master engineer) in management, banking, or finance after just one year of general university study in business economics. Two professional degrees-the licence and maîtrise-can be earned in three or four years, respectively. Students in both the licence and maîtrise programs receive an intermediate postsecondary credential, the DEUG, in business economics.

Advanced study leading to the mastaire (5 years of postsecondary education) can take one of several paths:

• Some students specialize in a specific area of management such as marketing, finance, auditing, or human resources.
  
• Other students obtain the mastaire as a step toward a doctorate. A doctorate requires eight years of study.
  
• Still others pursue joint degree programs, earning a magistère together with one of two traditional academic degrees (a DESS or DEA).

Beginning with the fifth year of postsecondary education, most universities provide their management training in so-called IAEs (Instituts d'administration des entreprises, or institutes of business administration). The DESS CAAE degree, a general management credential that complements other nonmanagement specializations such as engineering or medicine, is a unique feature of the IAEs that is much appreciated by international students.

The freestanding business schools grant a nationally recognized diploma after three years of postsecondary study. They also offer specialized professional programs, including specialized master's degrees and MBAs, for students who have completed five years of higher education.

In some areas, business schools and universities have joined together to design innovative programs and degrees that share features of both systems.

Nearly all of the universities and schools offer a concentration on Europe, which gives their graduates a truly European perspective. For example, EAP (the Ecole Européenne des Affaires or European business school has four campuses in Europe among which students may move. France's largest business schools have spent considerable sums to attract eminent faculty that allow them to compete with top institutions like Stanford and the London Business School.

Several university and business school programs are recruiting a diverse body of international students into innovative programs taught partially or entirely in English. Students receive not only advanced management education but also an introduction to France and Europe. Most of these internationally oriented institutions belong to Agence EduFrance, a new agency formed by the French ministries of education and foreign affairs to recruit highly qualified international students into France's best degree programs. The EAP-ESCP graduate program, for example, trains students in multicultural management. The specialized master's program in industrial management at the ISGI in Lille is a bilingual program that trains engineer-managers in project management. ESSEC's MBA in international luxury brand management is taught in English and prepares graduates for careers in the prestige-goods sector, where France is a world leader.

Although mastery of French is not absolutely necessary for business study in France, a good command of the language is highly recommended as a path into other business-related areas of French higher education. Students who take the time to learn French will also gain a better understanding of French life and add yet another accomplishment to their resume-always a plus. International students may choose to learn French in their home country before coming to France to study, through the international network of Alliances Françaises around the world, at one of the Instituts Français, or at a French cultural center, club, or other institution.
It is also possible to study French in France, of course. Students can even focus on business French through short- or long-term courses in Paris or elsewhere. Many universities and schools offer intensive French-language courses of very high quality. These are described in an annual booklet published by the French ministry of foreign affairs.

Careers in Hospitality and Tourism Management

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (1997), the economics of the 21^st century will be dominated by three industries: telecommunications, information technology and tourism. The travel and tourism industries have grown by 500% in the last 25 years and it is estimated that by the year 2007 tourists will spend US$884 billion in foreign countries on tourism related activities.

Travel and tourism represents a broad range of related industries. The growth of these industries has opened up many new job opportunities for graduates in areas such as:

• hotels
• restaurants
• retailing
• transportation
• travel agencies
• tour companies
• tourist attractions
• leisure, recreation and sport
• cultural industries

It is interesting to realise that in 1997 travel and tourism provides 10.5% of the total world employment, with up to 25% of all employment, in some areas, such as the Caribbean. It has been estimated that, by 2007, more than 100 million people world-wide will be employed in this sector. Because of this, tourism is now seen to be of importance to most countries of the world.

During this time, the nature of tourism has developed in scope and direction, away from traditional activities, such as the sunshine sand and sea holidays to a wide range of new activities such as cultural tourism, adventure tourism, sports and leisure activities and eco-tourism.

Given the potential for interesting and rewarding careers in these industries many young people are looking for suitable courses which will help prepare them for careers in management within the tourism and hospitality industries. The UK higher education system has a well developed range of courses, at all levels from Higher National Diploma, BA or BSc degrees and MA/MSc/MBA Masters courses and using alternative methods of studying, (including full-time, part-time and distance learning). When looking at courses in hospitality and tourism, there can seem to be a bewildering variety of course titles covering the main employment areas of travel, tourism, hotels and restaurants. Typical titles include:

For hotels and restaurant management:

• hospitality management
• international hospitality management
• hotel and catering management

For travel and tourism:

• tourism management
• tourism studies
• travel and tourism

There are also joint degrees where it is possible to study combinations of subjects, such as tourism and hospitality, tourism and leisure, hospitality and marketing. Most undergraduate courses (HND/BSc/BA) will include a period of work experience as part of the course, varying in length from 6 months to one year. This work experience is seen to be a central part of the course, where the student gets the opportunity to practise what they have learned in college or university. Employers also see great value in this work experience when considering the employment of graduates.

Given the international nature of these industries, another valuable part of any course is the study of languages. Most courses in hospitality and tourism provide access to language courses, either as core components or as options.

Courses at Masters level are becoming increasingly important in tourism and hospitality. These Masters level courses are useful to two groups of people:

- those who have completed a degree course in a subject other than hospitality or tourism but who are looking at ways of getting employment in the industry;

- those who have a degree or sub-degree qualification in hospitality or tourism together with significant management experience within the hospitality or tourism industries and who wish to develop themselves to a higher level or to seek a more senior position in industry. There are many Masters courses in Hospitality Management, Hotel and Catering Management and Tourism Management in universities and colleges in the UK.

In addition to the above courses, there are also more specialised Masters courses in Tourism covering areas such as Cultural Tourism, Tourism Marketing, Tourism Planning, Museum Management, Heritage Management, Cultural Tourism and Sustainable Tourism: these are suitable for people who have an interest in employment in a specific sector of the industry.

Within the UK there are many university and college courses to choose from, but each course will have its own unique characteristics. Before applying, you should think carefully about the type of career you want: if it is in a hotel are you interested in restaurant management or rooms division management? Do you see yourself as a practical hands-on person or someone who is happier to work behind the scenes in a desk based job? Do you aspire to become a general manager of a hotel which is part of one of the major world-wide groups, or do you want to manage your own operation? Are you more interested in one of the functional management areas, such as marketing, human resources, conferences. If you are interested in tourism do you want to work for a travel agency, a tour company, the management of a tourist attraction, or within the public sector-national, regional or local tourism planning organisations. Think about these types of question before consulting the prospectuses or WEB sites so that you can judge each course against your own preferences.

A Hotel Management Qualification

The hospitality industry has been claimed to be a people-centric industry, where its management success and failure revolves around the management of people, particularly interactions between guests and staff. There is an indicator, which acknowledges the success or failure of such organisations, it is the high level of skills and training of the staff that work in such an industry.

Educational programs for hotel management is not only a career choice but also a fruitful experience. This is evident if one considers the wide range of topics that students are learning in the hospitality programs. Starting from the front office operations, accounting management, food and beverage, marketing, human resources and tourism. Inevitably such a diversity of topics make the learning process for a hotel management diploma or a degree a rewarding experience. Students that are joining such programs will benefit not only of having a qualification hut also of obtaining a wide range of knowledge across different disciplines.

Ambition & values
Often when students are graduating from a hotel management degree or diploma program will say that they will like to become hotel general managers. Their reason is purely on the ambition that they have to succeed as well as of the values that they obtain while they were studying for such qualification. What is critical here is that an educational program needs to build these ambitions of the students from a qualified faculty that they are in a cutting edge of the industry or academia. Students will then look up to their educators and will then build their own careers based on the experiences that they gain while they are studying a broad range of topics.

On a day to day basis in a hotel environment, decisions often need to be made fast. Those decisions can involve anything from purchasing new equipment up to training the staff Hotel managers without any prior knowledge of such topics will often make a mistake or a bad decision that will cost the operation not only in financial terms but most importantly in reputation. How many times we hear stories or cases of things that did not go well and how many times we learn from the hospitality industry that failures occurred because of a lack of knowledge of the market that they were going to invest.

Cultural awareness & knowledge of the global market
In turn, what educational programs for a hotel management qualification do offer are cultural awareness as well as knowledge of the global market. While students are studying for such qualification they obtain knowledge of the hotel markets across the globe, which in turn helps them to seek employment in any part of the world.

A career in the hotel industry
Overall, studying for a hotel management qualification is a rewarding experience not only for the reasons that were mentioned above, but also because it opens the doors to a career in the hotel industry. As the industry grows in terms of its economic importance so do the programs that they do offer education for such a career. What it is important for a successful career in such an industry is that the choice of such program needs to be right. Inevitably, educational programs need to reflect the changes in the global market and they need to be updated regularly so that student will gain an insight of the industry while they are studying.

As a result, a good education program in a hotel management will make students professional managers embodied with the spirit of teamwork, the spirit of solidarity and the spirit of service.

Management Colleges of India

Academy of Human Resources Development
Administrative Staff College of India - institution providing post experience management training
Asia Pacific Institute of Management - post graduate diploma in Information Technology, business management
B K School of Business Management - for MBA in Ahmedabad.
BLS Institute of Management - catering the need of education, training, development and consultancy.
Babasaheb Gawde Institute of Management Studies - premier management education institute in Mumbai
Bharathidasan Institute of Management - features courses and college information.
Davv, Indore - Institute of Management Studies
Department of Management Studies - Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from Madurai Kamaraj University
EMPI - Entrepreneurship & Management Process International Business School
Faculty of Management Studies - a pioneer in the field of management education.
Garden City College - for science & management studies in Bangalore
IIBM, Patna - official site of the Institute
IIM - Ahmedabad - Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
IIM- Bangalore - Indian Institute of Management- Bangalore
IIM- Lucknow - premier management institute
IIPM - MBA programme offered by Indian Institute of Planning & Management
IIS Institute of Mgmt. - Indian chapter of elite French management institute
IISM - Indian Institute of Science and Management
IISWBM - offers post graduate courses in business management, social welfare etc.
IPER - Institute of Professional Education Research
Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIMC) - MBA, management development programs, fellow programs in management
Indian Institute of Business Management
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade - management training in International Business.
Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode - providing high quality management education.
Indian School of Business - post graduate diploma in Management (MBA), doctoral & executive programs
Indo American Hotel Management Academy - provide degrees & diplomas in hotel management with industrial training
Institute of Advanced Management (IAM) - offers three year diploma in Hotel Management & Catering Technology
Institute of Management Development & Research
Institute of Management Technology - courses offered are MBA or PGDBM, MCA or PGDCA, distance learning programme
Institute of Marketing & Management - contain course details, events and publications.
Institute of Rural Management, Anand
Institute of Technology & Management (ITM) - Master of Business Administration (MBA) & Master of Computer Applications
International Trade & Development Division - School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University
JBIMS - site of Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai
Jagannath International Management School (JIMS) - registered non-profit body working to develop skilled human resource
MBA World - Indian & foreign MBA programs, careers, tips for preparations, placements
MHROD - Masters of Human Resource & Organisational Development
MIT School of Management - Master's programme in Computer & Business management (MCM & MBA)
Maharishi Institue of Management - offering different bachelor master and phd programs
Maharishi Institute of Management - offers modern management training, including international MBA degree
Management Colleges - list of MBA institutes in India
Management Development Institute - offer post graduate programs in management
Merit School - Merit Swiss Asian School of Hotel Management
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management
National Institute of Industrial Engineering - NITIE's Industrial Management program, alumni, Prerana
Nirma Institute of Management, Ahmedabad - offers programmes on different management studies
PISHM - Pioneer International School of Hotel Management
Power Management Institute - official site of Power Management Institute, Noida.
Prestige Institute of Management and Research - premier institute in the field of management education
Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management - management institute in Mumbai
Professional Management Services - offers Swiss hotel management & business management indian education.
S.V.University School of Business Management - located at Tirupathi.
SCMHRD - Symbiosis Centre For Management & Human Resource Development
SCMS, Cochin - official website of School of Communication & Management Studies
SEMCOM - SGM English Medium College of Commerce and Management
SPJIMR - Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's S.P. Jain Institute for Management & Research
School of Management, IIT Bombay - offers Master's & Doctoral programs in all areas of management
School of Management, VLB-JACET - site of VLB Janaki Ammal College of Engineering & Technology
Sister nivedita college - A professional college offering management education.
Skyline Business School - offers degree and diploma programmes in management.
Som Lalit Institute of Management Studies - management institute in Ahmedabad.
Somaiya Institute of Management
Srinivas College of Hotel Management - recognised by the AICTE, offers bachelors degree in hotel management
St. Joseph's College of Business Administration
Symbiosis Institute of Foreign Trade - a leading business school situated in Pune
Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies - admission restricted to only defence personnel and their dependents.
TAPMI - T. A. Pai Management Institute, offers courses, placements & research
Thiagarajar School of Management (TSM) - MBA, MCA, PGDCA, MS(IM) degrees from Madurai Kamaraj University
University Department of Management Sciences(PUMB) - the department conducts a full time 2 year MBA course.
University Institute of Management, Jabalpur - about the MBA course, faculty, admissions, alumni etc.
University of Madras - featuring MBA examination results.
V.J.P College of Catering & Hotel Management - provide on the job training as a part of the course curriculum.
Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management - offer Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM)
Vinod Gupta School of Management - business school of IIT Kharagpur.
Xavier Institute of Management - official home page.