UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO

Please contact Professor Brent Lovelock brent.lovelock@otago.ac.nz or visit otago.ac.nz/tourism

The University of Otago Business School, which includes the Department of Tourism, is located in Dunedin, on New Zealand’s South Island.

The University of Otago has maintained a reputation for excellence in education and research and is New Zealand’s oldest university celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2019. It is ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world, and has the highest-possible rating of 5 Stars Plus in the QS global university performance ratings. It is a major employer in the region and makes a significant contribution to the local economy. The University has more than 21,000 students including 3,000 international students from 100 countries.

The Department of Tourism

Tourism is an industry that not only plays a leading role in economic development, but also interconnects with many aspects of life.  By studying Tourism at Otago you will gain the insights and knowledge you need to play a key role in the industry. You’ll enjoy a wide range of tourism courses, encompassing both practical and vocational skills to further develop as a future leader of the tourism industry.

The Department of Tourism academics and teachers are world class researchers, teaching world leading content. All staff involved in postgraduate supervision are highly respected and recognised in their respective fields. Many are frequently published in leading scientific and tourism journals. To complement students’ business management education, we teach from a wider community, ecological, and sustainable perspective. The Department of Tourism has regular industry engagement, offering staff and students an opportunity to connect with industry parties.

2020 has created the opportunity to reimagine and rebuild the tourism industry. Our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes provide opportunities for graduates to contribute to this.

Undergraduate programmes

A Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Tourism (BCom in Tourism) is aimed at high school graduates who are keen to excel in a business environment, with a specialisation in tourism. Our specialisations include:

• Destination Management
• Tourism and Hospitality Enterprise Management
• Tourist Behaviour
• Cultural and Heritage Tourism
• Tourist Accommodation Management
• Sport Tourism
• Events and Conventions Management
• Tourism Product Development
• Ecotourism and Sustainable Development
• Tourism Research Methods

The Department also offers a Minor in Tourism, Minor in Hospitality and a Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad).

Postgraduate programmes

Postgraduate programmes in tourism at Otago include the Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce (Tourism), Master of Tourism (MTour), Master of Commerce (TOUR) and a PhD in Tourism. It is also possible to complete at Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) in tourism.

A postgraduate qualification in Tourism at Otago provides:

• Better earning power
• Increased employment prospects
• Entry to a PhD programme (for postgraduate programmes with a research component)
• Advanced knowledge of the tourism, hospitality, events, and leisure industries
• Contributions to society through research

University of Otago Business School

The Otago Business School is in the top 1% of business schools in the world and is accredited by two leading international organisations: EQUIS and AACSB. It is a member of the Association of Asia-Pacific Business Schools (AAPBS) and crucially for students, Partnership in International Management (PIM)). These linkages, amongst others, provide opportunities for staff and students to interact with the best and the brightest.

It is New Zealand’s leading business school for research (PBRF Quality Evaluation). A pacesetter in New Zealand business education, the Otago Business School pioneered the first full-time MBA in the country in 1976 (a programme which has been internationally ranked by the Financial Times and Economist Intelligence Unit). The School now offers more than 20 programmes from undergraduate level through to executive education, with postgraduate certificates, diplomas, masters and PhD’s all featuring in the suite of qualifications.

The Otago Business School is home to the following teaching and research departments and programs.

• Accountancy and Finance
• Economics
• Entrepreneurship
• Executive Programmes
• Information Science
• International Business
• Management
• Marketing
• Otago Business School Internship Programme
• Tourism and Hospitality

Otago Business School graduates have an excellent reputation in the international business arena and are well known throughout the world for their independence and practicality derived from the Otago culture. We maintain contact with our graduates through annual alumni functions around the globe, Otago Business School specific email newsletters, the University’s graduates’ magazine, and social media.