News and Events

Bedfordshire welcomes Tresham tourism students

2 May, 2012

The University of Bedfordshire welcomed around 30 students from Tresham College in Northamptonshire to give them a taste of university life.

The first year BTEC Travel and Tourism students visited the Luton campus, where they met teaching staff and enjoyed a campus tour.

The students also took part in an interactive session on tourism with the University’s head of Tourism and Leisure Dr Sally Everett and were given a talk on student finance and fees.

They also sat in on presentations current University students gave as part of their ongoing assessments. Tresham students Elizabeth, Norinda and Chantelle agreed it was a useful visit and would help them make their decisions about whether to go on to higher education.

Tresham lecturer Rachel Ellis said: “The visit has given students a real insight into university life and I think it will help them realise the better qualified they are the more career opportunities they will have.”

Colleague Carla Jinks added: “The visit will also hopefully inspire them to work hard next year and get the highest grades so that they can move on to higher education.”

The University’s Head of Student Recruitment Lal Joshi, added: “We were delighted to welcome the Tresham students to Bedfordshire. I hope they now feel more informed and confident about making their UCAS applications later this year.”

The Tresham visit is one of a series of taster days scheduled for schools and colleges over the coming months. Find out more about taster days

For more information about upcoming University Open Days visit Open Events

2 March, 2012

Fundraising is all part of the course for students at the University of Bedfordshire.

Students on the Tourism and Event Management course were asked to plan, stage and deliver a fundraising event as part of their studies.

Any money raised has gone towards the Steven Henly Award for Outstanding Commitment - just one of the bursaries the University offers as part of its £3m provision to enable people from all financial backgrounds to have access to higher education.

One group organised a speed-dating event and raffle. Group member Latoya said: “We organized a speed dating event to raise money and help the students break the ice.”

Dr Nazia Ali, Senior Lecturer in Tourism & Event Management said: “Through this assignment the students learn practical skills that are essential for employability and future work. Students learned about project management, negotiation, fundraising and dealing with possible pitfalls in a real life scenario.”

Students had to critically review the costs and benefits of staging a fundraising event. The event had to be small-scale and at no financial cost to the students. Other planned events include a Zumba Class, ‘Take Me Out’ type show, games tournament and a football tournament.

Last year, students raised £194 for the Steven Henly Award and this year the students are hoping to double the figure.

Bedfordshire student Steven Henly died of a rare form of cancer in July 2008, just a few weeks after his 21st birthday. It was during the second year of his BA Physical Education (QTS) course that he developed the cancer that ended his life. Steven died before completing the course, but awarded a posthumous Diploma of Higher Education.

As a tribute his parents, Zahra and Bob, have established an annual cash prize at the University, which is given to a third-year student who demonstrates the same sort of commitment and dedication to sport shown by Steven.

Prestigious international tourism conference is a first
25 Mar 2011 17:06:40

Speakers are coming from Europe, Africa and Australasia for a major international conference in Mauritius co-hosted by the University of Bedfordshire.

This will be the first major international conference hosted by the Institute for Tourism Research (INTOUR) and the Division of Tourism and Leisure.

The International Tourism Sustainability Conference 2011 is focusing on tourism’s influence and role in shaping environmental and social change and will bring together academics, practitioners and professionals in the field of tourism.

It will take place at the InterContinental Hotel on the Mauritian resort of Balaclava Fort from 21-24 September and has been jointly organised by the University of Technology in Mauritius with INTOUR.

Professor Andrew Holden, the Director of INTOUR who is Professor in Environment and Tourism, is jointly chairing the event with Dr Ramesh Durbarry.

The pair first discussed arranging such an event when Associate Professor Durbarry, who worked for a spell at Bedfordshire before leaving last summer, began working at the University of Technology, Mauritius, as Head of School of Sustainable Development and Tourism.
Food tourism expert maximises the opportunity
21 Mar 2011 11:50:43

The Head of the Division of Tourism and Leisure was mixing in good company at a county-wide tourism conference for Suffolk.

Dr Sally Everett was a keynote speaker at Destination Suffolk 2011 – Maximising Opportunity for Suffolk, an annual event organised by Choose Suffolk which focused on two key strategic areas this year – opportunities around the Olympics in 2012 and food tourism.

The University of Bedfordshire is leading the way in food and drink tourism research through the work of Dr Everett, its Division of Tourism and Leisure and the Institute for Tourism Research (INTOUR).

Dr Everett said: “I gave a talk on the benefits, potential and importance of food tourism and I believe I was invited because Choose Suffolk had found my research on food tourism and have been using my publications to inform their own food tourism strategy for the county.

“There were about 120 key tourism business professionals there from across the county, representing many very influential and powerful people who are ultimately responsible for driving and shaping tourism development in the region, and beyond.”
50k contract for Division of Tourism and Leisure
1 Mar 2011 15:59:12

The University of Bedfordshire has secured a contract which could be worth up to £50,000 to boost skills in the service industry by developing online learning materials.

The Division of Tourism and Leisure was successful in its bid to employer-based training accreditator Foundation Degree Forward (Fdf) to enhance and repurpose online learning materials to provide higher skills across key sectors including the leisure, tourism, events, hospitality and hotel industry.

Fdf was looking for teams interested in adapting materials that have been primarily written for the UK travel industry – the foundation degree in Travel Operations Management (FdA TOM) which the University is delivering this year.

The bid drew on expertise from across the University including its e-learning team and The Business School, and a favourable response was received from Fdf which was “very impressed” with the application.

The contract was recently secured by the University’s team against significant competition from other institutions and up to £50k has been awarded to the project team to complete the work and support relevant staff training.
Workshop to help Experience Bedfordshire
17 Jan 2011 12:55:44

The business community and the public are invited to a hands-on workshop later this month on the future of Experience Bedfordshire.

Two tourism experts from the University of Bedfordshire secured £4,000 funding to carry out key research on the public/private partnership which works throughout the county to promote Bedfordshire as a tourist destination.

The findings of the Head of Tourism, Leisure and Sport Management, Dr Sally Everett, and Deputy Director of the Institute for Tourism Research, Dr Sue Slocum, will help the three councils – Central Bedfordshire Council, Luton Borough Council and Bedford Borough Council – plan their strategy for tourism moving forward.

This workshop is designed to engage the public and businesses in the launch of Experience Bedfordshire’s new local awareness campaign, with the key objectives to raise local business responsiveness and promote participation in its initiatives. It is taking place in the Robinson Executive Centre at the Wyboston Lakes Conference Centre in Great North Road on Thursday, 27 January (1 - 4pm).
Students look a good BETT at Olympia
5 Jan 2011 12:16:16

Six students in their final year of the BA (Hons) in Events Management at the University of Bedfordshire are gaining some vital hands-on experience.

The students – Birgul Yuksel, Alison Pengelley, Amira Mohamoud, Nadia Khan, Tim Cakebread and Victoria Vettese – are setting up and running, on a rota basis, the MirandaNet Fellowship exhibition stand at the four-day BETT11 show at Olympia in London from next Wednesday to Saturday (12-15 January).

BETT is dedicated to showcasing the best in UK and international educational technology products, resources and practice, enabling thousands of international educators to enhance their knowledge of learning through technology. It attracts more than 600 educational suppliers and almost 29,000 visitors - about 20 per cent are international.

The MirandaNet Fellowship (www.mirandanet.ac.uk), often called the ‘Facebook’ of international ICT professionals, is an influential community of educators who have developed a debating programme for delegates.
University tourism experts win key bid
14 Oct 2010 11:31:01

Two tourism experts from the University of Bedfordshire have secured funding to the tune of £4,000 to carry out key research for Experience Bedfordshire.

Experience Bedfordshire is the public/private partnership which works throughout the county to promote Bedfordshire as a tourist destination.

The University’s Head of Tourism, Leisure and Sport Management Dr Sally Everett and research assistant Dr Susan Slocum will conduct a survey among tourism businesses in the county.

The findings will then be used by the three councils – Central Bedfordshire Council, Luton Borough Council and Bedford Borough Council – to help the councils plan their strategy for tourism moving forward.

Dr Everett said: “Through the survey we are looking to identify key strategic areas where the public sector can add value to the private sector, and what public sector services and activities are valued and needed by the sector.”

Cllr Ken Matthews, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Skills and Regeneration at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: "It is vitally important that we liaise with key figures from the tourism industry to learn more about what role the public and private sectors collectively, should play in promoting Bedfordshire as a tourist destination.
Event explores food-related tourism
31 Aug 2010 14:57:24

Fresh fish from Cornwall, traditional haggis from Scotland and tender lamb from Wales – you really cannot beat fresh local produce.

If you are a business with links to the food and tourist sectors, or an individual who loves to taste the local delights when you are on holiday, then why not come along to a University of Bedfordshire event which will explore the expanding Food-Related Tourism trend.

The Knowledge Network event, which is part of the 2010 ‘Changing Lives’ programme, will be held on 23 September and will focus on how high quality, local food has become a key driver for many tourists when they are selecting a place to visit.

Research carried out by the University of Bedfordshire revealed that more than 70 per cent of potential visitors to Scotland want to taste traditional dishes, regional specialities and fresh local produce. Food tourism is being increasingly embraced as a vehicle of development because it offers a means of enhancing the tourist spend without compromising the environmental, social or cultural fabric of the region.
Sue's involved in food and drink summit
8 Jun 2010 09:46:03

Food, glorious food, was the hot topic of conversation as the University of Bedfordshire was involved at a national conference.

Dr Sue Slocum, a Research Assistant in the Division of Tourism, Leisure and Sport Management, joined hundreds of industry professionals at the Manchester Food and Drink Summit recently.

Food tourism was one of the key focuses of the event with an all-star panel of experts leading the debate around the inclusion of food as a supplement to regional tourism offerings.

TV presenter and food expert Loyd Grossman and chef and author Fergus Henderson were just some of the well-known ‘foodie’ personalities present on Monday, 24 May. Celebrity chef and restaurateur Jean-Christophe Novelli was unable to attend due to travel problems.

Sue said: “The overall aim of the event was to open some much-needed channels of communication within the food and drink sector.

“We heard about a variety of issues and diverse perspectives from some of the most inspiring people in the industry. Delegates were able to question and be questioned themselves, and to share insight and knowledge that will have a lasting impact.”
Sally's cooking up a tasty treat
25 Nov 2009 10:28:57

The Head of the Division of Tourism, Leisure and Sport Management at the University is going North of the Border.

Dr Sally Everett will be leading rural policy makers, food tourism operators, stakeholders and members of the public at a food tourism seminar in celebration of regional food at the Scottish national Homecoming finale on Monday afternoon (30 November).

Funded by a research grant from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Dr Everett is running food tourism seminars across the country to inform the development of an innovative new national food tourism website (www.ukfoodtourism.co.uk).

This Scottish seminar will provide one of the highlights of a two-day celebration of regional food in Melrose this Sunday and Monday.

Guests from Italy and Ireland will also be sharing their experiences of food tourism in their countries. Discussions will focus on what makes the Scottish Borders a unique food tourism venue and what is needed to make food tourism grow and develop nationally.