Academic Programs

Study Period: Semester One
Unit code: TH211
Credit points: 15
Campus: Madang
This unit aims to develop knowledgeable and skilled students who can practice in full-service hotels in a range of positions in the front office and housekeeping departments. Students are introduced to hotel property ownership and operating structures, organizational structures, planning, staffing requirements, and technology developments in the front office and housekeeping departments. In addition to three hours’ class contact time, students are exposed to three hours practical training in a reputable full service hotel.

Study Period: Semester One
Unit code: TH214
Credit points: 15
Campus: Madang
This unit discusses the different professional issues affecting the tourism and hospitality industry. Students are introduced to different international case studies depicting certain issues affecting the different sectors of the tourism and hospitality industry. Students gain a wide understanding of these issues by critically analysing and evaluating the case studies and by engaging in group discussions and learning new insights through peer interactions. Students are expected to offer alternative and workable solutions to some of the problems presented in the case studies and to integrate knowledge and skills gained from other units and experiences to deal with some of the issues presented.

Study Period: Semester One
Unit code: IS209
Credit points: 15
Campus: Madang
The Internet is a worldwide interconnection of networks. It has no single central file server nor does a single computer control it. This unit provides an overview of Internet use and application in business, government, learning institutions, and others. One of the software Internet applications is the World Wide Web (WWW). The WWW consists of a huge collection of hypertext-linked documents (HTML documents) stored on computers around the world. Students study and explore the dynamics of the World Wide Web and how it can be used as a research and communication tool that would lead them to make informed decisions about the impact the Internet and the World Wide Web have in our changing society.

Study Period: Semester One
Unit code: BS212
Credit points: 15
Campus: Madang
The unit introduces students to the imperatives of marketing, not only as an organizational function but also as the philosophy guiding modern business organizations. It introduces the students to the basic marketing principles and theories and makes them apply the concepts in class within the context of marketing decision- making and problem solving activities of large companies, small businesses and non-profit organizations.
Marketing is defined and company orientations towards the market place are presented. Students further examine the marketing process, analysis of marketing opportunities and threats, target marketing, with emphasis on the development of the company’s marketing mix programs. 

Study Period: Semester One
Unit code: TH318
Credit points: 15
Campus: Madang
This unit aims to develop students who can solve a range of managerial problems, through a balance of careful study of theory, and real world experiences offered by a variety of thinkers, and practitioners. Students develop critical thinking skills to deal intelligently with practical “real world” operational and management issues in the dynamic hotel organization. Students learn to make decisions which reflect a consideration of the forces influencing the hotel business environment in a global and local context.

Study Period: Semester Two
Unit code: TH322
Credit points: 15
Campus: Madang
The aim of this unit is to build on from the theme of ‘sustainability’ and become aware of the need for forms of tourism that are environmentally and culturally sensitive, and are considered as an appropriate form of development for potential rural destinations. The emphasis in Ecotourism is to minimize actual or potential negative impacts on the tourism resource and host communities, while instilling in tourism consumers and facilitators a responsible behaviour in the tourism experience. Students are exposed to planning and management concepts and ideas, and case studies that are relevant to discussing best practices in Ecotourism for Papua New Guinea.

Study Period: Semester Two
Unit code: TH323
Credit points: 15
Campus: Madang
This unit builds on the idea of tourism as a recreational form of activity that contributes to community development. Community recreational activities can form strong links with tourism and therefore contribute to community development. Students develop a link between recreational tourism and community development. They are able to identify cases of community development and apply models of community development using recreational forms and understand group dynamics and collaboration in community development. This will enable students to work within different communities

Study Period: Semester One
Unit code: TH319
Credit points: 15
Campus: Madang
This unit follows on from management principles (BS115) and emphasizes strategic management in the tourism and hospitality business. It examines the different environments in which tourism operates and how through strategic planning tourist businesses can capitalize on opportunities presented. Theories about strategy and strategic management are studied alongside illustrative and analytical cases from the tourism and hospitality industry, internationally, and in PNG. The aim of the unit is to develop knowledge and understanding about various theories and practices in strategic management, applicable to organizations in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Study Period: Semester One
Unit code: BS429
Credit points: 15
Campus: Madang
This unit aims to prepare students to analyze and interpret data collected for their research project. The theoretical component of this unit introduces different data analysis techniques suitable for qualitative and quantitative types of research. The practical component of the unit develops skills for coding, analyzing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data and writing up a research report. The student researchers will present their research reports towards the end of the semester to a panel of markers as scheduled.

Study Period: Semester One
Unit code: TH412
Credit points: 15
Campus: Madang
Organizations in the Tourism and Hospitality industry operate in a complex legal environment, so tourism operators and facility managers should be aware of the legal requirements and obligations to guests and staff. Employee relations affect the environment within which business decisions are made, and as such, the industrial relations system in PNG has many implications for the operation of the various sectors of the tourism industry. This unit will cover the nature of the employment relationship, key concepts, factors and theories in industrial relations. The roles of government, industrial tribunals, employers and trade unions, methods of collective bargaining and individual contracting are specifically explored. These issues will be mainly covered in the PNG industrial relations context. Also, examples will be drawn from other countries.

Study Period: Semester One
Unit code: TH324
Credit points: 15
Campus: Madang
The aim of this unit is to further explore the principles of conservation and sustainability, study wildlife management areas and coastal environments and factors that make them susceptible to environmental damage; islands as tourist destinations; cruise ship tourism; diving and snorkeling based tourism; and tourism and conservation issues in coastal and management environments. It explores the complex relationships among the ecological and social values of these environments and outlines strategies and tools for their sustainability and management.     The core values of integrity, respect, diversity and social responsibility will be addressed in the accomplishment of this unit.

Study Period: Semester One
Unit code: TH413
Credit points: 15
Campus: Madang
In this unit students explore the dimensions of successful service firms, from an inter-disciplinary point-of-view across various industry sectors. Material covered integrates operations, marketing, strategy, information technology, and organizational issues. Students are prepared for enlightened management and the creation of entrepreneurial opportunities by improving existing service firms or innovating new services. Students begin with a study of the service encounter, and learn to blend marketing, technology, people, and information to achieve distinctive competitive advantage.