The Association for Tourism in Higher Education (ATHE) is the subject association for Tourism in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the UK. Its membership of approximately 40 HEIs enables it to speak with authority on behalf of this sector. The Association wishes to stress the importance of tourism as a subject of study at UK HEIs where there are currently approximately 10,500 undergraduate and 700 postgraduate students enrolled. Furthermore there are approximately 3000 students following higher education courses in tourism at FEIs (Further Education Institutions). ATHE would also like to stress the significance of tourism as an economic, social and cultural activity and make the following comments regarding the White Paper which are attached as a separate sheet.
Dr. Keith Wilkes,
Chair, ATHE.
| Funding of Research: Increased research selectivity |
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| Proposal |
Comment |
"The government will ? encourage and reward research in larger units ? [and] invest more in our leading research departments" (p6).
"The government intends to improve the position of research by focusing resources more effectively on the best research performers" (p28) |
The RAE results demonstrated that, apart from isolated individuals, the majority of tourism research was rated at 4 or below. The intention to concentrate research funding on the highest rated research departments will cause a major funding crisis for tourism research in UK HEIs., with a reduction in research capacity and deterioration of the research infrastructure that has developed in this important area..
Proposal: see below |
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| Funding of Research: Support for emerging areas |
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| Proposal |
Comment |
"The government will develop new incentives to support emerging and improving research" (p6)"We propose ? to create a network of around 20 Knowledge Exchanges." (p39) |
Tourism is a clear example of an emerging and improving research area that would benefit from targeted incentives. Additionally, Tourism would seem to be an ideal focus for a Knowledge Exchange Centre. ATHE proposes to lead a consortium to develop proposals for such a centre and would welcome government support for such a move.
Proposal: Tourism research is explicitly identified as an area of emerging and improving research and appropriate support and funding is identified to build capacity and develop excellence in this significant area. Targets for emerging and improving areas for the next RAE should be appropriate and realistic (i.e. an improved score of 1 or 2 or its equivalent in the next RAE, rather than a 5/5* threshold). |
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| PhD students |
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| Proposal |
Comment |
"larger graduate schools in fewer HEIs"
"a model where postgraduate degree awarding powers are restricted to successful research consortia" (p33) |
Tourism supports a small but growing number of PhD students. This programme would be threatened by proposals to restrict supervision of PhD students in the short / medium term.
Proposal: Areas of emerging and improving research (including Tourism) are exempt from this restriction. |
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| Collaboration |
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| Proposal |
Comment |
"Collaboration should be encouraged" (p29) |
The absence of established 5 / 5* research groups in Tourism makes it difficult to link emerging research centres to established / excellent ones.
Proposal: Consideration should be given about how best to encourage collaboration in areas of emerging and improving research such as Tourism |
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| Centres of Teaching Excellence |
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| Proposal |
Comment |
"Centres of Excellence in teaching will be established" (p47) |
The Subject LTSN works well in promoting good practice in tourism teaching. There is scope for confusion, conflict and competition over funding with Centres of Excellence.
Proposal: Successful LTSNs should be given a clear role in working with Centres of Excellence.
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