Prospective Master’s Students in Business and Management Learn How to Promote Tourist Destinations
The Faculty of Business and Management recently held a research workshop for university students and graduates from CIS countries and various Russian cities, which attracted prospective students of the Experience Economy: Hospitality Management and Tourism master’s programme. The HSE University guests learned much about the role of events in the profession, and they had the opportunity to speak with programme teachers and tourism professionals.
‘The event industry as a key to tourism development’ was the key topic of the student research workshop, which took place at the HSE Faculty of Business and Management for the fifth time. This time, it attracted undergraduate students and graduates from Minsk, Crimea, Nizhny Novgorod, Veliky Novgorod, Perm, Omsk, St. Petersburg, and Moscow. To participate in the seminar, applicants were asked to write an essay and submit it for the competition. The authors of the best essays were invited to come to HSE University for three days during which they learned how to promote tourist destinations by organizing events and using big data while also immersing themselves in the university atmosphere.
According to Marina Predvoditeleva, Academic Supervisor of the Experience Economy: Hospitality Management and Tourism programme, the key focus of the research workshop was to teach future tourism professionals to solve practical problems with management tools. ‘HSE is a national research university, and we are trying to develop analytical skills in our prospective students. We are pursuing the same goal at our master’s programme,’ Predvoditeleva said.
The Experience Economy: Hospitality Management and Tourism master’s programme trains professionals who are familiar with international managerial practices and who have the ability to analyse and work in a highly competitive environment. Students gain knowledge and skills in financial modelling, human resource management, strategy development, marketing, big data, Python programming, block chain, and the use of chat bots.
‘Workshop participants see how intense its classes are and understand that studying at HSE is not easy,’ Predvoditeleva said. ‘After the workshop, they can decide whether our pace, programme topics, and the HSE atmosphere suit them.’
For Maria Dolgaeva, a student at the HSE campus in Nizhny Novgorod, the atmosphere of the Moscow campus seemed familiar. ‘I feel at home here. It is nice that the study processes are almost identical on different campuses, and the adaptation will be easy.’
Maria also found the workshop programme to be quite appealing. ‘All lectures were interesting, just as one would expect at HSE. I particularly loved the class on big data and the visit to a tourist company, she said, noting that it was the first time she had seen such a company from the inside.
Now I’m sure that I want to apply for the master’s programme at HSE University
Daniil Utyugov, a fourth-year student from Moscow’s Financial University, is considering continuing his studies at the HSE Faculty of Business and Management. ‘The master’s programmes are HSE’s signature brand, and this is where I would like to continue my studies. This is a priority future scenario for me. After graduation, I would like to develop Russia as a tourist destination.’
Anna Kubeka, a student at Belarus State University, only recently learned about HSE University when her teacher suggested taking part in the research workshop at HSE; this is her first visit to Moscow.
‘I looked at the description of the master’s programme and decided to take part in the workshop. We’ve completed a very useful practical assignment here that involved choosing a destination and developing its image based on a pattern suggested by the teacher. It was interesting for me as a future professional to develop the image of the city of Porto in Portugal, where I have visited as a tourist,’ said Anna.
Marina Predvoditeleva
Academic Supervisor of the programme 'Experience Economy: Hospitality Management and Tourism'