Hospitality Services Management

Quick Programme Summary

Programme Description 

This programme is suitable for people who want to gain a qualification in the hospitality industry, are currently working in the hospitality industry, are seeking promotion, or are seeking management positions in the sector. It is also open to mature students returning to learning or are seeking a career change, people seeking to ‘start your own business’ in the hospitality sector or people seeking to develop their existing hospitality businesses. This programme would be ideal for those people who have worked in the sector and now find themselves unemployed. This two-year part-time programme gives graduates an in-depth knowledge and insight into all aspects necessary to manage and run a successful business or to develop a career in the sector. Completion of the programme provides participants with a strong foundation in current management practices and trends. It also helps participants develop the techniques and management skills that are required to manage all aspects of the day-to-day operations and management of a hospitality operation, be it a hotel, bar, coffee shop, café, sandwich bar,  bistro, outdoor catering operation, staff canteen, industrial catering operation to name but a few……

Career Opportunities

The hospitality sector continues to provide first-class career opportunities, at management level, for suitably qualified individuals. The Higher Certificate in Hospitality Services Management provides the necessary education and training to effectively manage and supervise diverse hospitality operations. The breadth of the content of the programme offers participants the opportunity to gain employment in a number of diverse operations within the hospitality industry such as Hotels, Bars, Clubs, Restaurants, Hospitals, Airlines, Cruise Ships, Transport Catering, Corporate Catering and Industrial Catering Operations. The delivery of the programme is flexible, student-centred and involves a number of delivery strategies such as: lectures, seminars, workshops, case studies, guest lectures, field trips and on-line learning.

The Aim of the Programme

The Higher Certificate in Hospitality Services Management is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills, which they need for specialised employment as front line managers or owners and operators of businesses in the hospitality industry. The Higher Certificate in Hospitality Services Management will also provide a basis for further development through experience, promotion or continuing education.

On completion of the programme a student will be able to... 

• Apply a range of the professional business, financial, human, social and intellectual skills and knowledge needed for operational management competencies in a management position within the hospitality sector of the industry.
• Understand the role, constituents and operation of the hospitality industry at supervisory and front line management levels.
• Implement plans to develop their hospitality business.
• Describe and apply a range of management concepts across a variety of integrated hospitality management areas.
• Understand a broad field of management theory, concepts and methods.
• Design and implement a business plan and programme for a hospitality operation.
• Train and develop staff in all aspects of the business including the development of training plans and programmes.
• Manage the financial, marketing and business planning elements of a hospitality operation.
• Undertake detailed research in Food and Beverage Management, Business Planning, Industry Research and Customer Care Management.
• Evaluate the operational elements of an organisation and be able to maintain high standards of operations through Customer Care Management, Human Resources Management and Staff Development.
• Manage the Food Safety and HACCP elements of the business.
• Apply Information Technology systems and procedures to a variety of applications in Hospitality Management and be able to transfer both technical and creative skills in a range of contexts using Information Technology.
• Apply legal and statutory concepts to operations through the management of the business, HACCP and Human Resource law.
• Apply the key concepts of the programme to opening a new business, developing the business or progressing through management of a business.

Content

Year 1

Applied Communications & Customer Care Management, Communications for Hospitality Services Management, Computer Applications, Costing and Control for Hospitality Businesses, Management Principles for Hospitality, Managing Food Safety and HACCP for Hospitality, Overview of the Hospitality Industry,  Applied Marketing for Hospitality Operations, Industrial Experience Portfolio/ Business Feasibility Studies.

Year 2

Food and Beverage Management for Hospitality Services, Human Resource Management for Hospitality, Project Management, Introduction to Hospitality Law, Introductory Accounting for Hospitality Businesses, Managing Training and Development in Hospitality (Train the Trainer), Applied Business Planning for the Hospitality Services Sector.

As part of the programme students can undertake to sit the exams for the National Hygiene Partnership (NHP) Management of Food Hygiene Programme. In addition, the Managing Training and Development Module (Train the Trainer) has been accepted by the NHP as a suitable qualification to deliver Food Safety and HACCP training in the students’ own organisations.

Why study Hospitality Management at DIT?

The programme includes hands-on applications to enhance the learning process. Progressive, innovative Lecturers experienced in the hospitality and tourism industry make this programme appealing to people working in hospitality related businesses, want to develop a business, open a new business or for anyone seeking career opportunities in the hospitality field. The core business and management elements of the taught programme provide added value to the participant's qualifications.  Laboratory classes are small to ensure participants receive individual attention from Lecturers.  The Higher Certificate Programme is designed to increase participants’ potential for career advancement in the industry.  The programme offers direct access to the BA (Ord) Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management on a part-time or full-time basis.

Why Students choose this Programme

“I’m working in the hospitality industry since 2000. I was offered higher positions a few times but I was not confident enough to accept them. So, I decided to do something about it and I enrolled on this course” Laura Serbian

“My manager had done the Higher Certificate in Hospitality Management about 10 years ago. I approached her to ask how I could go about learning all I need to know to progress further. She told me all about the DIT programme and how much it would benefit me” Collette Moore

“As a Chef Manager I have seen that it is of importance to study on this programme to broaden my career. Completing this course will allow me to move into a management position within my organisation” Trevor Boileau

Entry Requirements

The programme is open to applicants’ with industrial experience in the hospitality industry; it is open to applicants’ who wish to open their own businesses and is open to applicants’ who are seeking a career change. It is also open to applicants who may have completed relevant programmes within the sector e.g. NTCB, NCVA, FETAC, VTOS or City and Guilds.  The final selection of applicants’ is made on the basis of a structured interview. Places are offered based on experience and or an interest in perusing a career in the sector. This programme is ideally suited to mature students.

How to Apply/Enrol

Completed application forms should be returned to the School of Hospitality Management & Tourism, College of Arts & Tourism, DIT Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin 1. Applications are accepted throughout the year.  Interviews will take place in June and September.  As the number of places is limited, candidates may be short-listed on the basis of information supplied on the application form. Late applications may be considered should vacancies remain. Candidates will be notified of the outcome or of any short listing procedures. 

Award

Higher Certificate in Hospitality Services Management

Back to Top