Introducing Work-integrated Education
With the aim of helping students to become all-round professionals with an appropriate level of operational experience and an understanding of industry operations and managerial decision making, all those taking undergraduate programmes should complete a mandatory Work Integrated Education (WIE) component as part of the curriculum.
WIE is an industry-based, on-the-job, structured and measurable learning experience in relevant operational areas within the hospitality and tourism industry, either in or outside Hong Kong. The focus is on helping students to develop a range of valuable generic abilities and apply theories to real-life situations through the provision of work-based learning.
The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is grateful to the industry partners who help place over 400 students each year at leading hotels, restaurant chains and tourism organisations in Hong Kong and overseas.
Objectives of Work-Integrated Education
The SHTM offers students Work-Integrated Education with a number of personal and industry relevant outcomes in mind. Upon successful completion of their placements, students should have:
- Gained experience in a relevant industry sector
- Developed and acquired skills through practical work experience
- Applied classroom theory in practical settings
- Learned to appreciate industry practice and the importance and roleof service quality
- Developed people skills through interactions with peers, subordinates and supervisors
- Developed positive attitudes as hospitality professionals
Programme Structure
The SHTM offers both Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Higher Diploma (HD) programmes in Hotel Management and Tourism Management. With the support of the local hotel and tourism industry, these placements provide students with important WIE.
Bachelor of Science (Honours) Programme
In Year One, students have two options. They can choose a 10-week placement in summer, or choose to fulfil the placement requirement by undertaking part-time work and accumulate their working hours up to a minimum of 400 at one or more organisations within the academic year.
In Year Two, students have three options. They can choose a 10-week or a 48-week placement at the end of the second year or undertake part-time work and accumulate their working hours up to a minimum of 400 at one or more organisations within the academic year. Students who opt for the 48-week placement return to the University afterwards to undertake their final academic year.
Students who opt for part-time work placement are required to accumulate a minimum of 40 working hours at each organisation.
The following tables outline the options of Year One Students and Year Two Students respectively.
Year One
| Options | Period | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Option One | June to August | 10-week industry placement |
OR |
||
| Option Two | January to August | 400 hours of cumulative work experience. |
Year Two
| Academic Year | Period | Programme Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Option One | June to August | 10-week industry placement |
OR |
||
| Option Two | June to May (year3) | 48-week industry placement |
OR |
||
| Option Three | October to August (year 2) | 400 hours of cumulative work experience. |
The Higher Diploma Programme
Students have two options. They can choose to take either a 24-week or 48-week industry placement at the end of the first year, after which they complete the final year of their studies.
Option One: Two-year programme
| Academic Year | Period | Programme Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Year One | September to June (year 1) | Study on campus |
| July (year 1) to December (year 2) | 24-week industry placement | |
| Year Two | January to May (year 2) | Study on campus |
Option Two: Three-year sandwich programme
| Academic Year | Period | Programme Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Year One | September to May | Study on campus |
| Year Two | June to May | 48-week industry placement |
| Year Three | September to May | Study on campus |
