December 2011
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our readers

Strathclyde students work with Emirates at the Dubai Air Show


Students taking the 'International Festival and Events Management' class gained a unique opportunity to work with Emirates at one of the highest-profile business events in the world, the Dubai Air Show, in a range of hospitality based management, supervisory and operational roles as the result of an on going agreement between Strathclyde Business School and Emirates airline. The 2011 Air Show is the third time undergraduate students from the Hospitality and Tourism Management programme have been given the opportunity to enjoy this unique experience.

Being a high profile international event, the 89 Strathclyde Business School students from second and third year worked with people from all over the world, and met senior figures from a range of companies as well as dignitaries such as the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, the Prince of Jordan, Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai and Sheikh Khalifa of Abu Dhabi.

Emirates run the Dubai Airshow and fund Strathclyde students' travel and accommodation. Students are allocated to specific companies - mainly private aviation companies - which take up exhibition space in hospitality suites. Working in the suites for the duration of the show, students carry out a range of service-oriented work, gaining vital management experience working in a multi-cultural, fast-paced environment.

However, it's not all hard work and no play – the students are given some free time and this year, they embarked on a desert safari with evening barbeque, visited the luxurious Atlantis Hotel – the focal point of the man-made island Palm Jumeirah - and its waterpark, and there was a staff party on the last night at the Millennium Hotel.

One student who attended the Air Show said, "I gained a tremendous amount of experience because I had no service experience prior to the trip and on the last three days I was allowed to manage the bar on my own, which was great!" while another commended the positive nature of the international experience: "I enjoyed learning about the work ethics of different countries and cultures."

Andrew MacLaren, Research Student in the Department of Management, has been instrumental in ensuring the operational success of the students' involvement in the Air Show and has been integral to cultivating the business school's relationship with the airline company, including an increase in places offered by Emirates from 30 up to a potential 100.

Andrew MacLaren, Carolyn McMillan, and four BA Hospitality and Tourism Alumni, who had previously attended the Air Show, supervised the students whilst in Dubai. Professor Sharon Bolton, Head of the Department of Management, also attended the show and met with Emirates' senior management team. A debriefing with Emirates will now be arranged to discuss how the operation ran, and future arrangements for the next Dubai Airshow in 2013.

In This Issue:

 

Hospitality and Tourism Leadership networking event in London

Student winners attend prestigious HR dinner

Students take part in RBS Trading Game

Economics professor to give talk at Fulbright Scholars Forum

Management professor involved in research leadership programme

Marketing academic gives keynote to 'Green' Management Accounting Conference

Tribute event for HRM professor

Six keynote presentations for Professor Phil Taylor

Stockholm academic forum and Chamber of Commerce invitation to SBS academic

Successful Scotland-Iceland Knowledge Exchange Event

MBM student's business

Conference talks for HRM professor

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