Hospitality & Tourism Management: building industry engagement

Our hospitality & tourism programmes were ranked highly recently in the recent Complete University Guide. Here, Tom Bourkel and Kostas Tomazos reflect on how Hospitality and Tourism Management at Strathclyde engages with industry for ‘useful learning’. 

As evidenced by our recent ranking as the number one institution in Scotland and number seven in the UK according to the Complete University Guide 2025's subject rankings, our team's academic excellence is complemented by our industry engagement efforts within the hospitality and tourism management fields. Our ranking - especially our outstanding graduate employability score - highlights our leadership in student satisfaction and graduate outcomes, solidifying our reputation as a hospitality and tourism education leader. 

Our commitment to industry engagement is reflected in the diverse range of partnerships and collaborative projects we undertake across the hospitality and tourism sectors. It’s something that we feel is really important to offer our students and we work hard to ensure we can offer these ‘useful learning’ experiences. Through initiatives like the Incorporation of Maltmen project, we actively advise on and promote sustainable practices within the drinks industry, demonstrating our dedication to fostering environmental responsibility. 

In the past, we have provided guidance on recruitment practices for organisations including Cameron House and ITISON.

Our students benefit from hands-on experience through placements on projects such as making the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) more accessible and inclusive, underscoring our focus on practical, real-world impact. 

Moreover, our students have engaged in critical projects, such as identifying rebranding challenges for IHG while acquiring the Principal Hotel Group, showcasing their ability to navigate complex corporate transitions. Our partnerships extend to prestigious opportunities like Rosewood internships, offering students invaluable industry exposure. 

Our commitment to the community is equally strong. Through our events management class, we support the third sector by working closely with local charities, reinforcing our ethos of giving back to society. Over the last ten years, we have supported several causes and made a difference for smaller and larger grassroots projects, raising tens of thousands of pounds and much-needed awareness.  

As the only Scottish ABTA Education Partner University, we maintain strong ties with the travel industry, further enhancing our students' learning experiences and career prospects. We are also proud to be part of the Higher Education Partners Network and the Tourism Skills Group, where we contribute to ongoing tourism skills development planning and advise the Scottish Government, influencing policy at the highest levels. 

We look forward to the future and continuing to work hard to secure these opportunities for our students.