Wellness Tourism Project (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

After completing the course, the student can:
• participate in project work as a responsible team member in co-operation with a project client
• plan and implement a systematic, productive wellness tourism research and development project for a project client
• identify and develop new areas of professional competences in accordance with the project objectives
Contents:
- project management processes
- acquisition and application of new, relevant knowledge in project context
Project in general:
The student / group utilizes the research method and information basis justifiably to support the implementation. The work develops the commissioning company’s / organization´s activities on the operational level (processes, product, supply or marketing). The project focus is on the organization and its operations, and the project strives to develop the organisation’s operational performance.
Preliminary timetable:
26 Sep 12 - 15 (Annika Karppelin, Telle Tuominen)
3 Oct 12 - 15 (Annika Karppelin, Telle Tuominen)
7 Oct 12 - 15 (independent work)
10 Oct 12 - 14 (Telle Tuominen)
24 Oct 12 - 15 (Annika Karppelin)
31 Oct 12 - 15 (Annika Karppelin, Telle Tuominen)
6 Nov 9 - 12 (Annika Karppelin)
13 Nov 9 - 12 (Annika Karppelin)
20 Nov 9 - 12 (Annika Karppelin)
27 Nov 9 - 12 (Annika Karppelin)
4 Dec 9 - 12 (Annika Karppelin, Telle Tuominen)
11 Dec 9 - 12 (Annika Karppelin, Telle Tuominen)

Objective

The student is able to:
• act as a member of a project and project group
• plan and execute a project within wellness tourism business context
• build up a team and to plan the resources
• produce presentation materials and present the project
• document the project
• evaluate the project, as an individual person, from the perspective of the whole team as well as from the project client’s point of view.

Content

Varies in different projects.

Materials

Independent and active information search in accordance with project objectives is necessary and expected. All literature has to fulfill academic requirements.

Teaching methods

Learning by planning, managing and implementing knowledge, innovation and research in a real life project.

Exam schedules

No exam. Active participation and documentation of own work through out the project is necessary.

Pedagogic approaches and sustainable development

The course is based entirely on a working life project, where the teachers work as coaches. The project aims to improve students’ innovation competences by integrating information search and knowledge sharing with research and development activities and collaboration with working life operators. The course strengthens student´s creativity, critical thinking, networking, team working skills and ability to take initiative.

Completion alternatives

Accreditation of prior studies requires work as a project manager or other responsible position in a wellness tourism project. In the accreditation the student is required to prove own role and provide documents on the project as described in the curriculum.

Student workload

Groups of 2 -4 students search for a project client. Project needs to be accepted by the coaches of the course. There are also some "ready" project ideas, that students can join. These ideas are parts of regional projects, where students take on a smaller part.

Evaluation methods and criteria

General evidence of active project work progress in the team diary and meetings with the coach.
Written documents:
- A project plan
- A summary of the relevant knowledge base used in the project (e.g. project work literature, tourism and wellness literature, articles, reports etc.)
- Evidence of own research or development activities (e.g.interviews, surveys, content analysis).
Presentation of project results
- in a form agreed with the project client. (E.g. recorded power point, multimedia presentation or other.)
- self and peer evaluation documents returned at the end of course.
Documenting and all presented material follows the referencing guidelines of TUAS. (See Messi.)

Failed (0)

The peer evaluation and teacher´s evaluation shows that the student has poorly participated in the project work and has not contributed evidence on the team work.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Grade 1
The student/group acts independently, but not completely according to the curriculum targets. The guidance is not utilized, either. The knowledge basis is one-sided and its application is insufficient with regard to the commission. Own research or development activities inadequate.
The presentation of the chosen viewpoints and own conclusions is weak and some of the targets are not reached.
The output does not contain much critical thinking or combining matters in a logical manner.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

Grade 3
The student/group takes initiative, is to some extent innovative and critical and utilizes the learning environment and the possibilities it offers. The selection and utilization of the theoretical knowledge basis and own research/development activities are to some extent versatile and suited for the topic. The conclusions are mainly presented in a logical and clear manner and some own reflections are included.
The output contains critical thinking and the workings are active.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Grade 5
The student/group utilizes the entire group’s resources and competence in a creditable manner to achieve or even exceed the targets. Based on relevant theoretical knowledge and own research/development activities the student/group can analyse different solution alternatives critically and can structure the output in a harmonious entity, taking the different viewpoints into account. The student/group has received feedback in a constructive manner and utilized the feedback during the project work. The group’s working is dialogic and it develops all participants’ competence and know-how. The output is clearly beneficial for the commissioner.

Further information

No costs covered by TUAS. If there are costs in the project, students negotiate the reimbursement with the project client in the beginning of the project.