Degree in Theme Park Management

Perhaps you should broaden your CV sifting criteria... 🤷‍♀️

I’d be really interested to hear what subjects you consider the equivalent of “David Beckham studies” or a “non-subject.” Often a key value of an arts-related degree is the research, writing and analysis skills you get regardless of the subject matter.

I think you’d perhaps be surprised at the breadth of opportunities for a graduate coming out of uni with A degree in leisure/tourism management, both in the UK and internationally.

As a previous poster noted, Merlin is a huge employer in Staffordshire and surrounding areas - I don’t think you can knock the uni for catering to its local community.

This makes me so mad. How dare you criticise the efforts from a local university and employer to train the workforce if the future.

Alton Towers (& Merlin) employs a lot of people including graduates. They have collaborated with Staffs Uni for ages on training & development. This is a degree run by the university Business School that gives graduates specific skills needed in the sector. How many degrees are there with 18 weeks PAID work experience.

Stoke has lost its pottery and mining industry. Construction firms are going to the wall. Retailers are moving out. There is pretty much the hospital, Bet 365 & Alton Towers left.

I had a similar reaction to my Degree in Leisure and Tourism Management.
The amount of people telling me that you didn't need a degree to book holidays.
It covered amongst other things Finance, Small business enterprises, Marketing, HR, Operational Mgt, Strategic Mgt. They were on top of the industry modules like planning, government, Parks, Attractions, Entertainment, Event Mgt. The list is endless.

I run a course which is considered quite niche and I'm often questioned as to whether it's an actual subject but my graduate employability figure is 100% with all my students getting graduate level jobs in a related sector.

*calling

Exactly...and when nearly 70% of graduate job don't ask for a specific degree subject that gives young people (or anyone at university) the opportunity to study a subject they enjoy knowing they have the chance to be developing skills and attributes that employers are looking for.

And caring degrees 'mickey mouse' subjects is a real big bear of mine. Just because it's not a subject you understand or value doesn't mean it's worthless.

People who employ others always think that they know everything. Your clearly not very knowledgeable OP because someone who is knowledgeable is telling you your talking rubbish

My job only employs people with a specific degree. They wouldn't employ someone with a masters in theoretical physics because it would be irrelevant and they don't have the skills for my job. But it doesn't make a masters in theoretical physics unemployable. You don't work in tourism so obviously a tourism degree isn't going to be high on your priorities, but if you did work in tourism it might be.

Surely one employer who's field seems to be completely unrelated to tourism sayimg they won't employ people with a tourism degree is completely irrelevant? You don't speak for all employers

You are saying this girl who already works for you couldn't do a higher job, and should have done an apprenticeship which you don't offer, so she couldn't have done an apprenticehsip? She presumably is building experience?

Tbh I think a lot of young people know full well that some of these degrees aren't going to lead to fantastic careers, maybe they just wanted to go to university? And study soemthing they are interested in. We work our whole fucking lives why not postpone it for 3 years and enjoy ourselves?

It's quite irrelevant really if your debt is 50k if your not paying it off.

It's not just that I feel strongly. This is my area of expertise. I've a significant amount of experience in HE (specifically student recruitment, marketing, careers and employability and as academic) I also work closely with schools and colleges across the UK. I teach, research and write about this subject.

While your experience is valid it is anecdotal and limited. I'm talking about the sector as a whole. There are lots of misconceptions and myths around higher education - some of which you've stated in your posts. It's frustrating to see them trotted out and presented as fact by people who don't have an understanding of sector.

But students have to take some responsibility themselves. Even a poor degree can be hugely beneficial to the right student. It depends how they use their time while at university.

OP, couldn’t agree more. A poor degree is worth less than 3 years’ work experience.

Also, there is going to be information published on graduate salaries 1,3 and 5 years after graduation as it takes some people time to progress into a well paid job.
Graduate employability isn't the only measure of successful HE study and it's important to remember that.

Being an employer doesn't make you an expert on HE and graduate employability. It makes you knowledgeable about your sector and the people you employ.

All universities publish the headline figure which is the percentage of graduates in work or further study 6 months after graduation. However, they also have a graduate employment figures. This information is out there. This is changing though and will be reported 15 months after graduation and will include the 'graduate voice' so the students have an opportunity to express whether they felt their degree benefited them and their career prospects.

You're making some huge assumptions that universities don't care about their students and are all about money. Employability is a key strategic priority for universities and it has an huge impact on reputation.

Your posts actually suggest you know very little.

Yes, school and colleges have been criticised for promoting higher education as a preferred option but the tide is changing in that respect. Universities are actually very careful about what they promise. The CMA regulations make it very clear that only factual information can be presented. It's up to the young people and their parents to investigate all options available in order to make an informed decision. Unfortunately the absence of good quality careers advice and guidance has made that difficult for some. Again, this is changing.

Courses like the one you identified actually tend to have excellent employability statistics. Even if the students decided not to persue a career in that specific area the fact they've essentially studies a business and tourism management course and undertaken a significant placement makes them very employable.

Sadly yet another misunderstanding of how student finance works. This employee has no debt in a low paying job. Sadly her experience and hopefully exemplary work record means nothing to this recruiter. If I was her I would leave as she’s not valued at all. So many employers come on here and sneer about people with no work experience. Now work experience isn’t valued either!

Does your company offer apprenticeships?

I'm assuming not, or else this young woman might have been directed towards applying?

Yet another university bashing thread by someone who knows very little about higher education and graduate employability 🙄

Probably a useless degree but I'd love to do it for the field trips!

I studied a similar but not quite so specific degree and I am probably considered very successful now (earn over 100k in a job I enjoy).

I think general business or business management would be a better choice though!