In a context of high competitiveness, the tourism sector must find ways to promote his differentiation from competitors. The dimensions of hospitality, here understood as both an economic activity and a cultural phenomenon, whose key elements refer to customer satisfaction, competitiveness and collaboration, design and improvement of services, management of the relationship between client-provider and management of hospitality services, are addressed in an integrated context on the basis of innovative teaching and learning methods.

Programme descrition

In this cycle of studies, issues of hospitality and its dimensions are adressed, based on conceptual knowledge of theoretical thinking of trends in the area. Hospitality in this context is understood as both an economic activity and as a cultural phenomenon, "an intellectual search of social dimensions, along with the economic nature", whose fundamental elements of hospitality are: customer satisfaction, competitiveness and collaboration, the design and improvement of services, the management of the relationship between customer-service and management of hospitality services.

Knowing the dynamics and its implementation, the action of the tourism professional, in the various working contexts, it is claimed as a distinctive opportunity, innovative, enhancer of quality system and increased competitiveness, either in the companies or in the tourist destinations. Thus, this master is placed on achieving a formation that aims:

•  The management of operations in the optical quality of the provision of adequate services to the diversity of consumers;
• The management of the relationship and the interaction between the host community in the defense and protection of their culture and heritage and visitors;
•  Strategic planning thought to the host, reflecting on social and individual issues;
• Tourist information and differentiating strategic marketing access to consumers;
• The authenticity and originality of the social and cultural spaces, equipment and tourism resources as a priority;
•  planning and management of events, cultural, social and individually differentiated.

This 2nd cycle is also concerned with the dimensions of research as a fundamental support to the practice of work as a way of personal and social growth.

The master's program will expand the offer of postgraduate training in the emerging field of tourism and hospitality, contributing to regional and national economic system. Students will be encouraged to produce based on the strong relationship with industry organizations, which will be integrated into research projects and invited to contribute to the study of labor market needs.

It is intended, with this master's program, promote the creation of synergies in cooperation with the tourism system organizations, for the development of the territories and the various dimensions of hospitality associated with them.

The aim is also to develop academic exchange with other national and international institutions of higher education. In short, the students will be granted the powers enabling them to actively contribute to the positioning of tourism to an entrepreneurial level , innovative and imbued with thought directed to people, communities and their heritage and culture.

Why choose this programme

This cycle of studies conveys specialized training in the area of Tourism and Leisure which is presented as sequential and complementary to that given in the 1st study cycles in Tourism Management, Hospitality Management, Economics, Marketing, Social Sciences, Geography, Heritage areas, Planning regional and Urban, and related fields.

The philosophy that underlies the curriculum of the MPhil structure in Tourism and Hospitality promotes understanding and mastery of hospitality in the areas of knowledge of tourism, based on a curious spirit, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship, in close interaction with companies and organizations . Learning is centered on the student, promoting the development of self-employment skills and analytical and critical thinking, as well as strong social and cultural awareness. The teaching / learning methods foster technical and scientific expertise of Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality based on the needs of consumers, the involvement of local communities and the socio-cultural development of the territory based on collaboration with institutions, companies and partner organizations. Thus promotes a greater connection to the market sector, at the level of trainning, employability and applied research.

Career Prospects

• Destination management organizations and companies;
• Management of consulting and planning projects;
• Hospitality management;
• Events organization and management;
• Tourism professional associations;
• Museums, Monuments and sites of National Heritage guide;
• Heritage management;
• Companies of the tourism sector.
• Hotels and Restaurants
• Rural Tourism
• Health and Welness

Objectives

Are objective of the study cycle that students are able to:

1. Understand the concept of hospitality acquiring knowledge and skills enabling act with quality and innovation in the fields of socio-cultural interests of consumers;
2. Apply specialized investigation and design techniques in the fields of tourism and hospitality;
3. Understand the importance of community and institutional collaboration in developing a cultural and heritage identity within the hospitality, cultural and heritage values safeguarding and communication;
4. Know the marketing strategies applied to the hospitality contexts in tourism;
5. Understand the importance of planning in tourism and leisure supported by dynamic observation, monitoring, critical analysis to be applied in territorial development and competitiveness of the tourism system;
6. Know the operations in the fields of hospitality given the personal and professional development of human resources and hospitality.

Eligibility to join the programme

Access to the Master's degree course in Tourism and Hospitality requires that candidates candidates must have:

(a) a Bachelor's degree or legal equivalent in Tourism, Management, Economics, Social Sciences and Humanities, Hotel Management and related areas;

b) A foreign higher academic degree from an adhering State that agrees with principles of the Bologna Process in Tourism, Management, Economics, Social Sciences and Humanities, Hotel Management and related areas;

c) Foreign higher academic degree recognized by the Scientific Council as satisfying the objectives for admission to a 2nd cycle course;

d) School, scientific or professional curriculum that is recognized by the Scientific Council.

Scientific Council.

The candidates to access the 2nd study cycle in Tourism and Hospitality are ranked based on the assessment of merit resulting from the weighted average of three main assessment in three main criteria:

a) Academic qualifications;

b) Scientific production;

c) Professional Experience The Coordinator of the cycle of studies is responsible for the seriation of the candidates

Projects

• ICM Partnership Portugal-Brasil “Water, landscape and sustainable tourism”, (ERASMUS +), 2017-2019
• ICM Partnership Portugal- Republic of China “Museum and Cultural Landscape”, (ERASMUS+), 2016- 2018 e 2018-2020
• ICM Partnership Portucalense University and State University of New York (SUNY) Potsdam “Global Climate Change and Wine Tourism Strategic Responses”, (ERASMUS+), 2018-2020
• EURICA “EUROPE RITUAL CUISINE– DIGITAL PRESENTATION AND PRESERVATION”, (ERASMUS+), 2020-2022
• PERICLES “Preserving and sustainably governing Cultural heritage and Landscapes in European coastal and maritime regions”, 2018 – 2022
• FENICE “Fostering Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Cultural and Creative Industries through Interdisciplinary Education”, (ERASMUS +), 2020-2022
• TWINE “Co-creating sustainable Tourism & Wine Experiences in rural areas (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-032259)” (FCT), 2018 - 2022
• CREATOUR “Creative Tourism Destination Development in Small Cities and Rural Areas”, 2016 - 2020

International approach

International students are welcome! They have a chance to participate in the MPhil program through a regular application (becoming regular students of UPT), or decide to choose this course for an experience of international mobility (ERASMUS +, in this case the candidates must be regularly registered in a MPhil’s degree in another European university). In both cases, UPT supports international students with personalized attention and care and giving all the necessary information about the city, accommodation, transport system, entertainment and leisure, etc.

An International Coordination Service purposely created for this matter will be fully at their service!

Study plan

Language: English

 Coordination:

Makhabbat Ramazanova (ramazanova@uportu.pt)

Contacts:

mest.turismoHospitalidade@upt.pt