Graduate Field Course: Northern Tourism in Practice (10cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Objective

The course will expand, deepen and integrate knowledge of tourism and tourism development in the North through the planning and implementation of a project in a circumpolar north destination.

After completion of the course the student is able to
- identify stakeholders and networks engaged in tourism development in a circumpolar north context
- identify research themes relevant to the field course destination
- conduct information and data collecting relevant to the topics of the course and the field course destination
- design and conduct a small-scale tourism development research project
- critically reflect on research ethics in the North.

Execution methods

The program of the field course (5 days) consists of lectures and workshops conducted in multidisciplinary groups.

Accomplishment methods

Pre-work, participation in fieldwork and workshops, individual development plan.

Content

During the field course, we explore, study and develop northern tourism from a common and selected perspective – such as proximity tourism. The course consists of a pre-work related to sketching the issues related to the selected perspective in student’s own region, work done during the field course, and of an individual development plan, which is based on the work conducted during the field course week.

Location and time

Keropirtti, Pyhä

Materials

A welcome pack for the course will be available in the Moodle environment when course opens/registration closes.

Teaching methods

Pre-work (readings, videos, reflection questions, a meeting) 36 hours; Participation in 5 days intensive fieldwork, including keynote presentations and workshops; Independent study 100 hours; 7 pages development plan.

International connections

This course is part of the UArctic Masters Focus on Northern Tourism, organised in a collaboration of seven Arctic partner universities.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Fail: Performance is highly deficient or erroneous. The work may be based on serious misunderstandings.

Sufficient and satisfactory (1-2): Performance is lacking in scope, superficial, or corresponds poorly to the assignment. The author merely lists things out of context or addresses them one-sidedly. The work may contain errors or obscurities.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good and very good (3-4): Performance corresponds to the assignment, manifesting comprehension and a skill to analyse and justify. The author has addressed the issue comprehensively. The work may contain some deficiencies.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5): Performance delineates an extensive whole and the author can apply knowledge in a multifaceted way or place it in various contexts. The work manifests independency and insight, and it is a flawless entity that involves justified thinking or critical contemplation. The work is well written and implemented.

Further information

Registration to the course is open only for the students from the Master's Degree Programme on Northen Tourism at the University of Lapland, and students from the UArctic Thematic network on Northern Tourism partner universities.

Registrations/questions can be sent to kaarina.tervo-kankare@ulapland.fi