University Lecturing Assignment

Dubai:
The Tourism of the Future?

The University of Applied Sciences Braunschweig/ Wolfenbüttel is a renowned German institute for tourism and travel management. On the campus in Salzgitter, Lower Saxony, the Karl Scharfenberg faculty offers 4-year bachelor programmes where future tourism experts are educated and trained.

And for this summer semester, they offered me the position as a guest lecturer in tourism development – a privilege that I certainly had the pleasure accepting.

Under the title “Dubai: The Tourism of the Future?” I have been lecturing about the principles of tourism planning and development. The focus lieson the thriving tourism industry in the Middle East, with the example of the boomtown Dubai at the Arabian Gulf. These new destinations are analysed and assessed in the light of sustainable tourism, i.e. under economic, socio-cultural and environmental aspects.

The seminar is drawn up as an elective study course and forms part of the university’s regular curriculum. It comprises a total of 32 contact hours and includes a paper presentation as examination procedure. And last but not least: the entire lecture is held in English, a fact that made the course especially interesting for the internationally minded students at Salzgitter.

The scope and contents of the lecture include but are not limited to:

• The Middle East: Countries, People, Attractions
• The United Arab Emirates and Dubai
• Tourism Planning and Development
• Destination Dubai: Welcome to 21st Century Arabia
• Tourism Projects and Prospects
• Success Factors and Impacts
• Sustainable Tourism Development
• Intercultural Awareness and Competence

First feedbacks show that the paramount concept of combining theoretical knowledge with practical experience in an international environment is very much accepted by the students.

Furthermore, the interactive lecturing style makes it easy to follow and learn about principles in tourism planning and development. The use of English as the lecturing language is unanimously experienced as comfortable.

The answer of how much learning effect in critically assessing a tourism destination is finally reached will soon be given: the final examination assignment foresees the evaluation of a tourism destination in the Middle East against sustainability. Interesting countries like Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain are set to be analysed – and I will be looking forward to see the outcome.

For more information on the university and the tourism management courses, here is the website:

Karl Scharfenberg Faculty, FH Braunschweig/Wolfenbüttel



Andreas Hauser