The Department of Tourism and Hotel Management focuses on connections with the tourism industry and connecting its students to the industry – in the northern region and beyond. Because our students are required to complete a practical internship throughout their years of study, we have “Succession Planning” projects and / or close working relationship with Fattal Hotels Ltd., Crowne Plaza, Hilton, Isrotel, Dan, Setai, Amsalem Tours, and Nir David Tours. The department coordinator and lecturers frequently receive job openings for our students and alumni from many industry stakeholders. This past June, we held a spotlight event where representatives from hotels from the Tiberias and Sea of Galilee area (Setai, Sofia, and Galei Kinneret) came to talk to students about their organizations in order to recruit them for employment.
During a student’s first year, and as part of a preparatory workshop for practical internships, students are exposed to key organizations in industry, mainly from the north, in order to understand the different aspects within the industry, and to learn about opportunities for practical internships during their second and third year. As part of the “Talking about Tourism Forum”, which meets 3-4 times a year, they are introduced to senior executives from the tourism industry, and hear from them about employment. Also, as part of guest lectures and tours in various courses throughout the program, they are exposed to tourism organizations, tourism professionals and managers at leading tourism sites in Israel. We are also proud to share that during the 2021-2022 academic year, outgoing Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Amir Halevi, will teach an advanced course in tourism planning and development in our department.
Attached are photos from our spotlight event for hotels that took place in June, and a tour during Dr. Alon Gelbman’s course in Nazareth, where students met with tourism entrepreneur Maoz Yinon.
Prof. Hezi Israeli, Head of Program, M.A. in Tourism and Hotel Management
The M.A. program is an international English program, encompassing internationalism. The program focuses on strategic tourism and hotel management, in a global environment full of relentless competition, at times accompanied by crises, and in periods of uncertainty. The fourth cycle opened in October. Students studying in the program have come from many different countries, and study alongside Israeli students. Thus far, students have come from the United States, England, Switzerland, Nepal, Russia, China, Hong Kong and Cameroon.
Naturally, because the program is in English, we have been able to develop academic collaborations with other graduate programs around the world that also teach in English. To date, memorandums of understanding (MOU) have been signed with universities in Milan, Prague, and Hanoi. The purpose of these collaborations is to establish student and faculty exchanges, and to recruit students to the college from those institutions that teach a Bachelor’s degree in English, but whose master’s degree is in a local language or does not exist. There is great potential.
Dr. Yariv Itzkovitch, Head of Department, Human Resources Management
The Human Resource Management Department program integrates practice throughout the academic years, beginning on day one. Practical experience is acquired through unique courses such as Management Skills A and Management Skills B, in which students acquire practical tools they will utilize in future employment. Students acquire additional skills through two weeks of workshops during each academic year, and also through a two-stage practicum in which students gain skills they need in diverse organizations. In this framework, over the years, students have gained practical experience in schools, kindergartens and area councils, but also in private organizations such as hotels, nursing homes and diverse industrial organizations.
In addition, the department is developing academic collaborations, and beginning next year, students will take part in an interdisciplinary practicum, where they will work in teams that will also include students from other institutions and other fields to collaborate on a joint project.
Since its establishment, the department has also collaborated with the Central Association for Human Resource Management. Students are exposed to many and varied organizations in the labor market and projects that these same organizations lead and present every year. Partnership with the association is also reflected in the fact that the curriculum was recognized by the association, and has even won a commendation mark for its groundbreaking practice. Our close relationship with the association offers students the opportunity to take part in the association’s annual conference held in Kfar Saba. This partnership is unique. Our students are the only students who come to the association’s conferences. After graduation, students become members of the association.
Beginning next year, students will partake in the Association for the Prevention of Abuse at Work activities. The association, which aims to eradicate the phenomenon of abuse in the workplace, consists of leading experts such as former Labor Court President Judge Dita Prozhinin, Prof. Rachel Lev-Wiesel, Adv. Naomi Landau, and other leading professionals and researchers.
Dr. Giora Goodman, Head of Department, Multidisciplinary Studies
An important aspect in the Department of Multidisciplinary Studies curriculum are tours and activities that take place within the community. They enable student development, enrichment and exposure to various sites, organizations and professionals, and of course also contribute to the community. During the pandemic, students experienced many challenges; however, despite the complexity over the past year, various activities within the community continued as much as possible
As part of the Criminology Division led by Dr. Limor Golan, students learn about various organizations in the community, such as: “Elem” – a youth in distress center assisting victims of sexual assault, “Beit Rut” – a center for at-risk girls, and “Beit Lin” – a shelter and assistance center for members of the Arab society. Students visit these organizations, and meet with key members who take part in courses as guest lecturers at the college. Additionally, students meet with CEOs at organizations with potential for future employment and integration, such as the prison service.
As part of Dr. Ziv Ardi’s the “Beneficial Effects of Volunteering” seminar, students volunteer at Padeh-Poria Hospital. As part of this course, students volunteer at the hospital, and become integral members of staff in the Emergency Medicine Department (emergency room). They experience behind the scenes emergency medicine, and implement the visitor escort protocol in order to improve satisfaction and reduce stress they may suffer when they arrive at the ward. Through this experience, students learn to understand the process of admission, screening, and treatment of patients.
Dr. Idit Manosevitch, Head of Department, Communication
