module specification

This module aims to give students a more conceptual understanding of events management by considering the nature and role of events within a wider societal context. As well as exploring contemporary issues currently being faced by event organisers, stakeholders and policy makers, the module might also considers indicatively some of the key theories and concepts that have influenced the development of events as an area for academic research. As well, this module will enable students to more effectively understand the link between Events and Society issues, and academic research, in addition to making them more rounded event professionals.

Aims of the module:

The overall aim of the module is to equip students with a broad understanding of how events interact with the rest of the economy and society. The module aims to:

1) Introduce students to some of the key theoretical concepts and contemporary issues facing Event Management.

2) Enable students to critically explore events from a socioeconomic perspective, as well as acknowledging the influences of urban geography and tourism.

3) Empower students with knowledge and understanding of the issues, to possible help inform their choice of dissertation topic at level 6.

4) Help to equip students to relate theory to practice through the incorporation of teaching aids, such as: real event examples, case studies and empirical research.

1) Stakeholders LO1
2) Sustainability
3) Impacts
4) Strategic use of events
5) Consumption and experience LO2
6) Event legacy and urban regeneration
7) Motivation to attend events
8) Place and representation
9) And the like

The module will be delivered via a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, online activities, group work, peer learning, and the like. Sessions will consist of a mixture of theoretical input and problem based learning.  The aim is to support learning activities with the use of modern technology, such as videos, discussion boards, in-class student-centred discussions, peer collaboration, guest speakers, and so forth.

Learning and teaching on the module could be organised in the form of 2 hours workshop and 1 hour seminar every week.

Lectures will aim to introduce the relevant theories related to events management and the seminars will be used to explore these more in depth and debate their implications within the industry. The intention is, that there will also be, potential field trips to venues and sites in the London area where relevant to the syllabus, guest speakers or other activities, such as industry related activities, student self-directed learning or student selected topic, etc.

Weekly teaching is supported with the online intranet (WebLearn), not only in terms of sharing of relevant materials, but also in terms of incorporating different online activities that students are required to complete, either in preparation for or in follow-up of the session. This could include both individual and collaborative exercises.

Students are expected to actively participate in all sessions and to come to sessions prepared, which will entail a certain amount of guided and self-guided independent study at home/library, both including hard copy and online resources. Indicative key reading material and guidance will be provided to help students plan their studies, but students are also expected to conduct additional research, to supplement their reading with relevant topics and material or their choice.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

1) Select and evaluate a range of secondary sources to construct an academic argument that is persuasive and focused, by indenting the link of events and socioeconomic issues as an academic subject discipline, and identify some key academic thinkers in the field [Assessed in A1].

2) Elaborate critically on the nature of events and their role within society using relevant and appropriate theoretical concepts and examples from contemporary industry practice [Assessed in A2].

Assessment 1 will consist of an individual report (or a case study) of 2500 words. This will provide the opportunity to students, the select, appraise and evaluate a range of secondary sources (key academic thinkers), and construct academic arguments that are persuasive and focused, while indenting the link of events and socioeconomic issues, with the current academic debate [Assesses LO1].

Assessment 2 will consist of a 2500 words academic essay, which will give the opportunity to students to demonstrate their ability to critically analyse and debate the nature of events and the role events play within society. Analyse key theoretical concepts and synthesise, and relate these to current practices within the events sector [Assesses LO2].

Textbooks:
Core Text:
• Andrews, H. Leopold, T. (2013). Events and the Social Sciences. Routledge: UK.
• Case, R. (2013). Events and the Environment. Routledge: UK.

Other Texts:
• Allen, J., O’Toole, W., Harris, R. and McDonnell, I. (2010) Festival and Special Event Management, Fifth Edition, John Wiley & Sons
• Berridge, G. (2007) Events Design and Experience. Routledge: Oxon, UK.
• Bladen, C. Kinnell, J. Abson, E. and Wilde, N. (2012) Events Management: An Introduction. Routledge: Oxon, UK
• Bowdin, G., Allen, J., O’Toole, W., Harris, R. and McDonnell, I. (2012) Events Management, 3rd edition, Abingdon: Routledge
• Elkington, J. (1999) Cannibals With Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business, Oxford: Capstone
• Elkington, J. (2008) The Power of Unreasonable People: How Social Entrepreneurs Create Markets That Change The World, Boston: Harvard Business School Press
• Featherstone, M. (2007) Consumer Culture and Postmodernism. 2nd edition. Sage: London
• Ferdinand, N. and Kitchin, P. (2012) Event Management: An International Approach, London: Sage
• Fox, D., Gouthro, M.B., Morakabati, Y. and Brackstone, J. (2014) Doing Events Research: From theory to practice. Routledge: Oxon, UK
• Freeman, R.E. (2010) Strategic Management: A Stakeholder Approach, Cambridge University Press
• Getz, D. (2012) Event Studies: Theory, Research and Policy for Planned Events, Second Edition, Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann
• Giddens, A. (2013). Sociology. 7th edition. Polity Press: Cambridge
• Jones, M. (2014) Sustainable Event Management: A Practical Guide, 2nd edition, Routledge: Abingdon
• Merkel, U. (2015) Identity discourses and communities in international events, festivals and spectacles. New York: Palgrave Macmillan
• Page, S. J. and Connell, J. (2012) The Routledge Handbook of Events. Hoboken: Taylor & Francis
• Richards, G. Palmer, R. (2010) Eventful Cities: Cultural management and urban revitalization. Butterworth-Heinemann: London, UK
• Smith, A. (2012) Events and Urban Regeneration. Routledge: UK
• Yeoman, I., Robertson, M., Ali-Knight, J., Drummond, S. and McMahon-Beattie, U. (2004) Festivals and Events Management, London: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann

Journals:
• Event Management
• International Journal of Event and Festival Management
• Cultural Planning and Management
• International Journal of Hospitality and Event Management
• International Journal of Event Management Research
• Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing
• Journal of Town and City Management
• City Marketing and Branding
• The London Journal: A Review of Metropolitan Society Past and Present
• Urban Design
• Urban Studies
• Journal of Convention and Event Tourism

Websites:
Association of event organisers: https://www.aeo.org.uk
The Association for Events Management Education (AEME): http://www.aeme.org
The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers Limited (ABPCO): https://www.abpco.org
Association of Event Venues: https://www.aev.org.uk
The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers Limited (ABPCO): https://www.abpco.org/
Chartered Institute of Marketing: http://www.cim.co.uk/resources/commschannels/digital.aspx
ESOMAR (The European Society for Opinion and Market Research): www.esomar.nl