Teaching Methodology

The course combines three main teaching and learning methods:

1. Lectures and Participatory Sessions

During class sessions, students will be introduced to key concepts related to communication, digital tools, and research methods. Active student participation will be encouraged through practical exercises, critical reflection, and the analysis of case studies related to the tourism and hospitality industry.

2. Digital Workshops and Practical Sessions

These sessions enable students to apply the knowledge acquired through guided use of software such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint/Canva, as well as information retrieval and bibliographic management tools. Individual and group exercises will be carried out as part of the cross-disciplinary project shared with the course Foundations of Tourism and the Hospitality Industry.

3. Independent Learning and Use of the Virtual Campus

The Virtual Campus will serve as the main platform for monitoring learning progress and providing academic support. All course materials (learning resources, activities, and assessment rubrics) will be made available through this platform. Students will be responsible for managing their own time to complete the proposed activities and develop the final integrative project.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Continuous Assessment

Continuous assessment is based on four assessment components:

Communication Skills Block (25%)

This course is designed around an active and experiential learning methodology, in which a substantial part of the learning and assessment activities takes place during scheduled face-to-face sessions. Therefore, regular attendance and active participation are essential. As many assessment activities are carried out exclusively in the classroom and cannot be replicated outside this setting, failure to attend may prevent students from demonstrating the intended learning outcomes and, consequently, may result in failing the course.

Midterm Digital Skills Examinations (25% + 25%)

Two practical examinations assessing proficiency in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint/Canva, calculations, and data visualization.

Students must obtain a minimum grade of 4 out of 10 in each examination in order for the marks to be averaged.

Practical Classroom Activities (10%)

Applied activities carried out during class sessions to reinforce the development of digital and research skills.

Cross-disciplinary Project Shared with Foundations of Tourism and the Hospitality Industry (15%)

Assessment will focus on the effective application of digital tools and research methods in the development of the joint project.

Communication Skills (25%)

This course has been designed as an experiential, active-learning course in which a substantial part of the learning activities and assessment takes place during scheduled class sessions. Regular attendance and active participation are therefore essential. Students who do not attend classes regularly may be unable to demonstrate the required learning outcomes and, consequently, may not meet the requirements to pass the course.

Single Assessment

Students opting for the single assessment pathway must complete a comprehensive final practical examination covering:

• Key elements of the Communication Skills block.
• Application of digital skills.
• Research tools and methods.

Retake Exam

No minimum grade is required to be eligible for the resit assessment. The only requirement is that students must have taken the final examination for the failed assessment component(s).

The resit will consist of a practical examination and/or complementary assessment tasks.

Non-Assessable (NA)

The final grade for the course will be recorded as Non-Assessable (NA) if the student does not participate in at least 50% of the assessment activities and/or does not sit the final examination.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is strictly prohibited in all assessment activities for this course unless the activity instructions explicitly state otherwise. Any submitted work containing AI-generated content will be considered a case of academic dishonesty and will receive a grade of 0, with no opportunity for reassessment. In cases involving more serious breaches, additional disciplinary measures may be taken.

Irregularities in an Assessment Activity

Any irregularity committed during an assessment activity (including academic fraud, plagiarism, or the unauthorized use of AI, unless such use has been explicitly authorized) will result in that assessment being awarded a grade of 0.

If passing the course requires obtaining a minimum grade in that assessment activity, or if multiple irregularities occur across different assessment activities within the same course, the final grade for the course will be 0. In addition, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who commits any of these irregularities.