Business Studies with Event Management – BBus (Hons)

This module aims to equip students with a range of academic writing competencies by providing an opportunity for students to practise the writing, revising, editing and referencing skills necessary in third level education

Innovations in technology, with a particular focus on Information Systems and the Internet, have transformed how businesses operate; therefore, learners must understand the basic economic and business forces driving technology within an organisation. They must comprehend the value of information systems and the technology of the Internet, as well as the security and ethical implications of both. The module will also give learners an appreciation of digital multimedia technology and how it can be utilised effectively by organisations.

The module focuses on event planning and gaining event work experience. It sets out a template for planning and executing events professionally. The main content includes: event planning processes, bidding to host events, budgeting, venue selection and management, and site-inspections. Learners will be required to complete 40 hours working on events.

This module provides students with an introduction to the concepts, principles, and practices of financial accounting. No prior knowledge of accounting is required.

The aim of this module is to provide learners with an introduction to the key concepts and theories of management and marketing and to develop an understanding of the role of marketing and management in modern organisations. The module aims to develop the student’s ability to apply knowledge, techniques and skills in order to solve marketing and management problems.

The aim of this module is to provide learners with an overview of a variety of social, leisure and personal events including festivals, sports and weddings. It will also illustrate the practical issues involved in organising and managing events and identify the main impacts associated with the event industry.

The aim of this module is to introduce learners to accounting tools and techniques that can aid management decision-making process in any modern organisation. Topics to be included are budgetary process, preparation of operating budgets in particular focusing on cash flow budgeting, variance analysis, and internal control procedures. Learners will also actively learn the use of a widely recognised accounting package.

The aim of this module is to introduce learners to the fundamental concepts of organising, planning and managing meetings and conventions for event organisers. Learners will use an events management system as a project management tool to manage functions such as seminars, sessions, social activities, and tours. Today’s event organisers and meeting professionals must be able to integrate technology into the planning and implementation of their meetings and online events, so this module will involve extensive use of dedicated Information Technology within the event management sector.

This module focuses on event operations. This includes event onsite documentation and management, evaluation, building of the event team (stakeholders, staff and suppliers), corporate social responsibility and an introduction to the new technologies used in the event industry. Students will be required to complete 40 hours working on events.

To provide learners with the knowledge, skills and competencies to enable them to operate in a professional manner within a food and beverage environment.

The aim of this module is to provide students with the tools to aid analysis and decision-making. The basic theories and models of microeconomics will be introduced and related to the business decision-making process.

This module has been developed to enable learners to keep pace with emerging demands for online business presence. During this module students will acquire the requisite skills to plan, develop and analyse an integrated digital presence for organisations in their industry. Furthermore, through this 100% CA based module, learners will have practical exposure to digital analytics.

Applied Event Planning is a creative, entrepreneurial module, enabling students to plan and design a live event. It encourages students to forward plan and design an exciting impactful event. Students will uncover creativity and innovation techniques through concepts such as design thinking to ensure events are creative and engaging. Students will learn how to pitch and present idea’s to an audience to understand the importance of product and service delivery to specific target markets. They will design a marketing plan which will include the development of the event brand, target market and how the event will be communicated to the market. The plan will include scheduling marketing activities with specific focus on developing social media schedules. An operations plan will also be delivered which will include event health and safety Planning.

This module will develop the principles of design theory and creative techniques. The focus is on designing the event space, creativity and event theming. The categories of entertainment and their management will also be reviewed.

This module equips students with an understanding of the core concepts in HR management, taking students on a journey from the earliest origins of the discipline to the present-day role of HR as an operational and strategic organisational function. Students will develop a strong applied knowledge of HRM systems, processes, and best practice in the planning, staffing and reward of employees. They will appreciate the practical operation of HRM in small, medium, and large organisations, as well as the increased devolution of HR activities to line management. Students will also develop practical people management skills through in-class and assessment activities, as well as highly transferable soft skills.

A key feature for the management and operation of any business is the regulatory environment in which it trades. In turn it is both controlled and protected by the legal instruments and requirements of that environment. An understanding of the legal environment, through a business lens, is thus a central feature in the academic grounding of a rounded business graduate and allows them to reflect upon the many and varied interacting influencing aspects of business life.

The aim of this module is to provide students with the tools to aid analysis and decision-making. The basic theories and models of macroeconomics will be introduced and related to the business decision-making process

This module engages the learner in the application of strategy and marketing to a social media and mobile app environment. It emphasises both the processes and the tools, in an overall marketing strategy, from planning and implementation to the analysis of digital campaigns and mobile app functionality. Learners will examine how best these communication tools and strategies can be applied to compete effectively both offline and online.

Students stage a full live event aimed at a specific target market. The event operations module will follow on from semester 1 where students have designed an event plan for a live event of their choice. Events include music sport, fashion events, conferences, and seminars. Students will learn to work in teams, adapt leadership and management skills needed to operate and manage the event. The impacts and evaluation of the event will be assessed. This module will enable students to build a portfolio of work.

The aim of this module if to provide learners with an overview of a variety of corporate events such as meetings, conferences, incentive travel and exhibitions. It will illustrate the practical issues involved in organising and managing such events and highlight the importance of service quality with respect to customer satisfaction and retention.

This module will focus on the production management team and the production technologies used in hosting events. Students will review audio-systems and visual technology, the use of lighting and lighting systems, tenting and staging systems and have computer lab sessions learning to use event site design technology.

The aim of this module is to provide students with a strong practical knowledge of human resource management (HRM) as it operates globally.  They will be exposed to the latest HR practices that organisations deploy to maximise competitive advantage through their human resources. Students will track evolving trends in HR management practice globally, critically evaluating their effectiveness and applying this knowledge to in-class activities and practical assignments.  They will further develop practical soft skills that are directly transferable and beneficial to their work placement in third year.

The aim of this module is to engage learners in the importance of comprehending the key communication concepts within a marketing context and then to engage these learners with specific marketing communication techniques that organisations use in reaching their target audiences.

The module will support the learner as they make the successful transition to a new learning environment. It will introduce personal, academic and career development within the context of their programme of study, previous experiences and future aspirations. Ways of enhancing learner motivation and employability will be identified which encourages clarification and attainment of the learner’s personal objectives through a process of planning, experience and reflection. Therefore, this module instils in the learner the value of personal development and self-management and provides the knowledge, skills and competencies to provide a professional career plan for the service’s industry.

The aim of this module is to provide the learner with a broad knowledge of the law relating to the tourism and event industry and the necessary expertise to manage the regulatory and legal requirements of the tourism and event enterprise more effectively. The learner will be able to limit the legal exposure of the enterprise and liaise effectively with legal advisors and will have an insight into how the enterprise needs to arrive at decisions that are in compliance with existing and new legislation. As law is an ongoing and dynamic subject, the syllabus content will be expanded or modified, as the case may be, to reflect developments in the law set out in this module.

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the entrepreneurial process and to equip them with the required skills to transform creative ideas into commercially viable businesses. Learners consolidate prior knowledge and skills in Market Research, Marketing, Operational Planning and Financial Accounting discipline areas through a 100% continuous assessment with three required submissions – business concept presentation, business plan and a funding / pitch presentation. The module deliverables are therefore focused on improving generic skills (oral and written presentation) while engaging learners with as realistic a simulation of the business start-up process as possible considering the centrality of entrepreneurial venture creation to future economic development and prosperity.

The aim of this module is to consolidate learners’ knowledge from previous years and to introduce event project management tools and processes. It will provide students with a set of tools and techniques which can be used by project managers at different phases of the project life cycle, including, planning, performing, controlling, and evaluating projects. The module will provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to develop a project schedule, allocate resources, build stakeholder relationships and management event project communications. Students will be using MS Project and other online tools to gain hands-on experience of using industry standard project management software.

The aim of this module is to provide the learner with a clear insight into how the various tools and techniques within the field of marketing communications can be utilised in practice in order to allow the organisation achieve competitive advantage and commercial success. This module will also provide insight into the role played by internal organisational communications and its associated importance In addition, an in-depth examination of the key media options available to both traditional and contemporary marketing organisations will be undertaken.

This Work Placement/Study Abroad component is an integral part of all academic programmes of the Institute and is provided in compliance with HEA/DES requirements for practice-based learning on all third level courses as laid out in the “Higher Education System Performance Framework 2018-2020”. The overall aim of the module is to offer the student the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained throughout their course of study up to this point in a new and relevant experiential setting. This is to achieved whilst facilitating the student in developing the practical life-skill competencies and communication skills necessary to function as an effective member of the work environment and wider society. Students choosing to study abroad will be provided a comparable programme of study in an approved foreign partner Institution

This module will enable learners to appreciate the role that financial analysis plays within an organisation. The aim of this module is to equip learners with the requisite tools to analyse a firms’ financial performance and stability, specifically looking at profitability, liquidity, working capital management and gearing.

The aim of this module is to advance skills, knowledge and understanding that will enable students to undertake self-directed academic research in preparation for the independent research study thesis/project. More specifically, this module reflects the growing importance of implementing different methodologies in the current dynamic environment. As such, this module provides the knowledge and skills necessary to undertake each step in the research process by introducing students to the concepts of research philosophies, types of research, research approaches, methods of data collection, data analysis, sampling techniques, research integrity and research ethics.

Strategic Management Concepts examines the theory and practice of strategic management within an organisational context, providing an understanding of the main elements and implications of strategy. Strategic position along with the impact on strategy of the macro environment, the industry environment, the organisation’s strategic capability, the stakeholders and organisational culture are examined utilising theory and application. The module is assessed through an experiential live consultancy project in the learner’s industry which is integrated with the Strategic Marketing module.

This module examines the role of marketing in strategy development and the move towards the market led business where the market and the customers should be the starting point in business strategy formulation. The aim of this module is to develop the learner’s ability to develop a critical approach in analysing, planning and implementing strategic marketing decisions. The module is assessed through an experiential live consultancy project with a client organisation in the learner’s industry which is integrated with the Strategic Management Concepts module.

This module provides students the opportunity to engage with the concepts of sustainability and sustainable developments within the events industry, on local, national, and global levels. The module establishes how festival and event managers must consider the various impacts of an event throughout each stage of the planning process and beyond. Social, cultural, physical, environmental, economic, political and tourism impacts of events and their interrelationships are examined in depth. Event impacts are explored within the context of the minds of funding organisations and policy makers and how they are used to justify public spending on events and minimise any negative externalities. From a local perspective the concept of managing energy, water, food waste and utilities are explored to reduce overall carbon footprint. The concepts of climate change and the circular economy are also discussed. Event impact evaluation frameworks, the roles of various stakeholders in sustainable event development, and the issues of leveraging events to bring positive legacies for local communities and destinations, are also introduced and explored.

The aim of this module is to consolidate learners’ knowledge from previous years in a capstone research thesis. This module provides students with the opportunity to focus on a specific area of interest by producing a self-managed, analytical, in-depth evaluation of a relevant area of study providing the student with the opportunity to research a chosen and approved topic and to draw on previous studies. Students will be able to pursue an empirical study with an applied focus concentrating on their specific discipline area while also having the opportunity to undertake a conceptual literature-based study. This module will enable students to demonstrate that they can take substantial responsibility for their own learning by affording the opportunity to choose, undertake and report upon a major investigation of a topic relevant to their discipline area and/or industry.

The aim of this module is to provide the learner with a practitioner level understanding of the theories and application of branding in 21st century business. The module will examine the importance of creating and managing brands as well as the branding strategies employed across various brand leaders. Contemporary issues in branding will also be explored such as the use of social media, brand communities and the growth of the global brand. The continuous assessment component of this module is integrated with the Strategic Management Practice module through client engagement with a live consultancy project.

This module introduces learners to best practices in health and safety procedures and working with and planning for large crowds at live events. With a focus on event management plans, risk management, safety strategies and crowd science. Continuous assessment is a core feature for the assessment of this module.

The aim of this module is for learners to appreciate the role that financial management plays in organisations and to apply the core concepts to help learners make strategic decisions which will allow them as managers to successfully manage and grow organisations. The module will allow learners to develop their knowledge of capital investment appraisal techniques and to apply these techniques to determine the viability of a new business development or expansion. This module will also enable learners to evaluate sources of financing for both short-term and long-term objectives and will also examine the valuation of companies.

The aim of this module is to consolidate learners’ knowledge from previous years in a capstone research thesis. This module provides students with the opportunity to focus on a specific area of interest by producing a self-managed, analytical, in-depth evaluation of a relevant area of study providing the student with the opportunity to research a chosen and approved topic and to draw on previous studies. Students will be able to pursue an empirical study with an applied focus concentrating on their specific discipline area while also having the opportunity to undertake a conceptual literature-based study. This module will enable students to demonstrate that they can take substantial responsibility for their own learning by affording the opportunity to choose, undertake and report upon a major investigation of a topic relevant to their discipline area and/or industry.

Strategic Management Practice examines theory and practice of strategic management in an organisational context. Strategic analysis is explored, along with the organisational considerations of deciding on exact strategies to follow and the implications of strategic choices & evaluation in dynamic and global environments. The module also investigates how internal leadership styles, varying organisational cultures and change management styles and perspectives impact on the implementation and practice of strategic management. The continuous assessment component of this module is integrated with the Brand Management module through client engagement with a live consultancy project.