With a new Master's degree program, the KU, Deggendorf University of Applied Sciences, Kempten University of Applied Sciences and Munich University of Applied Sciences want to prepare students for changing requirements and conditions in the economic and social field of tourism. The study program is entitled "Transformation and Sustainable Living Spaces – Reshape Tourism." Science Minister Markus Blume calls the course of study an "interdisciplinary and exemplary cooperation that starts at the interface of tourism, sustainability and digitalization". Tourism Minister Hubert Aiwanger praises the opportunity for "excellent training for those who want to shape tourism in Bavaria so that it creates high added value."
The study program "Transformation and Sustainable Living Spaces – Reshape Tourism" is offered jointly by the four universities, which combine their respective expertise in the fields of tourism and sustainability for this purpose. Another collaboration partner is the Bavarian Center for Tourism. The goal is to combine scientific qualification with professional capacity to act. The program is aimed at those young decision-makers who no longer identify with the current situation in tourism and want to shape something new.
Where is the journey heading for business, society and politics in times of crisis? And how are digitalization or sustainability changing our living environments in cities and regions? What does this mean for the way we travel and spend our leisure time in the future? What is certain is that tourism and its environment need a fundamentally new orientation that sees destinations, business locations and living spaces as a single entity.
The new Master's program aims to impart expertise for precisely this. "When societies, the economy and political systems change, the way we spend our leisure time also changes", says the head of the new program, tourism professor Harald Pechlaner of the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt. "In tourism, the focus has long been exclusively on the needs of guests. The goal must be to design tourism in a way that takes into account major crises such as the climate or demographic crises and their challenges. Residents of regions worldwide must benefit from tourism development that is aligned with available resources and allows those who travel to make authentic experiences."
For this purpose, the Master's program develops new narratives, "so that the new tourism can become an attractive field of work for young people." The interdisciplinary nature of the program opens up job market opportunities for a broad range of professional activities in transforming sectors and industries. "Transformation skills will be needed in the future wherever companies and organizations in the public and private sectors change and develop according to the principle of sustainability", says Professor Pechlaner.
Tourism Minister Aiwanger: "Excellent training for those who want to shape tourism in Bavaria so that it creates high added value."
"In Bavaria, we do not want tourism at all cost. Instead, we promote tourism that is in harmony with people and nature", says Bavaria's Tourism Minister Hubert Aiwanger (of the party Freie Wähler). He continued to say that Covid had accelerated the development towards more sustainability in destinations; tourism service providers and guests are increasingly aware of their responsibility for the preservation of nature and the well-being of the people who live here. "Academic education in Bavaria is keeping pace with this development. I am extremely pleased that the new Master's degree program 'Transformation and Sustainable Living Spaces – Reshape Tourism' allows us to pool our tourism expertise and offer a highly attractive new degree program", said Minister of State Aiwanger. "The degree program will provide excellent training for those who want to shape tourism in Bavaria to create the greatest possible value for guests and society."
Science Minister Blume: "Interdisciplinary and exemplary cooperation that starts at the interface of tourism, sustainability and digitalization".
Science Minister Markus Blume (CSU) adds: "Tourism combines a sense of home, culture and the unique landscape as a significant economic factor. The new Master’s program in ‘Transformation and Sustainable Living Spaces – Reshape Tourism’ shows: Our universities are strong partners and key pioneers in the industry. They develop innovative ideas and clever concepts to bring sustainability and cost efficiency together. Thank you for this interdisciplinary and exemplary cooperation that starts at the interface of tourism, sustainability and digitalization."
The program combines digital distance learning with field trips and block courses. This Master’s program is characterized by its digitalization and project orientation. Students are trained to work on current topics at the interfaces of tourism, society, sustainability and digitalization to initiate transformation. In terms of content, the curriculum of the program combines the fields of business and economics, tourism, sociology, human geography and political science in an interdisciplinary manner. In addition, students have the possibility of setting priorities with regard to social issues and aspects of sustainability and digitization. This will open up excellent labor market opportunities both in Germany and around the world.
"Due to their holistic and interdisciplinary approach, graduates will be able to provide impulses for a sustainable development of tourism in Bavaria", says Prof. Dr. Alfred Bauer, head of the Bavarian Center for Tourism (BZT). In this Master's program, “scientific qualification and professional capacity to act” are offered by the universities and the BZT “in a unique combination”.
The four-semester program will be launched in the 2023/24 winter semester. Application is possible until July 15.
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