Do we ever switch off our phones on holidays? Dr Barbara Neuhofer and Prof Adele Ladkin hosted an EPSRC Balance Network funded event last week looking into work life balance in the digital age. Fantastic speakers and panelists discussed challenges and solutions on how we can manage technologies in the 21st century and can go ‘off the grid’ if we wanted to!

Do we ever switch off our phones? Are we constantly checking emails while we are on holiday? Do we pay more attention to our online social networks that our current surroundings? Should we take a rest from 24/7 connection?

These were just some of the questions that were raised and debated during a recent half-day seminar exploring the implications of technology on our work-life balance.

Organised by Dr. Barbara Neuhofer and Professor Adele Ladkin from the Department of Tourism and Hospitality, the seminar was funded by the EPSRC’s ‘Balance Network’, a network of researchers interested in understanding and exploring work-life balance in the digital age. The event specifically sought to understand how technology affects our ability to take a rest from work, and how we might better understand the implications of the 24/7 culture for both individuals and organisations.

Dean of Faculty of Management, Prof Keith Wilkes with Event Organisers Dr Barbara Neuhofer Prof Adele Ladkin

Leisure travel, grounded in the motivation of escapism and a break from the mundane, has traditionally had the purpose of relaxing and refreshing our minds and bodies, however, are we still able to do this? Could it be that the switching of from technology has become the greatest luxury of the 21^st Century?

The seminar consisted of two activities.

First, seven expert speakers were invited to present on a range of different topics, as listed below:

• Prof Dimitrios Buhalis (Director eTourismLab, Bournemouth University): To connect or not to connect: Is this a question?
• Celina Goddard (Design and Strategy Consultant, WeAreExperience London): The future is a connected life: Wearable technologies and ubiquitous connectivity.
• Dr Juliet Jain (Senior Research Fellow, University of the West of England): Connected or disconnected? Technology, travel and wellbeing.
• Dr Raian Ali (Head of Research in Computing and Informatics) and Prof Keith Phalp (Professor of Software Engineering, Bournemouth University): Technology addiction: Should digital media react against digital addiction, and how?
• Svenja Schlachter (PhD Researcher Occupational Psychology, University of Surrey): Switching off our electronic devices during non-work time: Saving their batteries and recharging our own.
• Karen Butters (Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing, Bournemouth University): The role of the employer in helping to manage work-life balance within a culture of increasing mobile technologies.
• Graham Wason (Co-founder All being well): Technology, travel, wellbeing – and the meaning of happiness?

EPSRC Balance Network Event Speakers and Organisers

After the break, the remaining part of the afternoon was taken up by a panel discussion, comprised of the following speakers:

Claire Steiner (Freelance HR Professional): Technology is a double-sided coin: The challenge of achieving a healthy work-life balance.
- Alice Rook (Liz Lean PR Account Executive and Twitter fanatic): The importance of switching off from social media, . Dr Sue Thomas (Author of Technobiophilia and Visiting Fellow, Bournemouth University): Ideas, apps, books and devices for nature and wellbeing in the digital age, Prof Dimitrios Buhalis and Karen Butters

Panel Discussion

This generated some lively debates, with audience questions being directed to the panel. At the end of the session, each panellist gave concluding remarks about what they felt was important in relation to the topic. A consensus formed around the idea that “going off the grid’ was about choice, and included in this managing expectations about acceptable limits to technology use.

Event recordings & media coverage can be accessed here:

Event recording with slides: Event Recording

Media coverage can be accessed here:

Going off the grid – BBC South Today

Can we really switch off when we’re permanently connected asks a conference at BU. Dr Barbara Neuhofer and Professor Dimitrios Buhalis are interviewed.

Can we really switch off? – BBC Radio Solent (begins at 1:22:20)

Dr Barbara Neuhofer talks about the benefits and dangers of always being connected with technology.

– See more at: http://blogs.bournemouth.ac.uk/etourismlab/#sthash.8CrykKTA.dpuf

See more at: http://blogs.bournemouth.ac.uk/etourismlab/#sthash.8CrykKTA.dpuf

Call for Bournemouth University Tourism and Hospitality Alumni

We are currently developing the offering from the Alumni Association

and will be working to involve our alumni in a range of activities.

please complete the form and ask your friends to do too !

https://bournemouthuniversity.wufoo.eu/forms/alumni-details-update/

Tourism students researching and learning : The Malta field Trip

Exploring tourism development and management issues in Malta

and discussing with experts realistic ways to manage tourism sustainably for the future

Dear colleagues, 

This is an invitation from Professor Heather Hartwell to attend FoodBiz – the Food Research and Innovation @ BU celebration, on Wednesday 18^th May 2016 at Bournemouth University, Executive Business Centre (7th floor).

This FREE event brings together industry and academic partners to celebrate our Food Research and Innovation in the Department of Tourism and Hospitality at Bournemouth University to share findings from research and to take ideas forward within the health and wellness agenda. Guest speakers include industry professionals, and an update on the latest research from Bournemouth University.

The event is aimed at businesses and organisations in a range of sectors including food, tourism, hospitality and those associated with nutrition/health operating locally, nationally and internationally.

 The programme themes include:

Food Innovation – Chair Professor Heather Hartwell

The research and innovation activities at BU exploit complementary competences and enable the sharing ofknowledge and ideas from research to market (and vice-versa).

Food@BU4U – Chair Dr Sean Beer

How can the university benefit not only the user but also the foodservice industry, creating opportunities for a business to become aligned with a lifestyle product, and as a result corporate health, in a way which is novel, innovative and demonstrates excellence in science?

Food science at work – Chair Crispin Farbrother

Bournemouth University’s research in food is international, broad and multidisciplinary. 

We look forward to welcoming you and co-creating the future of Food Research and Innovation.

Please see the agenda and register for FREE here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/foodbiz-tickets-19780427792 

Follow us on Twitter: @EU_FoodSMART and visit www.foodsmartproject.net 

For more information please contact: Carmen Martins: cmartins@bournemouth.ac.uk  

We are excited to let you know that we still have Santander and Erasmus grants up for grabs open to all staff including Professional Services. The next committee review date is 23^rd November 2015.

Santander Funding

The purpose of Santander funding is to support individual staff mobility and networking with other Santander Universities in the development of research, education and/or professional practice projects. There are limited funds available. Please find a link to the list of the institutions that are part of the Santander University network and also the applicable criteria below:

• Priority will be given to overseas travel rather than travel to another UK institution
• Ideally awards of £5k will be made but at least priority should be given to applications close to (but not more than) that amount
• Priority will be given to staff who intend to study or carry out research.
• Funds should be used before the end of the academic year
• Travel for student recruitment purposes would not normally be funded

Erasmus staff mobility

Erasmus funding supports staff who would like to train or teach in another European higher education institution. These mobility grants are provided to contribute towards subsistence and travel and the maximum grant available is €1000.

Applications

To meet our next committee review date please submit your applications for Santander or Erasmus by 23rd November at 5pm. For all the policy documents, Fund FAQs and information about applying, please visit the FIF website

Please direct all initial enquiries to the Fusion Investment Fund Co-ordinators Sue Townrow and Sarah Olliffe at Fusion Fund.

Nicky Havelaar, MD at Crown, has recruited a number of Placement students from Bournemouth University and gives her view on the value of internships.

With internships and apprenticeships high on the business agenda, the events industry has been at the forefront of welcoming graduates and championing placement schemes that give aspiring eventprofs real life exposure to our industry. Nicky Havelaar, MD at Crown, explains why companies need to be responsible to interns to nurture future talent.

Internships have a long tradition of being a shoe-in to a job or industry. However, it comes with the stigma that interns will be stuck with grunt work and performing the mundane tasks no one else in the office wants to do.

Whilst this remains true at some organisations and time is needed to shift these perceptions, the reality is, internships are just as beneficial to companies as it is to the intern themselves.

Companies that have a structured programme that facilitates learning with practical applications benefit from nurturing the talent of future employees, potential rising stars in their industry, and who knows, quite possibly the next Angela Ahrendts , Es Devlin or Zaha Hadid.

The training I had in my first role gave me confidence and a solid grounding in the industry. It was an unparalleled opportunity to bond with the team and inspired a deep loyalty to the organisation. This is a culture we have sought to instil at Crown. Some of our longest serving members of staff have been in their roles for over 15 years, having worked their way up to the top of the organisation from entry-level positions. We strive to give individuals the confidence to exploit their talent and make a good impression, with us and elsewhere.

Crown not only commits to Growing Brand Belief for their clients, we instil an equally greater belief in our staff. With this mentoring philosophy, we conceived “Green Shoots”, our internship programme that employs undergraduates on an industrial placement for a year, and throws them on a steep learning curve into the events industry with real, frontline exposure on projects. Recruitment for Green Shoots is unique. Interns are determined by their level of potential, coupled with business acumen and emotional intelligence. This approach to recruitment is key to staff success at Crown and allows an individual to shine and excel on their own merits.

After their time with us, interns go on to complete their university studies. After graduation, one intern will be offered a full-time role at Crown. This cycle will then repeat itself year-on-year, and within four years, promotion to a specialist role is anticipated.

Along with the structure of their programmes, it is essential that companies take a considered approach to recruiting candidates. Internships are a two-way street. Interns with the determination and the aptitude to want to learn and succeed will be the ones to benefit from their time at a company. Companies that offer an educational programme with exposure on real live projects, coupled with access to the expertise of their existing team are the innovators at the forefront of their industries.

Programmes such as Green Shoots sends a strong message to interns and staff alike, that the company they work for truly values their people, instilling trust and respect into the culture that inherently supports their own internal engagement. Replenishing roles and bringing up the next generation of talent is a responsibility all organisations need to be involved in.

Sports Development and Coaching Sciences student, Christian Fizia, undertook an exchange to Hanze University, Groningen in the Netherlands. He reflects on his time there below.

My exchange to Groningen in the Netherlands allowed me to interact with a variety of cultures and meet hundreds of new people from around the world. Staying in an exciting and lively building with over 300 students meant there was never a dull moment and it made it really easy to settle in and make new friends. Moving to a new country without knowing anyone there can be daunting to some but the majority of students in my building were in the same position and it meant everyone was extremely friendly and just wanted to make new friends.

Living in another country provides the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture and I was able to learn a lot about the Dutch culture during my stay. One of the best parts for me was the bicycles. The city of Groningen is full of bikes and this became an essential tool for getting around the city to university, to the shops and even on nights out. I was able to experience the culture first hand through a number of different excursions thanks to the Erasmus Student Network. This student board are fantastic at organising events and trips. Trips included a meal on a pancake boat, an attempt at speed skating, hitch hiking across Europe and a sailing trip.

From an academic point of view studying International Sports Development gave me an insight into how sport is taught differently throughout Europe. This was down to the fact that students on my course were from Italy, Spain, Germany and Netherlands. The course gave me a lot of freedom and I was able to focus on the subject areas that interest me the most. The teaching staff were very approachable and had a very laid back manner making for a relaxed atmosphere. They encourage high student interaction through meetings which are often held over coffee.

For further information about study abroad opportunities visit https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/students/careers/study-abroad

Second year Sport Management student Tazio Sciarrino spent an unforgettable semester at our German exchange partner university SRH Heidelberg in 2014/15.

“I had a great time on my student exchange in Heidelberg, Germany, at the SRH Hochschule. From a first culture shock to an unforgettable goodbye, this was an additional international – and fantastic – experience for me.

The choice of going to Heidelberg was appropriate from the first moment I chose to go there. In those five months I attended an international business course and it gave me a different perspective on European business.

Mixture of international students created a fun environment

Although my stay was short (1 February to 27 June 2015), I learned the basics of German language to an A2 level, finding myself comfortable in the German environment. I learned a lot about German culture: their habits, pleasures, dislikes, virtues and deficiencies, history, economy and political system. Although the majority of the students were German, in my course there was also a high presence of international students from Europe and Overseas.

The combined mixture of international students created a fun environment that enabled us to establish strong friendships. Therefore, it was marvellous studying together and then meeting for parties and social activities.

From a shaky start to an insane sense of belonging

It was fantastic being part of the Erasmus programme that Europe funds every year. It gives students the chance to open their minds, survive in another country and learn different characteristics of life and of a European country that is different from their own. I will always remember this amazing experience and keep it in my heart, since I got to know many different and nice people in a beautiful town.

I recommend this choice to other students: participate in the programme actively and make the most of it; even though you might feel uncomfortable at the beginning of your stay, this will soon develop to an insane sense of wellbeing which will give you a first insight into what life can be. Put simply learning to coexist, adapt and accept a new environment with different people is really interesting. This experience can only be beneficial, one that revolutionises your life, your rhythms and your ambitions.”

For further information about study abroad opportunities visit https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/students/careers/study-abroad

For the third year running, Sport & Physical Activity students participated in the international student seminar of the European Association for Sport Management, held just before the large annual academic conference. After students actively participating in Istanbul and Coventry, it was Christian Fizia (Sports Development and Coaching Science) creating an impact in September in Dublin – for example, he continued the streak of BU students to finish in the top 3 of the management game with their international teams, which allowed him to present in front of a larger audience during the main conference as well.

“While our sport students are enthusiastic to go abroad during their placement year or as part of our high quality study abroad programme, it is important that we leave a mark at leading international conferences and also offer extra-curricula opportunities for international experiences. Christian did show great passion and dedication for the case all groups where presented with and he worked professionally with his intercultural team members. These are only some of the learning experiences which he will add to his employability and which he will explicitly and implicitly share with fellow students in his final year, too” says Dr Tim Breitbarth, Principal Academic Sport Management and Coordinator Internationalisation.

 Here is Christian’s brief report:

“The student management game, which took place before the conference, contained approximately 50 students from 8 countries assembled in small teams. Our task addressed the internationalisation of a national sporting federation (Gaelic Athletic Association) in a digital age; this allowed me to use knowledge from my course and my internship at a sports market intelligence company. I gained valuable presenting experience with my work, firstly addressing the students and judges (7 tutors) and then after progressing to the final presenting at the conference itself to a room of students and academics numbering roughly 70 to 100. The trip enforced my keen interest in sponsorship and provided me with a new network which could be utilised in future employment.

Culturally I was able to learn about the history of Gaelic sport and how it plays such a pivotal role for Irish people and their national pride. The tribal nature of the sports and amateurism generate a unique community feeling as players can only play for the county they’re born in. I was able to play a little bit of Gaelic Football, Hurling and Handball and will be looking to join a Gaelic Football club in England in the near future to try and play the sport competitively.

At the large international academic conference, the experience I gained was phenomenal and I was able to attend several presentations from some of the leading academics and professors in the sports field who were presenting their most up to date research. The topics spanned across the majority of sports management and sports development issues, below is a list of just some that I chose to attend and which inspired my thinking:

–          Fan Engagement (Basketball – USA/Germany & Football – Austria)

–          Marketing Communication (Alcohol brands strategies – France)

–          Economic Value (Skiing World Cup – Norway & Football transfer market – Eastern Europe)

–          Online Fan Engagement (Twitter – Tour De France & Football – Dutch team at Brazil 2014)

–          Corporate Social Responsibility (Football – Denmark, Basketball – Europe and Belgium sport)

 Within the sport department, the application process for the EASM conference was straight forward and it only required a short expression of interest form and short interview with Dr Breitbarth. Global Horizon Funding was offered by BU and provided a great incentive to apply. It was useful to maintain communication with the conference organisers and the university in order to ensure I knew what to expect from the trip.”