Hospitality Management and Tourism students research heritage sites for local community groups

Lecturers: Kevin Griffin, Ben Marchant, Catherine Gorman

In 2008, as part of the Bachelor of Arts in Tourism Management, and the Bachelor of Science in Event Management (Honours) (DT406 and DT413, School of Hospitality Management and Tourism, Faculty of Tourism and Food, DIT) first and second year students participated in a Community Heritage Research project.

They produced very interesting 'Project Boards' to illustrate the heritage and culture around the proposed DIT Grangegorman site. These boards are currently being exhibited (until 27 February 2009) in the Macro Community Resource Centre on Noth King Street, Dublin 1. The exhibition was officially launched on 10 February by Dublin City Manager John Tierney and was well received by students and community representatives.

This year students from the Bachelor of Arts in Tourism Management (DT406) and also the Bachelor of Science in Tourism Marketing  (DT412) are also investigating Heritage, Culture and Tourism in the north and south inner city of Dublin. The students will be putting together Heritage and Cultural walking trails which incorporate sites of importance and interest within these area. Part of the aim of the assignment is to discover some of the forgotten sites and features of these fantastic areas of the city.  

What do the students get?

The assessment challenges the students both creatively and imaginatively and through these projects and the exhibition the students get a chance to come in contact with the local community. This helps inform their study of the local heritage and culture and also provides real and active linkages between DIT and the community in these areas.

Also these projects are group projects and therefore facilitates team work, peer support and social interaction.

What does the community get?

As a result of putting the students' work on display in the community, the students' findings and opinions are being fed back directly to the community. Also this year's students will be pounding the pavements over the coming months to put together walking trails for Grangegorman and we hope to present these to the community in the near future for their enjoyment and use.

Community Partners:

Macro Community Resource Centre

Grangegorman Development Agency

Fatima Groups United

North West Inner City Network

Dublin City Council