Diane Connelly
Senior Lecturer and International Link Tutor
My profile
Biography
An experienced Senior Lecturer, with a history of working in international hospitality. I have gained so much from my own experiences working both in the UK and abroad. My research interests focus mainly on the diverse hospitality and event management industry, employability and being a professional hospitality leader. I am passionate about keeping important links with the industry, as these professionals play an important role in underpinning the real world of hospitality, which helps ensure that our graduate students enter the industry as hospitality professionals on completion of their degree.
Interests and expertise
I am link tutor for IMI Switzerland. My role is to provided support through validation process for successful BA (Hons) & MSc programmes. Also to provide academic support with activities/delivery of validated programmes using guidance from Manchester Met Uni’s policies and procedures.
Collaborating with Manchester Hoteliers Association (MHA), where GM’s, from prestigious hotels in Manchester, Mentor student Mentee’s on the final year programme. Coordinating future opportunities for career development through the ‘Mentor Scheme’.
Develop industry links through the programmes ‘Hospitality Pathway’ events. Providing networking opportunities for students looking to develop their employability skills for part time work, placements or graduate roles.
Develop competitions and link international collaborative opportunities for students. Support students and help them coordinate their plans such as for the EM Cup competition in Maastricht.
Projects
Our Ambassador for the programme is Adrian Ellis, GM of The Lowry Hotel and Chair of the Manchester Hoteliers Association (MHA). We have had a collaboration with MHA for the last 8 years, through industry visits and as guest lectures. In a practical application students are invited on external industry visits to underpin theory in the classroom. This partnership has developed into collaboration with live Research Projects for final year students.
Marriott has supported the programme for the last 7 years through industry visits and joining students as guest lectures underpinning what is taught in the classroom. Through this collaboration Marriott offers 3 professional ’ Marriott Industry Engagement’ awards to our first and second year students, which is amazing for the students CV and provides career opportunities.
Our Hospitality Pathway event is a great way for students to network with a variety of UK and international hospitality professionals, from the Manchester Hoteliers Association to Alumni working in the Hospitality Industry. The Mentor Scheme is a great initiative that has developed from this collaboration and has run for the last 7 years.
Within the programme we organised a student study trip with our collaborative partner at the Vedtya Institute in Delhi, India. Students joined the ‘Chapaul Conference’ and experienced kind hospitality and amazing culture with Indian students there.
Our second year students were entered into the EMCup Competition in Maastricht. A total of 36
international countries competed. This was a great networking opportunity for one group of four second year students, who won the best case study pitch and actually came 2nd in the overall competition, which was amazing!
Research outputs
Research interests focus mainly on the hospitality and event management industry. The areas of interest include technology and innovation, sustainability and CSR, employability skills required to succeed in the industry and being a professional hospitality leader.
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Conference papers
Connelly, D., Han, D., Tom Dieck, D. (2018) 'SHAPING THE IDEAL EMPLOYEE FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IN THE 21ST CENTURY: AN EXPLORATORY AND PRELIMINARY STUDY.' In CHME. Bournemouth, 22/4/2018 - 22/4/2018.
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Presentations
Connelly, D., Atapattu, C., Miller, A. (2023) Designing an Industry Co-Creation Curriculum for Undergraduate Hospitality Students’ Research Projects: a collaborative case study. [Presentation] 5/10/2023.