New hospitality school to launch at BNU in September

Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) has recently announced plans for a new international hotel school based at its site at the historic Missenden Abbey, Buckinghamshire. Opening its doors to the first cohorts of students in September 2023, Missenden Abbey International Hotel and Hospitality School (MAIHHS) will provide sector-leading tuition in Hotel Management, International Hospitality Management and Hospitality Leadership at bachelor’s and master’s levels. The vice-chancellor, professor Nick Braisby, said: “We are delighted to be opening Missenden Abbey International Hotel and Hospitality School this year and adding hospitality education to our repertoire. “At BNU, we pride ourselves on producing employment-ready graduates, and MAIHHS will be no exception. With a forward-facing curriculum, a teaching team with extensive experience and industry connections, and the stunning and historic backdrop of Missenden Abbey, this is an exciting development for the University and for international hospitality tuition.” The school will launch two undergraduate degrees – BA (Hons) Hotel Management and BA (Hons) International Hospitality Management – as well as an MSc in Hospitality Leadership. Plans are already underway for the expansion of the course portfolio in 2024, with pathways in hospitality entrepreneurship, events management and hotel innovation and sustainability. Teaching will take a hybrid approach and students will benefit from classroom learning at the University’s High Wycombe Campus, as well as rotations of on-site training at the Abbey and paid placements within the sector. There will be industry involvement in every module, with an impressive list of organisations signed on to co-design the curriculum and provide placements for the School’s students, including Leonardo Hotels, HotelPartner and Firmdale Hotels. Head of school for MAIHHS Lisa Wyld said: “I’m really thrilled to be launching this exciting new, sector-leading project with courses that are unique to the UK market. “Our students will develop solid business principles, alongside contemporary sector knowledge, and plenty of hands-on experience working in areas related to the field of study. The industry-focussed curriculum is sure to produce graduates of the highest calibre with expertise that meet the current needs of the industry.”