October 2024 - Tourism Research Centre Blog

Meet the PhD – Homa Rahimi

Welcome to “Meet the PhD”, a section dedicated to introducing to you our PhD candidates, where you will have the opportunity to get to know them and their research and find out how why they have chosen Edinburgh Napier University, and what excites them the most about their PhD journey.

Today, we have Homa Rahimi, a PhD candidate originally from Iran, who is currently in her 2^nd year. Her PhD title is “The Implications of lean Talent Management on Optimising Strategic Value of People in the UK Hotel Sector” with supervisors Prof Paul Barron, Prof Anna Leask and Dr Kelsy Hejjas. Many of you might agree with Homa’s words, when she says that she originally started her PhD for academic reasons, to later find out that a PhD is much more than that, the skills you learn throughout the PhD journey are extremely valuable not only for a future career but also in life. Homa is also the 2024 winner of best poster at the Edinburgh Napier University Business Conference. Congratulations Homa!!

If you would like to know more about Homa’s research or if you have any questions, you can contact Homa here: homa.rahimi@napier.ac.uk

If you’re interested in undertaking a PhD with us, please email the Tourism Research Centre Lead, Prof. Anna Leask – a.leask@napier.ac.uk

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“I’m Homa Rahimi from Iran, currently in my second year of PhD studies at Edinburgh Napier University. My academic journey in the UK began with a focus on governance and public policy, sparked by my second master’s degree. This experience provided a foundation for my deeper investigation into organisational management, especially through the lens of New Public Management (NPM). As a result, I developed a keen interest in Human Resource Management (HRM), particularly in the areas of talent management, employee development, and capability building. These interests became central to my MSc degree in HRM at Napier University, reinforcing my enthusiasm for understanding how organisations can best manage and enhance their most valuable asset—people.

My PhD research focuses on the application of Lean thinking to Talent Management within the hotel industry. I chose this topic due to the success story of Lean thinking, which has effectively improved efficiency and performance in various sectors. I am particularly interested in how these principles can be adapted to enhance talent management practices in the hospitality sector, which is crucial to the UK’s employment and economy. The hotel industry relies heavily on human capital and addressing issues like talent spillage—where skills and potential are underutilised—can reduce talent-related waste and optimise people management.

Edinburgh Napier University was the perfect choice for me due to my previous positive experience during my master’s degree, the supportive environment, and the student-friendly atmosphere of the institution. Its strong focus on tourism and hospitality management, coupled with its excellent reputation in these fields, made it an ideal fit. Additionally, the opportunity to work with distinguished supervisors like Professors Barron and Leask, and Dr. Hejjas was an exciting draw.

What makes my PhD research particularly significant is its potential to reshape both academic thought and practical approaches. The hotel industry continually grapples with challenges in managing and retaining talent, and my research aims to address these issues with innovative solutions. By applying Lean principles to Talent Management—an area still underdeveloped in this context—I seek to uncover new insights that could lead to more efficient and effective human resource practices. This exciting endeavour promises to make a meaningful impact on both the theoretical and practical aspects of talent management in the hospitality sector.

When I first considered pursuing a PhD, I saw it primarily as an academic pursuit—a way to delve deeper into my areas of interest. However, as I have progressed, I have come to realise that a PhD is much more than that. It is a journey of personal growth, requiring resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to making a meaningful contribution to my field. My understanding of the PhD process has evolved, and I now see it as an opportunity to bridge the gap between theory and practice, making a tangible difference in the real world. Being part of the PhD community has been pivotal to my journey. The support, collaboration, and shared experiences within this group have given me the motivation and encouragement needed to overcome challenges and remain focused on my goals. The sense of belonging to a network of like-minded individuals, all navigating similar paths, has been invaluable. Additionally, I’ve found lifelong friends along the way, enriching my experience both personally and professionally.

In my experience, three essential skills for a PhD student are critical analysis, time management, and adaptability. Critical analysis is vital for assessing existing literature and contributing original research. Time management is crucial for balancing the various demands of PhD life, including research, writing, networking, and professional development. Adaptability is key to navigating the unexpected challenges that arise during the PhD journey, requiring flexibility and resilience to stay on track and achieve research objectives.

Looking ahead, I am most excited about the potential impact of my research. I am driven by the prospect of transforming talent management in the hotel industry, contributing to more effective and sustainable HR practices. Despite the challenges that lie ahead, the opportunity to effect positive change keeps me inspired and motivated. Additionally, I am eager to enhance the industry’s image, showing it as a viable and rewarding career path rather than one that is often overlooked.”

Meet the Visiting Professor, Brian King

Welcome to “Meet the Visiting Professor”, a section dedicated to introducing to you our Visiting Professors, where you will have the opportunity to get to know them and find out how they engage with Edinburgh Napier University, and specifically with the Tourism Research Centre (TRC).

Today, Professor and Head Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism Brian King talks about his career, how he started collaborating with TRC, what he loves about being a Visiting Professor with ENU. Despite the many places he has lived and worked, he still considers Auld Reekie (Edinburgh) as his “hometown” and has strong relationships with several TRC members.

“I am currently professor and head of the Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism at Texas A&M University (TAMU), USA. It has been my pleasure to engage with Edinburgh Napier University as a Visiting Professor through my previous professorships at Victoria University (Australia) and then at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. I joined TAMU in 2022 and have sought to build the relationship with Napier. I grew up in Edinburgh and though I completed my Honors and MSc degrees at Aberdeen and Strathclyde Universities respectively and carry an Australian passport, I still consider Auld Reekie (Edinburgh) as my “hometown”. My research interests are cultural tourism and the visitor economy. Given my cultural interests, I love Napier’s focus on festivals and events. Through the various full-time academic positions that I have held at Universities in Scotland, Australia, Fiji, Hong Kong and now the US, cultural aspects have been ever present. This can be through language, shared heritage, cuisine, festivals and /or sense of place. I have enjoyed how these characteristics blend with place related factors and have researched and written about concepts such as experiencescapes, festivalscapes and even smellscapes!

I had known and/or worked with several Napier professors over the years – Anna Leask, Paul Baron, Jane Ali-Knight and Martin Robertson to name a few and was a professor in Melbourne Australia as well as being a board member of Destination Melbourne. My appointment as Visiting Professor helped us strengthen the connection between tourism agencies in Melbourne and Edinburgh and I enjoyed teaching on the destination leaders program in both cities. My role as Visiting Professor has involved visiting the Craiglockhart campus (sometimes virtually) to give presentations and to meet with graduate students, industry partners and research collaborators.

During recent months colleagues and I worked on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Napier and Texas A&M University to foster opportunities for student and faculty exchange which has now been ratified. I enjoyed meeting with Napier students when they travelled to our campus to visit in Spring and was delighted that my colleague Dr Sullins led a group of our TAMU students to Napier for study abroad. I cherish the Napier tourism faculty as great friends and associates. A particular highlight of my visiting professorship occurred when I was working in Hong Kong. Principal Prof Andrea Nolan led a Napier delegation to Hong Kong and hosted a ceilidh for students, graduates and supporters. Doing “strip the willow” and wearing a kilt in Hong Kong was certainly a special occasion for me as a then a resident of the territory. And of course, lots of valuable networking occurred worked out the logistics of Scottish dancing!

But where to start? As a professor of tourism, I love to connect people and places and it’s a joy to have an ongoing connection with my hometown and country. The tourism professors at Napier are a great group, and it has also been encouraging to witness the recruitment of junior faculty stars. I appreciate the level of engagement with the industry by the Tourism Research Centre and particularly with the festivals community. Napier also has a very international commitment which welcomes students and faculty from across the globe. I have appreciated my collaborations with Napier wherever in the world I have been based. I really enjoyed interacting with the Napier students during their time in College Station Texas. Our campus here is huge with more than 76,000 students in College Station alone and there are nine other campuses across our network. The football stadium (which I can see from my office) holds 105,000 spectators (even more for a recent music event)”

ENU and Texas A&M Study Exchange 2024

During the spring 2024 term, four of our students went to Texas A&M University on a study exchange trip. The students are on Edinburgh Napier’s Festival & Event Management, Tourism Management, and Hospitality Management programmes. They spent some time working alongside a business in Texas as part of the Live Project Module, and likewise some Texas A&M University students spent some time in August in Edinburgh.

The project team consisted of Dr Afiya Holder, Dr David Jarman, and Slawek Staniszewski, Global Mobility Officer in International Operations from ENU. Dr. Donna Lee Sullins and Prof. Brian King coordinated and led the project on behalf of Texas A&M University.

So what is it like to travel to Texas for a Live Project? Hear directly from the four ENU students who shared with us their thoughts on the experience below. Thanks to Bethany Tait (International Hospitality Management with Festivals and Events), Claudio Pigozzo (International Tourism Management), Cerys Fitzgerald (International Festival and Events Management), and Dean Jenkins (International Festival and Event management).

Question: Why did you apply and how did you secure for such an amazing opportunity?

Bethany: “I knew that I had to apply as it would be such an amazing experience and a great way to gain knowledge of the industry within a different country.”

Claudio: “The opportunity to work closely with an organization in Texas and Texas A&M college students came suddenly. I didn’t think twice before applying and immediately started writing my application form.”

Cerys: “I was given the opportunity to apply for the live project in partnership with Century Square in Texas [a multi-use retail and leisure facility] in Texas at the start of 3^rd year. In order to be considered I had to write a short essay which explained why I would be a good fit for the trip and how it could benefit myself and my experience.”

Dean: “I was reading the IFEM bulletin which I would normally do as it always has great opportunities then I spotted that there was a project and a trip to Texas being organised as part of the live project module which I had chosen. I applied but I wasn’t expecting to be a part of the project as there were only four places available so when I got told the news that I got a place I couldn’t believe it as I had always wanted to go to the USA so doing it with university made it even better as I knew that it would be worth something and not just a holiday.”

Question: What are your thoughts on the Live Project module and how has this shaped your learning experience and professional development?

Bethany: “By being given the opportunity to work with and provide recommendations for a business it enabled myself to finally put my degree to use and know that all the hard work over the past three years is paying off and that I do have the skills to work in a real-life environment. This module has enabled myself to develop my professional skills and learn a lot about the inner workings of professional environments.”

Claudio: “The Live Project module is an incredible experience for students who can finally implement what they have previously studied and use and discover their own skills. Working with a live organization puts you in a position to see things from the perspective of the business owner or manager, and experience their stress, to improve or find appropriate solutions for the business.”

Cerys: “I learned how to work well within a team, distributing the work evenly to ensure no one felt under pressure with the workload. In a professional sense I got an insight into what can differ between a business in the US compared to ones in the UK and how they can do things slightly differently.”

Dean: “I found the actual module interesting and challenging at times, but I enjoy a challenge, so I thoroughly enjoyed working on the project. This module has definitely helped my future goals as I have made international contacts in which I can use when I graduate.”

Question: In what ways has this experience inspired your future goals/plans in Tourism, Hospitality, Festival and Events or Marketing?

Bethany: “This experience has taught me that within the industry the most beneficial factor is networking with other students, universities, and businesses to gain knowledge and contacts worldwide.”

Claudio: “This experience made me understand that despite your age, background, or belief, you can achieve incredible things in life. I met so many people, with different experiences and backgrounds, different passions, different paths, but the same desire to learn and make a difference.”

Cerys: “My plans for after graduation has always been to travel and work internationally. Doing this live project has shown me that it is something that is indeed possible and that I would be able to do it with the experience that I have already gained through this opportunity.”

Dean: “This experience has really opened my eyes to what opportunities are out there in terms of different events and universities.”

Question: What were some memorable moments related to the module but also beyond the classroom?

Bethany: “A memorable moment within the classroom would be the initial receival of the project brief, it was exciting as a group to gain information on the company and brainstorm initial ideas for the objectives we had been given. (…) The professors at Texas A&M were incredibly welcoming and also invited us along to the hospitality scholarships banquet.”

Claudio: “I think every minute of this module, the project, the meetings, the trip, was memorable. I will bring these memories forever with me. I met and worked with fantastic people with whom we shared thoughts, discussed and come up with interesting ideas. I had the opportunity to attend class at an American University and understand what life on campus really is, their culture, tradition and the spirit of belonging, something incredible…. Truly an unforgettable experience.”

Cerys: “Some of my most memorable moments from this module have to learning all about Texas and Century Square but then getting to actually experience it. Although my academic experiences come from the classroom, the real life experiences and moments came from the trip itself.”

Dean: “… the banquet that Texas A&M students were hosting, I networked with so many different people from different backgrounds and professions.”

Question: What life skills do you think came to light post-trip?

Bethany: “Improved confidence, adapting to new cultures”

Claudio: “Problem solving, teamwork and organizational skills.”

Cerys: “Communication and collaboration”

Dean: “Teamwork, networking skills and communication”

Question: What advice would you give future students about taking the Live Project module?

Bethany: “The best advice would be to thoroughly communicate with all team members, it is really important to ensure you all have the same work ethic and maintain styles of work throughout the report and presentation. I would also say to just enjoy the experience as much as possible and remember that your supervisor and the other module lecturers are always there to support your experience and make sure it goes as smoothly as possible.”

Claudio: “My advice is to take the Live Project module as a real work experience, never be afraid to express ideas and always listen to criticism and learn from it, you learn by making mistakes.”

Cerys: “Just enjoy it! The live project can become stressful at points as it is a lot to in a short period of time. My advice would be to embrace the experience to its full potential, and all will work out in the end.”

Dean: “…that the dynamic in your project team is crucial so I would recommend getting to know a little more about your teammates outside the classroom.”