Professor’s Vision: Creating Impactful Scholarship through Inter-Institutional Collaborations

Professor Perry Hobson, who leads the Academy for Tourism at Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas) in the Netherlands, recently visited ICMS to share valuable insights on “Creating impactful scholarship through inter-institutional collaborations”.

With a rich and diverse international background spanning various countries, including the UK, USA, Hong Kong, Australia, Malaysia, and The Netherlands, Professor Hobson has been deeply immersed in the field of tourism and hospitality.

He has held significant leadership positions in esteemed academic institutions, demonstrating a relentless commitment to teaching, research, and internationalisation.

Besides delivering a seminar to ICMS faculty, he has also given guest lectures to ICMS postgraduate event and tourism students during his visit to Australia.

Seminar Highlights

During his seminar, Professor Hobson shed light on the concept of Scholarship as being neither solely concerned with funding, or about pure research.

Referencing Boyer’s Model of Scholarship (1990), he shared that Scholarship encompasses engagement, teaching and learning, integration, and discovery.

• Engagement: Focuses on the importance of connecting with the community, peers, and others involved. It includes working together, actively taking part, and sharing ideas to make learning and teaching better.
• Teaching and Learning: Highlights the role of educators in encouraging curiosity, critical thinking, and ongoing improvement in both traditional and non-traditional education.
• Integration: Involves combining knowledge from different areas and situations. It encourages scholars to connect theories with real-world applications, consider diverse viewpoints, and develop comprehensive ways to tackle complex challenges in education.
• Discovery: Involves seeking out new knowledge, ideas, and creative works. This includes doing original research, trying new teaching methods, and exploring unexplored areas to push the boundaries of knowledge in academia and beyond.

Ultimately, scholarship is about actively addressing existing challenges to assist industry professionals and global peers from other colleges and universities.

Global Collaboration

Global engagement is a strategic theme of ICMS, and Professor Hobson drew from his experience at Breda University of Applied Sciences, Professor Hobson shared how field work holds particular value in facilitating student learning and fostering connections with other universities.

He stressed the importance of collaborative initiatives such as conferences and partnership projects, aimed at strengthening academic ties globally.

Building Strategic Partnerships

Professor Hobson highlighted the significance of building strategic partnerships with industry and other institutions, particularly in the context of Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) partnerships.

He advocated for a holistic approach to internationalisation, going beyond focusing on international students and instead cultivating meaningful collaborations that transcend borders.

Technology and Global Mindset

In the era of digital nomads and online collaboration, Professor Hobson highlighted the role of technology in promoting cross-collaboration and fostering a global mindset among students.

He underlined the need to prepare students for a future that transcends geographical boundaries, saying that collaboration not only facilitates the adoption of new technologies but also nurtures a global perspective.

Embracing collaborative ethos

Professor Hobson’s session at ICMS provided valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of scholarship and the pivotal role of inter-institutional collaborations in shaping a globally oriented academic landscape.

His visit served as a catalyst for embracing a collaborative ethos that extends beyond individual institutions, paving the way for a more interconnected and enriched academic community.

To connect with Professor Perry Hobson, click here.