Introduction
In the higher education environment, the acquisition of academic skills is of particular value as it provides several advantages for achieving success and the best assimilation of knowledge. Academic skills represent the skills and abilities that students can acquire in the learning process. This process can occur when performing tasks such as writing academic papers and researching scientific sources.
Mastering these abilities is critically essential for gaining an understanding of what information is the most reliable and what criteria it should meet. In addition, acquiring academic skills develops the ability to plan and organize activities, which may be needed during training and personal life. It also implies proper time management for various tasks. This essay will focus on skills such as conducting research, planning, and time management, which will assist in obtaining a Business and Tourism Management Degree and achieving successful learning outcomes.
Research Skills
The first valuable academic skill to acquire is research skills. Research consists of studying information on various topics, analyzing it, and selecting the most useful, which meets criteria such as relevance and usefulness. The ability to conduct effective research is an essential academic skill that positively impacts writing and thinking (Cottrell, 2019). During the training, the examination of scientific literature involves finding sources such as books, journals, websites, and other academic databases. Due to the wide variety of these works, students should be able to isolate the most productive and informative (Buhalis, 2020; Gallagher, 2016).
Moreover, it also involves the ability to evaluate these sources not only for the benefit but also for limitations and aspects that require refinement or the use of additional information. This skill helps to develop a thorough understanding of the topic and supports an evidence-based approach to academic writing. Any writing of academic papers requires an evidence base, which must be taken from scientific papers. The main criterion is finding those that have been proven using empirical procedures. By using high-quality sources, students can improve the quality and credibility of their academic writing, making it more persuasive and informative.
In studying various sources of information, students also acquire the skills of summation and generalization. This aspect is valuable because, in scientific papers, it is necessary to know how to determine the data that may be required to perform an academic paper (Bedford & Wilson, 2020). In addition, the summation of information becomes an indicator of how an individual understood the text and highlights the most useful knowledge. Thus, research skills are essential in tourism management since this profession involves the study of multiple sources and the performance of the highest-quality work.
Planning
The next skill vital to master within the framework of obtaining a Business and Tourism Management degree is planning. First, this aspect is valuable because it allows one to identify and prioritize tasks and effectively allocate resources to achieve desired goals (Godfrey, 2014). Within the education framework, it is crucial to balance academic activities and personal life.
This aspect arises because students must have the proper level of motivation and concentration to perform their work best during their studies or professional practice (Ramsay, Price, and Maier, 2010). In such circumstances, when individuals cannot properly plan the process of conducting research and doing necessary work, they will not have the proper efficiency or will not be able to finish on time. This academic skill allows them to manage time, organize students’ thoughts and ideas, and enhance their overall academic performance.
The ability to productively plan the process of completing a task provides the opportunity to develop well-structured, logically sound, and persuasive arguments. To fulfill this criterion, it is essential to take the time to carefully study various sources, weigh all their advantages and disadvantages, and ensure that their research is thorough and well-informed. This aspect will help to avoid such a common critical error as plagiarism (Williams & Carroll, 2009).
With proper planning, individuals can avoid mistakes and problems when writing academic papers or conducting business or tourism activities (Evans, 2019). In business and tourism education, this academic skill is valuable as it allows people to plan the process of completing tasks and achieving goals more quickly, at the same time, in an organized and efficient manner (Pender & Sharpley, 2005). Planning assists in the allocation of time for rest and work, organizing ideas, and developing well-structured arguments without overstraining and unnecessary load.
Time Management
Time management is in reasonably close connection with such a skill as planning. However, it implies the ability to allocate the time that students devote to academic tasks correctly. Its importance is due to the fact that it can significantly influence the success of students in their academic pursuits.
Developing time management skills is essential in academic writing as it helps students meet deadlines and produce high-quality work (Sedgley, 2020). In areas such as tourism and business, time management is essential since it involves the interaction of several parties that depend on each other and their time resources (Novelli, 2022). In addition, it helps to clearly distinguish between time for work and rest, which makes it possible to avoid negative consequences such as burnout or high-stress levels.
Thus, time management contributes to the completion of tasks on time without losing the quality of the work performed. This not only helps avoid the penalties for late submissions but also provides more time to revise and improve the academic assignment. When students manage their time effectively, they can properly allocate time to complete various stages of writing a paper, such as finding sources, analyzing and evaluating them, and directly creating an academic paper.
Furthermore, this process should also include rechecking the written text and correcting errors that occur. By doing so, students can produce well-organized and well-researched work that demonstrates their understanding of the topic. It is also worth noting that time management is not one of the most accessible skills to learn and requires long practice. Students should be able to coordinate time for work and rest, depending on their capabilities, since each person has a different time span. Thus, such an academic skill as time management contributes to academic success and reduces stress among students.
Conclusion
In the process of learning, students acquire many valuable skills that help them achieve not only academic success but also avoid stressful situations. Among the unique skills in this essay are time management, planning, and conducting research. Each of them teaches individuals to work with information and use it to fulfill their tasks. Hence, planning and time management skills help to effectively distribute the stages of work in accordance with deadlines and to learn how to summarize and evaluate information.
In addition, they help establish a balance between rest and work, reducing the possibility of unsatisfactory assignments and stress and anxiety. The academic skill of research sources teaches individuals to find the most vital data for writing and summarize the most critical aspects highlighted empirically. Therefore, gaining these skills is vital in pursuing a Business and Tourism degree.
Reference List
Bedford, D. and Wilson, E. (2020) Study skills for foundation degrees 3rd ed. Oxford: Routledge.
Buhalis, D. (2020) ‘Technology in tourism – from information communication technologies to tourism and smart tourism towards ambient intelligence tourism: a perspective article’, Tourism Review, 75(1), pp. 267–272.
Cottrell, S. (2019) The study skills handbook. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Evans, N. (2019) Strategic management for tourism, hospitality and events. London: Routledge.
Gallagher, K. (2016) Essential study and employment skills for business and management students. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Godfrey, J. (2014) Reading and making notes. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Novelli, M. (2022) ‘Niche tourism in: encyclopedia of tourism management and marketing,’ Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 344-347.
Pender, L. and Sharpley, R. (2005) The management of tourism. London: SAGE.
Ramsay, P., Price, G. and Maier, P. (2010) Study skills for business and management students. London: Pearson.
Sedgley, M. (2020) Skills for business and management. London: Red Globe Press.
Williams, K. and Carroll, J. (2009) Referencing and understanding plagiarism: pocket study skills. London: Palgrave Macmillan.