Staff Snapshot: Tim Hall

Tim Hall is the Academic Course Advisor in Hospitality and Sport Management in the School of Business on the Bankstown campus. In December, Tim and Tonia Gray (opens in a new window) – who is from the School of Education – were awarded an OLT grant to take an in-depth look at Outbound Mobility Experiences. Follow Tim's journey on the EPITOME website (opens in a new window).

When did you start working at UWS and what was your first role?

I started with UWS as a casual tutor in July 2001, teaching the introductory management unit called Management Foundations.

Describe your current role:

This year I will be teaching Hospitality Management Applied Project, which will see students complete industry-based research projects, which I arrange with a variety of for-profit and not-for-profit industry partners. I am also currently devising the itinerary for an Outbound Mobility Experience for these students to Vietnam in November/December in which we will undertake a number of behind-the-scenes tours, meetings with social entrepreneurs and expatriates, and take the game of AFL to Vietnam. 

As Course Advisor, I am responsible for all student matters for those studying Hospitality and Sport Management. I provide assistance around issues such as unit selection, career and course advice, as well as completing procedural roles such as exam and learning guide approvals.

What's the best thing about your job?

The best part about my job is that I am able to make a difference by assisting students through their university career and presenting them with opportunities to work with industry partners here and overseas. I am also enjoying the journey into blended learning, technology in teaching and the role of social media (@drtimmyhall).

What do you love most about working at UWS?

Working at UWS has provided me with some amazing opportunities to be innovative in the learning and teaching space (last year myself and Dr Colin Sheringham implemented the first web-enabled iPad exam) and to bring students and industry together through mutually beneficial learning experiences. Most importantly, UWS has allowed me to enjoy a great work-life balance that has meant quality time with my children (now six and eight years old) as they are growing up.

What are you going to be working on in the next 12 months?

Over the next 12 months my focus will be co-leading an OLT Strategic Priorities project with Associate Professor Tonia Gray from the School of Education, which we were awarded in December 2014. The project titled 'Enhancing Programmes Integrating Tertiary Outbound Mobility Experiences' (EPITOME) will take an in-depth look at Outbound Mobility Experiences. In particular, the project will investigate the following areas:

• Looking at students in the pre-departure phase to gain an appreciation of the expectations and perceptions of those students who will be participating in Outbound Mobility Experiences. Of equal importance, we will also be looking to gain a better understanding of why students who are presented with the opportunity to participate in an Outbound Mobility Experiences do not pursue this opportunity.
• It is often said that Outbound Mobility Experiences are transformational, but there does not appear to be any evidence of this, so we will be looking at students who have previously participated in Outbound Mobility Experiences to gauge what (if any) impact their experience has had on them both professionally and personally over time.
• To develop an Outbound Mobility Experience itinerary, there are many considerations that may not be evident in an initial review of an itinerary, so we will be interviewing staff who are involved with developing, implementing and delivering Outbound Mobility Experiences.

The project will last 18 months and involve students and staff from across UWS and Macquarie University. For more information on the project visit our website (opens in a new window) and keep an eye out for #EPITOME on social media.