Devonshire Dome Visitor Experience
Fay Fallows, studying Travel and Tourism Management (Joint honours), initiated the Devonshire Dome Visitor Experience after noticing demand from visitors interested in learning more about the building and its history.
What is the Devonshire Dome Visitor Experience?
"The project aims to improve the experience of visitors to the Devonshire Dome. It also offers the opportunity for students to take part in experiential learning and gain valuable work experience in culture and heritage tourism.
The project works with High Peak Borough Council and the University of Derby and aims to continue benefitting the community. We are also hoping to work with the Institute of Tourist Guiding (ITG), giving students an opportunity to gain an essential part of the prestigious Blue Badge Award."
Student Involvement
"There is an opportunity for students with an interest in culture and heritage tourism and / or tourist guiding to become involved if they are successful in taking a short assessment programme.
Students can become tour guides, or take part in developing new tours, administration, promotion, and evaluation of visitor feedback."
How does this benefit your studies?
"Being involved in the Devonshire Dome Visitor Experience has enabled me to base my assignments on my work on the project, giving me a real life case study to work with.
For example, I have learned how to create a service concept and have been able to use this when developing the project. For my managing people assignment I have been able to use the example of managing the volunteers at the project.
It has fitted in very well with my studies"
Will this help your career?
"Although I have work experience, most of this is outside the travel and tourism sector. Being able to say that I have developed and managed this project will look great on my CV and should help me to get a job in culture and heritage tourism.
I like the idea that the project is providing valuable experiential learning for other students too. My background is working in education (careers service) and training so I know that it's helping students obtain something that is very important.
I'm very passionate about the rejuvenation of Buxton as a tourism destination and feel that the Devonshire Dome Visitor Experience project is enabling me to make a contribution to this process.
I really enjoy the work I'm doing on the project and find it very satisfying."
