Professor Rhodri Thomas was part-time ESRC funded Business Placement Fellowship with the ITT for most of 2009. Details can be found by following the links below:
Professor Rhodri Thomas has been successful in his application to become an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Business Placement Fellow with the Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT). The funding will involve Rhodri bringing together high calibre researchers in the field of environmental management with business leaders from travel and tourism. This theme will be used to examine how academic research might inform business practice more generally. The project will also involve Rhodri in undertaking research (Grant Reference RES-186-27-0015) on factors that influence the engagement of senior executives with academics. He will receive advice on aspects of environmental management from Dr Paul Upham, Tyndall Centre, University of Manchester.
Rhodri noted, "I am delighted that the ESRC have backed the project because it shows that they appreciate the importance of travel and tourism to the British economy and recognise the potential contribution that academic research might make to enhancing professional practice in this sector. This, combined with the leadership and reach of the ITT, offers a great opportunity to make a difference to practice in this sector."
Steven Freudmann, Chairman of the Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT) commented, "We are delighted that our investment and partnership with Professor Rhodri Thomas and Leeds Met has been recognised and seen as worth supporting by others. The ESRC grant will enable Rhodri to undertake research that will help build stronger links between travel businesses and universities. If university research can help us understand markets better and issues that affect business performance that must be a good thing, especially during these challenging times."
