About

I am a University Lecturer in Tourism, located within the Centre for Contemporary Hospitality and Tourism at the University of Derby, Buxton. Being located on the edge of the beautiful Peak District national park provides an excellent opportunity to apply tourism theory to direct practice. Buxton itself is an important destination within the Peak District region, both as a spa and wellness product and as a wider heritage tourism attraction.

Within my department, I also act as the Centre Lead for Learning and Teaching. This role provides me with the opportunity to investigate and explore the best practice with the academic staff at Buxton as to the innovative application of learning, teaching and assessment practice across a wide array of subject areas.

Teaching responsibilities

My teaching responsibilities incorporate both contemporary tourism subjects, as well as research methods at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

I am Module Leader for the level four module 'Tourism: current scenarios and future directions.' This module provides the opportunity to explore with new undergraduate students the contemporary theory which influences tourism demand and supply, and the implications of this for future tourism development. I believe it is an excellent way to help new undergraduate students understand the significance and scope of tourism, whilst also developing their analytical skills the future problem-solving.

I am also Module Leader for 'Introduction to higher education' at level four. Having designed this module myself, I am interested in exploring with new undergraduate students their understanding of why they have chosen to come to university and how this relates to the historical development of their subject area as an academic discipline. I firmly believe that this provides a strong context for students to allow for progression throughout their degree study.

I'm also the Module Leader for all final year independent study students here at the Centre. Research is a dynamic and exciting arena within the subject areas of tourism, hospitality, events and spa management. It also provides a significant opportunity for final year students to contribute towards their subject areas, both from a pure and an applied research perspective. This can have a significant impact on the career decisions that they make, as well as further increasing their interest and passion within their subject areas.

My teaching interests are not limited to the United Kingdom, and I regularly run postgraduate classes in research methods at partner institutions with the University abroad.

As a member of the tourism academic team, I also run applied projects, organised with the students between the University and tourism industry providers. These applied projects give our students the opportunity to engage in research while simultaneously working on bespoke projects with organisations within the tourism industry.

If you are interested in participating as an organisation in one of these applied projects with the students here at the University, please drop me an email at d.w.marson@derby.ac.uk.

Professional interests

Professionally, for many years, I have been interested in further exploring the challenges associated with developing pedagogic practice within learning, teaching and assessment in higher educational institutions. The innovative nature of the University of Derby, Buxton has allowed me to explore these challenges with staff to help contribute towards a creative and inspiring environment for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. This incorporates general principles regarding learning design, methods of innovative and creative teaching practice, as well as investigating the ability to diversify and implement creative assessment strategy.

Research interests

My research interests and scholarly activity relates to both tourism and pedagogy in higher education. Within tourism, my previous research has focused on adventure tourism development, and in particular how visitors make sense of place and space and the importance of this in destination management principles such as hard and soft visitor management initiatives.

Within pedagogic research, I am currently undertaking a professional doctorate of education focusing on the significance of visual culture as a learning tool, both in relation to reflective practice as well as wider learning gain within tourism as a contemporary subject area.

Membership of professional bodies

• Member: TMI
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Member: ATLAS

Additional interests and activities

I am a keen mountain biker, rock climber and fell runner and enjoy travel and exploring places (adventurous or otherwise!)

Recent publications

• Marson, D. From Mass Tourism to Niche Tourism, in Robinson P. Heitmann, S. Dieke, P.U.C. (2011) Research Themes in Tourism, CABI, Wallingford
• Contribution to chapter: Peak District as England green gym, In Hall, M. Frost, W. (2008)Tourism and National Parks: International Perspectives on Development, Histories and Change, Routledge Publications, London
• Mcabe, S. Marson, D. Tourist constructions and consumption of space: place, modernity, meaning. In Burns, P.M. Novelli, M. (2006) Tourism and Social Identities: global frameworks and local realities, Elsevier, Oxford