Ankur's Profile
Job title
Lecturer
Academic qualifications
MA Teaching and Learning, Bachelor of Commerce, PGCE in Teaching and Learning, Diploma in Hotel Management
"My advice? Gain work experience while you study. Birmingham’s hospitality scene is buzzing, and our courses are designed to help you take full advantage of that."
I teach on UCB’s Hospitality, Tourism, Events and Aviation courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. You’ll most likely meet me in modules related to revenue, financial and operations management. I’m particularly interested in the ways in which technology can be used within the industry, and how simulations can improve teaching delivery.
I have a background in senior management roles across leading 4- and 5-star hotel brands in both the UK and India. I started my career as Front Office Supervisor before progressing to Front Office Manager, Executive Housekeeper and Director of Rooms Operations within Marriott Hotels, the world’s largest hospitality company. Ultimately, I was responsible for making sure guests had exceptional experiences and that we always met our business targets. I bring my wealth of work experience into the classroom at UCB, and I always aim to help students understand how what we study relates to the ‘real-world’. I also think it’s crucial that students develop the practical skills and confidence they need to succeed in the sector. I’m proud to have been nominated for several teaching and pastoral awards. I also have an Advance HE fellowship, and I’m a member of the Institute of Hospitality which keeps me connected to current industry trends, best practices, resources, and expert networks.
I’ve worked in different countries throughout my career including India as well as the UK, and this has given me a real appreciation for the cultural diversity that makes hospitality so exciting. This is also something I see reflected every day in our student body at UCB. UCB attracts students from all over the world, and that mix of backgrounds and ideas makes for a truly dynamic learning environment.
One word of advice for students is to gain work experience while you study. Birmingham’s hospitality scene is buzzing, and our courses are designed to help you take full advantage of that.
On a personal note, I love cricket, having played it at district level, and I enjoy developing my gardening skills in my free time. Additionally, I am trilingual, fluent in English, Hindi, and Punjabi.