Prof Robert Swinnock

I joined University College Birmingham in 1995 having previously worked at upscale hotel operations in the UK and overseas. Extensive operational experience gained in airline catering at Schiphol Airport, Netherlands. My teaching experience has included extensive overseas exposure teaching postgraduate students in Hong Kong, Macau, Mauritius, Maldives, Jamaica and Ireland. In the past 10 years I have been involved in the development of assessment systems for higher education students across schools at UCB. I led on pilot Higher Apprenticeship programmes with industry partners. Current partnership development involved the development of an innovative programme for a commercial hotel group which offers aspiring employed managers the opportunity to gain an undergraduate award.

My role has evolved into examining the quality of education provision in The School of Health, Sport and Food and the experience students receive during their studies.

Operations Management (strategic and unit level) has been a primary focus at post and undergraduate levels.
My current role also involves programme management and the development of academic quality systems across The School of Health, Sport and Food.

My research interests relate to operational management practices in service organisations. I am interested in quality management practices related to further and higher education. In addition initiatives related to factors shaping the educational experience of students.

I am an external examiner and have held posts with a number of universities. Recent external examiner posts held with University of Surrey, Shannon Hotel School, Dublin DIT and Oxford Brookes University.

I am involved with the local central England branch of The Institute of Hospitality.

In my spare time work I with an international youth organisation. I am a keen sailor in club level racing and youth training as a qualified instructor.