Manchester Metropolitan University

The recent merger of the Departments of Food & Consumer Technology and Hospitality & Tourism Management has created one of the largest and most important Schools of its type in the UK. Employing over fifty academics and researchers with in excess of thirty postgraduate research students, it represents a major centre for teaching and research in its specialised areas and has an international reputation for excellence and innovation. The School has recently been officially recognised as a 'Centre of Excellence' for teaching, and research work achieved a ‘3a’ rating in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. The northwest of England is a major region for food manufacture and production and is the base for many national and international companies. In addition, Manchester has an expanding concentration of hotels, restaurants, theatres, art galleries, museums, pubs and clubs and recently hosted the highly successful Commonwealth Games 2002. The School is, therefore, ideally located for its studies. In reflection of its expertise, the School operates the European-funded, North West Food Centre and the International Centre for Research and Consultancy for the Tourism and Hospitality Industries. In addition, the School operates one of the largest number of food-related Knowledge Transfer Partnerships in the UK.