Michael Owusu-Dartey
Learning Coach for Digital Innovation and a Teacher of Travel and Tourism
On work-life:
“I teach a mixture of practical and theory based units and excel at sharing my travel experience with my students including the understanding of Global destinations and why these destinations attract tourists to visit.
I have been fortunate to plan, open and teach on several tourism and aviation courses including Level 2 Air Cabin Crew, BTEC Aviation Operations on the Ground as well as BTEC Level 2 and 3 Travel and Tourism. These experiences have shaped my teaching pedagogy to focus on bringing to life my lessons and offering students the opportunities to see them in action.
This has led me to take students on several educational trips to destinations such as Dubai, New York, Rome, Tunisia and Croatia to name a few.
For me the joy and excitement of seeing my students on these educational visits and the opportunities they gain from seeing tourism in action is an incredible experience which stays with them forever.”
“Teaching is my passion and this is reflected in my practice.”
On the most inspiring person you have met:
“I have met several inspiring people in my life, however one that stands out is meeting one of the former pilots who flew the British Airways Concorde during a tour on-board the Concorde at Manchester Airport. It was incredible to think such an aircraft which changed the face of flying was actually designed in the 1960’s and flew until they were tired in the early 2000’s as well as the numerous personalities that flew on the Concorde, coincidentally I sat on Michael Jackson’s favourite seat.”
On your teaching career:
“I did my PGCE at Canterbury Christ Church University and during my placements in a secondary school and college in Kent, I knew from then onwards that I wanted to promote and change people’s perception about travel and tourism.
Prior to working at NewVIc, I worked at several colleges in Oxford, Essex and High Wycombe teaching travel and tourism, some of which I was fortunate to introduce tourism and aviation courses as well raise the attainment and retention levels to well above national averages.
I particularly want students to understand the subject of travel and tourism and I have taught several students who have progressed onto university to study various courses including Tourism Management, Hospitality Management, Law and Accounting. Some have progressed into employment working as Air Cabin Crew, Passenger Service Agents and Travel Bloggers.”
On student progression:
“The majority of my students progress onto university to study travel and tourism related courses whilst others branched out to study business related courses and Law.
I am still in touch with many of my former students who volunteer to come back to the college and speak to my current students and share their experiences and progression and working in the travel and tourism industry.”