Alton Towers resort management degree still going ahead

Students will learn how to run a theme park


A theme park uni course which includes a paid placement at Alton Towers is set to go ahead despite the horrific accident earlier this year.

The Visitor Attraction and Resort Management degree for roller coaster obsessed students will be launching at Staffordshire Uni.

Starting from next September, the course will teach undergrads how to run a theme park.

They will get hands-on experience on how to operate roller coasters and rides as well as running gift shops and food kiosks.

Controversially the course involves an 18 week stint at  Alton Towers, where students will work towards team leader level.

In a statement Staffordshire Uni said they are “very excited to be in partnership with Alton Towers”.

While the course is due to start next year, the uni are yet to have any enrolments.

The Smiler ride crashed and seriously injured 5 people earlier this year

Other modules include health and safety marketing and digital communications, financial and human resource management and customer service.

The two-year £12,000 Foundation degree will start in September 2016 and has enough room for 20 applicants.

Roller coaster fans were horrified back in June after The Smiler ride crashed, seriously injuring five people.

Derby student Vicky Balch, 20, was forced to have her right leg amputated following the accident.

After the crash, Vicky said she felt like she was going to die.

She told the BBC: “It felt like slow motion. We banged into the car in front. I felt the bars go into my knees; we moved backwards and the car went into us again.

“Everyone was screaming and I was in excruciating pain. I looked down and I could see blood all over. The bars were in my right knee.”

Derby student Vicky Balch had her leg amputated after the crash at Alton Towers

Huddersfield first year Joe Pugh and his girlfriend of a week, Leah Washington, are said to have been on their first official date when The Smiler when it smashed into another carriage, injuring both of them.

Leah had to have her left leg amputated above the knee, while Joe had both knees smashed so badly he has had to learn to walk again.

Speaking on the Visitor Attraction and Resort Management course at Staffordshire, Linda Phillips,  Academic Group Leader for Enterprise, Marketing and Services told The Tab: “The University’s Visitor Attraction and Resort Management foundation degree is due to start in 2016.

“We are currently working with Alton Towers to promote it to prospective students.

“We believe this course will offer students a fantastic opportunity to get hands on experience in the leisure industry to help them hit the ground running when they enter the working world.

“We are very excited to be in partnership with Alton Towers and have some brilliant placements lined up with the resort.”