Why Greenwich?
The tourism industry was a foundation of why I wanted to go to university and learn more about what’s happening behind the scenes. I have worked in the tourism industry since 2018, but experience was not the only thing I wanted to obtain. Having a deep and comprehensive knowledge base is essential to truly excel in your field and achieve performance at an exceptional level. The University of Greenwich has been a great place to study, as it has not just offered one of the best courses for Tourism Management in London, but also a range of academic and professional support including personalised career counselling, networking opportunities, internships, part-time roles, and access to cutting-edge research and industry partnerships.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My days varied quite a bit from each other and as such, no day was ever a typical day for me. By working for the Sustainability team at the university, the campus became not just my study place but also my workplace. My days start early in the morning and upon arriving on campus, I have a series of lectures and tutorials. Usually, in the middle of the day, I catch up on emails and assignments or just chat with my close friend about world news and our upcoming plans. The whole afternoon was then fully packed with classes.
However, on other days, I also had to combine work with classes. For example, I would finish my lectures and immediately head to the office, either on the main campus or at Avery Hill, balancing my responsibilities as both a student and an employee. This dual role made my schedule dynamic and demanding but also incredibly rewarding, requiring careful time management to balance both commitments successfully.
I found it particularly enriching from the academic point of view. The School of Management and Marketing has a lineup of wonderful professors who are very supportive and friendly. As someone coming from Central Europe, I found it truly valuable when they consider you more like a colleague and they remember you by a name rather than just like a number.
Extracurricular activities and the university experience...
I would say any sort of extracurricular activities have been connected to my work, for example, organising the Women’s Network Festival. However, most of my activities happen outside of the university. As someone interested in web development and coding, I undertook several courses from Code First Girls. They have partnerships with several companies specialising in advanced coding or standard languages for storing or manipulating with a high amount of data.
For the past two years, I was also part of the mentoring scheme. In the first year, I was paired with an exceptional mentor from Google, who has since then become a close friend. This mentorship not only provided me with invaluable guidance but also afforded me the opportunity to visit Google’s headquarters, an experience that was both surprising and eye-opening. My mentor offered expert advice on various aspects of my career development, including job applications, interview techniques or CV structuring. The mentoring scheme has significantly boosted my confidence.
A big shout-out goes to my previous and current managers who have contributed to and continue to support my personal and professional development.
Most rewarding experience?
I believe that my work experience has been the most rewarding along the way with building lifetime friendships with people either from the industry or the higher education sector. Thanks to my placement year, I have discovered a strong interest in other fields such as marketing and sustainability, particularly their behaviour towards it. Nowadays, I am exploring this passion by working with the Sustainability team, where I manage communications and marketing efforts to promote the university's sustainable practices and collaborations we have with partners.
Another rewarding experience, and a fantastic opportunity for students, was the Erasmus+ programme in Croatia, where I spent a year studying. Immersing yourself in Southeastern European culture and sharing this journey with friends from other European countries, was incredible. It provided me with deeper understanding of the tourism industry, particularly in economics. I also gained insights into Croatia’s educational system and how it is designed for students, which differs significantly from what we have in the UK.
Career after Greenwich...
As a person with many passions and dreams, my career aspirations involve combining my degree in tourism management with digital marketing and enhance the sustainable reality of the tourism industry as well as delving deeper into the mindset of travellers. I would also love to work with animals for a while and contribute to worldwide wildlife conservation projects. I aim to join one of the leading tourism companies and perhaps start gaining more international experience and broadening my professional horizons.
A big shout-out goes to my previous and current managers who have contributed to and continue to support my personal and professional development. Their guidance has been instrumental in honing my skills. Overall, the university has played a pivotal role in my journey and will continue to do so.
Would you do anything differently?
If I ever got the opportunity to start my university journey again, I would make the effort to attend more networking events. Surprisingly, in today’s corporate landscape, networking has become a crucial gateway to securing highly desired roles and opportunities. It does not just connect you with industry professionals but also provides insights into the latest trends and demands of the market you’re targeting. The other thing I would do is become more aware of what’s happening at the university and the available options for progress.
Advice for new students?
Unless you wish to do another undergraduate degree, do your best to grow personally and professionally, seek advice, look for internships, part-time roles or even volunteering programmes. Don’t sit at home the whole three years thinking about what to do with your life. Look for opportunities to travel abroad so you can understand other cultures and see the world from different perspectives. If you wish to enter the international market, I highly recommend investing in learning languages. Seek mentorship from industry professionals and career advice from the Employability team. This is the time to challenge yourself to fully understand what you’re looking for in your life and what you wish your future to look like. Don’t waste it.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please note that the availability of modules (and opportunities offered to, and services for, students) can change over time and things may not be available from one year to the next. In the case of modules, please always check the 'What will you study' section of the course webpage for the course and entry year you are interested in. You can find an index of all our subject areas, within which you will find the individual course pages, at: https://www.gre.ac.uk/subjects
