Discovering the value of a programme is way more interesting when you hear it straight from the students who have been there. Today, we are chatting with Jikke, who is sharing her experience with the track Sustainable Tourism & Society of the MSc Cultural Geography. Join us to find out how our programme aligns with the industry, the skills you pick up along the way, networking perks, and more.

How effectively does the programme align with the latest trends in the STS-industry, considering its direction and future developments?

The Cultural Geography master in the Sustainable Tourism & Society track really helped me create an overview of how global tourism actually affects the local communities in which tourism takes place. Both the positive and negative aspects, some of which I never really realised. Besides that the programme is really ‘up to date’, in the sense that we often discussed news items and real-time ‘issues’. 

What practical, hands-on skills has the programme equipped you with that are directly applicable in the workplace?

I am currently working as a geography highschool teacher, not a workfield this master is really preparing you for. However, it has really taught me how to implement my knowledge on the tourism development into my cultural geography lessons. Giving me tools to have more informed and better discussion with my students, and help them form their own opinions. 

Does the programme offer networking opportunities? If so, which ones?

Yes! During the programme we had multiple guest lectures from speakers from either different universities or other working fields. Giving us a different insight into the field we were studying. I always found these lectures very insightful. Besides the guest lecturers we had multiple occasions on which we had to write a report/conduct research for ‘real life’ companies, introducing us into the way research was conducted in the work field (besides University).

Anything that was not mentioned but that you believe a prospective student should know?

The small classrooms make for very personal relations with your teachers, you really do not feel like a number which in a lot of larger programmes is the case. A lot of in class discussions and conversations on the literature and subjects can therefore take place, which makes the learning experiences way more enjoyable as you are actively working with the literature.