Events student lands ambassador role with national body
A GCU student is helping shape her future career after taking on a student ambassador role with the Tourism Management Institute (TMI).
Third year BA (Hons) International Tourism and Events Management student Yonca Göcer has joined seven other students from across the UK in providing a voice for the tourism industry’s future workforce.
Yonca said: “The TMI are basically the professional body for anyone working in tourism management. Students obviously have a part to play in helping shape the future of the profession, especially in regard to the climate crisis, where there’s a real focus on keeping tourism sustainable and accessible for all.
“I’ve been involved for a few months now and so far it’s been mainly meetings. It’s a great way for us to bring up any issues that concern us, whether that’s something we’re experiencing at university or something we’ve heard on the news.”
Yonca is hoping her previous experience supporting students at GCU will stand her in good stead as a student ambassador.
She explained: “I’m enjoying it but I do still feel a bit lost at the moment. When the new academic year starts, things will definitely be better and I’ll be able to act more as a link between TMI and the university.
Communicating was such a big part of my role as a Class Rep and Department Rep and I think that taking part in opportunities like this really suits me as a person.”
With her final year at university just around the corner, Yonca is keen to do everything she can to help launch her future career.
She explained: “I’m just trying to get a foot in the door of the industry because I feel like it’s very competitive. It’s always good to spread your network and create connections, which can only be of benefit in the future.
“I want to use this opportunity to learn more about how the industry works and the different roles that people have because it’s sometimes really hard to imagine what you’re going to do with your degree.”
Despite her focus on the future, Yonca is also making sure she keeps her options open and has been seeking opportunities locally to help further enhance her CV.
She said: “I’ve just started an internship in Glasgow with an IT firm in their events department. I’m really proud that I got this opportunity and I’m looking forward to the overall experience. I’m definitely going to be busy but I can’t let my brain rest for more than two minutes!
“I’m still weighing up what I’ll do once I graduate; I’m thinking about maybe doing a Masters in Spain or Italy, but I’m not sure yet.”
By Ross Clark
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