MSc - International Hospitality and Tourism Management

Originally from Denmark, Betina elected to study her Masters degree at BU because of our outstanding reputation in the tourism field.

Her decision to study at BU was made even easier thanks to the response that she received when she enquired about a place on her course. "I received a very warm welcome from the first time I enquired, and that hospitable attitude continued throughout my application and my time at the University," says Betina.

The friendly environment helped Betina settle in quickly, and get on with the serious business of studying for her degree, which in her own words, she has loved! "The degree is structured very logically and the academics are very knowledgeable and professional. They have provided me with different academic tools that I know I can use in practice in the future, and I have learned about different cultures and tourism in different countries thanks to the international environment that BU fosters. There are students from all over the world and the academic staff have all worked in the tourism industry and carried out research in many different countries. It has been very inspirational."

As much as Betina has enjoyed throwing herself into her studies, she recongises that it is ‘very important’ to do something away from academic life. “Whether you join a sports club, a social club, or get involved in other activities, it enriches your life, develops your social skills and helps you to meet people from other courses,” she says.

BU’s great location has also been something that Betina has taken full advantage of during her time in the UK. “It is close to the sea, near to the New Forest national park, and within easy reach of lots of interesting cities in southern England. I like outdoor activities such as running and walking and Bournemouth and the surrounding areas offer lots of cycling and walking paths.”

“As a result of the global nature of my course, I feel I am more independent than ever and have developed my personal and professional skills. Being part of such an international environment means I have made contact with people from all over the world, which I consider to be an advantage in my future career. I am confident that my Masters from BU will be of huge benefit to me in the future.”

The search for a placement through Bournemouth University using all the online support on offer was proving very productive and I was able to secure a few interviews with leading brand hotels and smaller local businesses. Unfortunately, the outbreak of the global pandemic was increasing in intensity which saw all these opportunities withdrawn and sadly some of the smaller companies going into receivership.

Despite these drawbacks, I continued my search and found a company called Wiltshire Wellness who were advertising for a head of logistics in a new start-up venture supplying goods to the hospitality sector and a number of small businesses in the UK.

Wiltshire Wellness (WW)

The company was recently founded by 3 executives with a view to sourcing goods from South East Asia (principally Thailand and surrounding countries) and supplying an identified demand in the UK. In support of this they required an individual with experience of supply chain and logistics and also someone accustomed to a business working environment within the UK.

My initial role under the placement was to liaise with the overseas supply chain (factory production), ensure shipments were dispatched, tracked and then upon landing in the UK, managing distribution to clients. Being a Thai speaker and being able to draw upon my previous work in supply chain I was able to add value to the company and I found my role evolving with more responsibilities.

Challenges and lessons learned

The nature of the business dictates that we are supplying goods to businesses/individuals on agreed terms. Expectations for all people need to be maintained and this is a daily challenge. A disruption in supply chain (factory issues for example), a missed order or a miscommunication generates work and the requirement to problem solve.

Perhaps key lessons I have learned is the importance of clear communication both verbally and written and trying to be flexible whenever possible. Sometimes completely unforeseen events affect your work and it is at those times that clear strategic thinking is required to best solve issues.

Future plans and advice

WW have indicated that I might wish to remain working with them beyond my placement which is a very exciting option for me. I would say that the support BU and International College gave me and the high-quality teaching are contributing factors to being able to secure my placement but also confidently navigat