Daring approach leads to job success
In days gone by, if a teacher suggested you should take a flying leap, you’d be pretty sure you were not going to pass that particular subject.
But times have changed and top tourism students at The University of the Sunshine Coast have been encouraged to jump out of planes (tandem skydiving) and over cliffs (abseiling) in order to appreciate the great tourism activities we have here on the Coast.
The high-flying approach to education seems to be working, with several Bachelor of Tourism students from USC’s Tourism Practicum course landing in jobs even before they graduate.
USC Teaching and Research Fellow Gayle Mayes said five of the 23 students enrolled in the course had been offered work with the organisations where the students recently undertook placements.
“Lyndsey-Anne Jack is working part-time with Hyatt Regency Coolum, Aaron Cork worked part-time and was offered full-time employment with the Story Bridge Adventure Climb, Melinda Moore is working part-time and about to step into a full-time position with Breakfree Grand Pacific Resort in Caloundra, Michael O'Connor was offered a position with Noosa North Shore Resort, and Lena Paterson is now working part-time for Air Niugini,’’ she said.
“Students Cara-Aine Gaffney and Lorin Willson are already working part time with Superbee Honey Factory and Underwater World respectively.”
Ms Mayes said tourism students, as part of their Special Interest Tourism course fieldtrips, also visited a lot of tourism operators on the Coast who often offered the students part time work.
She said most of the businesses students chose to visit and try out their activities were adventure-based and included surfing, sky diving, camel riding, kayaking, kite-surfing, sand boarding, cruises and tours, the Big Kart Track and the Bungy Bullet.
The Tourism Practicum students and some of their industry supervisors gave presentations to packed USC lecture theatres on Friday 27 October from 10am to 2pm.