What Jens says about the Master's in Service Management, Tourism

What did you do before you started studying the master’s programme in Service Management?

I graduated from Umeå University with a bachelor’s degree in human Geography, focusing on Tourism. During the summer break, before starting my master's, I took on a research assistant job, which I continued throughout my two years at Lund University.

What was it like studying an international programme?

It was a great experience. My undergraduate studies in Umeå were conducted entirely in Swedish, with classmates who were predominantly Swedish speaking. However, upon entering the master's program, I found myself surrounded by individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. This dynamic added a nice dimension to our classes. The blend of cultural perspectives fostered a learning environment that were right up my alley.

What was the best thing about the programme?

I must acknowledge some of the professors; especially the ones within the tourism specialization, whose expertise were quite excellent. Their understanding of tourism and all that comes with it was something special. Same with their way of teaching. Further, I must hand it to my classmates. They were as funny as they were intelligent. Especially my Venezuelan friend Carlos, a big shoutout to him is in order.

What was your next step after graduation and what are you currently working with?

My initial endeavour involved concluding my role as a research assistant. Following its completion, I relocated 450 kilometres north to the picturesque, quaint town of Askersund, where I assumed the position of a strategist within the hospitality sector under the municipality. In essence, my responsibility was to plan for visitors to experience the tourism output of the municipality.

Presently, I work as a project manager at Företagarna/The Entrepreneurs organization. In this capacity, I am dedicated to facilitating local associations in executing their events while also spearheading the planning and execution of selected events myself.

What is the biggest challenge in your current position?

At present, my professional network is more extensive within the region where I previously worked. Consequently, my familiarity with the local industry may not be as comprehensive as before.

However, this transition presents an exciting opportunity for me as a project manager. I am eagerly anticipating the chance to meet as many local entrepreneurs as possible. Improving my local knowledge and further building my network.

How do you use the knowledge you gained during your studies in your working life?

Undoubtedly, I learned a lot during my two years at Lund University. Among the various skills I acquired, critical thinking stands out as the most developed and relevant to my daily activities. Finding the courage to question is incredibly important, and something that has become easier after my time in Lund.

What advice would you give to new students?

As many of you may be aware, the final semester is typically reserved for working on your master's thesis. I cannot stress enough how beneficial it is to start thinking about your topic as early as possible. If you come across something that really interests you during your courses, write it down! Keep notes on any themes or subjects that catch your attention. It is also a good idea to brainstorm several ideas rather than just settling on one. For instance, my thesis partner and I were eager to explore mycotourism (you might want to look it up), but we struggled to find the right approach, so we had to go back to the drawing board. It would have been helpful to have some other interesting ideas in reserve during that time.