Emeka Ihumezie: International Tourism & Hospitality Management
Emeka Ihumezie tells us his UU story, as he studies MSc International Tourism and Hospitality Management at our Belfast campus.
Study, work and adventures!
I am Emeka Ihumezie, and I study MSc International Tourism and Hospitality Management at Ulster University's Belfast campus.
I am going to provide some answers to these questions; why Ulster University, what were my first impressions of Ulster University? How has settling down been for me? And what is it like here in Northern Ireland?
Why UU?
There are many factors I considered before choosing Ulster as my destination of study.
Ulster University has a national and international reputation for excellence, innovation, and regional engagement, and holds keys for networking and business engagements.
The BSc International Hospitality Management has 92% overall student satisfaction and is ranked third for student satisfaction in UK institutions for Tourism, Transport, and Travel (NSS, 2019).
First impressions!
As I pursue my programs toward a Master’s degree in International Tourism and Hospitality Management here at Ulster University Belfast, I am upping my skills through the quality of the modules UU offers and I have been leveraging the seminars and workshops within the university and around the city of Belfast to network for academic and professional relationships.
Like other modules, the module “contemporary issues in tourism” really sticks out for me. This was a mind opener for me, and has exposed me to some contemporary issues in tourism such as dark tourism, Craft Breweries tourism, film tourism, and the niches therein for innovative minds in today’s world— this global village.
Today I am exploring how Dark Tourism and Craft Brewing can be deployed in Africa for tourism development and how companies like mine can tap into this niche in Africa post-Covid.
Settling down
Moving from my country to another country for more than 16 months to study as an international student is never an easy project anywhere in the world!
I arrived in February, right in the heart of the winter, and acclimatizing was slow. What else should I expect when I choose to study in Europe? The four seasons here are also part of the fun of studying here and winter does have its great moments you don’t want to miss!
Like in any study program in any institution, apart from academic registration, it takes time to learn how my lectures and timetables work, navigate the school management platforms, and find that job that suits my studies. Acclimatizing, and accommodation searching were periods that poised some little challenges for me, as expected.
However, the availability of jobs here and the welcoming nature of the Northern Irish people plays a big role in my open-minded nature and hardworking drive to succeed.
What I love about studying in Northern Ireland...
8 months down line, and another 8 months to rounding up my studies, I can say I am settled as a student here. I have found my bearing with my studies and moved into a comfortable home with my lovely wife and two wonderful kids. I have secured a good part-time job for me, my wife works have got full time, and my kids are enrolled in school.
I am super excited right now and look forward to this semester! We are all loving it here and with the millions of opportunities lurking around the North of this Island of Ireland and the in the UK in general - you never know, this may just be home for us for the foreseeable future.