Student Voices

Nariman Zeynalli - BBA student in Tourism and Hospitality Management, MODUL University in Vienna.

Absolutely, a good education is fundamental to a successful life. However, what is an integral part of success in your career is to enjoy what you are doing. Commutability, complaisance, and presence are key characteristics essential in a tourism career; all together for many years they built my interest in this sphere. Once I knew what I most enjoyed dealing with in life, the next aim for me was to find a proper educational institution which would open doors to as many opportunities as possible to succeed in my career of choice. Good in many aspects, ie. location, financially affordability and its respectable status in the sphere of tourism, is what made me choose MODUL University.

Being in my second year at MU, as a bachelor student in Tourism & Hospitality and Student Ambassador, I do not doubt that it is thoroughly the best choice. Located right in the heart of Europe, it not only provides you with a good education, but it also gives you opportunities to integrate into modern, European life full of chances, and to get from it as much as you can for your future career in tourism. Internship opportunities, semesters abroad, diversity of organized events concerning tourism, and possibilities to get involved in university activities to develop skills is what lists MODUL University among other qualified institutions.

I do believe that I ideally match tourism, and I have several reasons for this. First of all, my country of origin is one of the main reasons. Being Azerbaijani, I come from a newly-born post-soviet country which is right now in its initial stages of development in tourism. In particular, this year became a very important period of tourism because Azerbaijan is doing its best to develop as much as possible in tourism due to Eurovision Song Contest to be held there in 2012.

Thus, hotel business is high on today's agenda and Azerbaijan needs specialists like me, soon graduated from such an accredited university as MU. Moreover, of course, the recent growth in international relations between Azerbaijan and other countries is what brings a lot of tourists into our country. Secondly, my personal characteristics are another important reason for succeeding in my career in tourism. I enjoy spending a lot of time in the company of people from diverse cultures; I like traveling; I have a passion for discovering other countries and excellent knowledge of English, Russian, Turkish, a bit of German. These attributes are what, I believe, promises me much in my future career.

Why MU is for Me 

Miriam Auer - BBA student in Tourism and Hospitality Management, MODUL University in Vienna.

For many years, the question of my future education was very important to me. I started early thinking about my future and what to expect from my life, so at the age of 14 I made a very important step and joined the European training Center for Hospitality and Tourism, which offered exactly what I was looking for. During my education I completed three internships at the Vienna Marriott Hotel, at Arkadenhof in Leoben, Styria, and at the Casino Luzern in Switzerland.

After I finished high school, I had the opportunity to do an internship in Beijing in the summer of 2008, where I worked in the Austrian House for the Olympic Games. In fact, I completely fell in love with the Olympics, and I could imagine working there after my studies! Following Beijing, I traveled to Chicago to do a one-year Internship at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, which completely changed my view on tourism. No wonder, as it was my first time working in a hotel - 2019 rooms- so you can imagine how big the building was, not to mention how many employees were working there. I spent many hours with people from all over the world, watching how they work and asking many questions which have helped me decide that this is the right industry for me.

Through all my experiences, I have come to see that I am a person who would love to work in the tourism industry. Such a career requires a person who is very outgoing, has great people skills, someone practical and someone determined. I feel that I have all these qualities; I have always been told that I am a quick thinker. And well, I am a bit of perfectionist! I will go for no less than the best solution for a given time and place, which can be positive but sometimes also detrimental.

I just love to travel, which a career in the tourism industry can definitely provide. My parents have always been very supportive, and they gave me to opportunity to study at this university. I am very thankful, proud, and happy to study at MU, which I have become very fond of. I am sure it was the right choice for me, as it provides me an education, facilities, and experiences I could have never imagined. This university has never let me down, and also the staff is incredibly competent and helpful.

Since September 2011, I have been very grateful to be a member of the “MU Student Ambassadors” and to support them to act for this great university around the world. My aim is to learn about other cultures to meet local citizens, to engage in fun activities, and to gain valuable work experience as working with different age groups. I am certain that this education definitely builds the foundation for my personal success and will help me to achieve my future goals and the chance to fulfill my dreams.

MODUL University - My Education Continues

Aleksandra Tanakovic - Graduate, BBA of Tourism and Hospitality Management, MODUL University Vienna

Current MSc Student in International Tourism Management

Originally I come from Serbia where I finished my secondary education. I had visited Vienna many times and as I liked everything about it, particularly its impressive beauty, the lifestyle of Viennese people and Viennese culture, I finally decided it would be the place where I would continue my education. It has always been my wish to study Hotel and Tourism Management. Unfortunately, at the time I was enrolling my university studies, it was not easy to find the university in Vienna that could match my expectations: to have a quality education in the tourism and hospitality sector, and to study in Vienna in English and in an international environment as well.

I had almost started thinking about giving up my dreams about my desired education path, when one day in my post box, I found information material about a new university starting in October 2007 specializing in Tourism and Hospitality management. When I opened the brochure and read about the content and program of the university, I did not have any doubts as I knew that MODUL University could fulfil all my demands.

Being part of the first generation of BBA graduates at MODUL University Vienna makes me proud, because when looking from today’s perspective at the knowledge and skills I acquired, the interesting people from variety of backgrounds who I met, the great moments I had during my three-year studies, I still think that I chose the best option. For this reason, I decided to continue my studies at the MODUL University and enrol in the MSc in International Tourism Management.

This is my fourth year of education at MODUL University, and as I am very familiar with the professors, staff, and university building, I can say I do not associate studying with a boring and tiring time at university, but rather with being in a very familiar setting where you can also have fun. The difference from other universities is, in my opinion, among other things, that there is a possibility to be engaged in variety of extra-curricular activities. The staff of the university always looks forward to organizing events and building up “societies” (e. g. “Wine Society”, “Sustainability Committee” “MODUL Hotel Club”, etc.) where students have the possibility to take part and interact.

What I find of a great importance about the MSc program is that the number of people in the class is rather small, and that we have the opportunity to have discussions in class, make comments, and freely express our opinions. The communication between professors and students is also excellent as they are always ready to provide us with help, answer our questions, and lead us in case we lose orientation in our studies.

Colleagues in my MSc program are certainly contributing to the feeling of being happy with the program and with the university. We, the students of MSc program, as a group, are a mix of many nationalities, temperaments, opinions, and behaviours. All in all, I think we are a really great combination who manage, while studying and finishing our group work with success, to have great fun together too.

As a student of MODUL University, I consider that after finishing my studies I will not only have left with my diploma, gained knowledge and skills, but also with contacts and many friendships, which, in my opinion, is irreplaceable!

Stepping in to MU

Alif Siddique -  MSc Student in International Tourism Management

It started a long time ago. Early one morning, the sky was about to open her eyes, the birds were singing their new day welcome song, and a boy stepped in with lots of joy and hope for his family back in Bangladesh. Yes, this was I, entering this heaven called mother Earth, with a red birthmark on the right side of my head. I was born the only child of an intellectual family; both my parents are professors and were diplomats for our country. From east to west, I have already visited more than fifty countries, and I plan to never give up.

I’ve discovered that people have become very aggressive about taking holidays and relaxation. They want a decreasing price tag with increasing deluxe comfort in this ‘entertainment business’. To face this reality, we need skilled hospitality service and tourism-developing experts. Therefore, I went to my second home, Switzerland, and did my Bachelor of Science in Tourism. In the last six years I have worked for UN Geneva, Swiss Bank, Opel cars, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Royal University, Singapore National University, and Victoria University. Working in the tourism field, I saw many different areas of hidden tourism successes that can be easily brought to light with the help of education.

I have already been involved in teaching at universities, as a lecturer in the Tourism department. Teaching is a noble profession, and I want to make myself the best I can be at it. A master’s degree and a PhD would be ultimate, so I decided to pursue further education. MODUL University wasn’t on my mind at all, but when I searched (Google) for a two-year master’s program, I found the Nirvana in Vienna called Kahlenberg hill, standing as a guardian of the city, and the MU building as an icon of a multicultural hub. That’s it. I flew here and stepped in, and now enjoy the panoramic view of Vienna from the MU balcony. For me, an international community is not a big deal, but I was surprised to find that students from more than 50 different countries are studying here. That’s huge. Wow. And each student treated like in kindergarten. By that, I mean that the academic office, administrative office, and Student Service Center are the names of quality service for us.

My dean, Prof. Dr. Karl Wöber, is an inspiration. He was most unique reason that drew me to MU. He explained the MSc in International Tourism Management (course + research) to me, and why it is a perfect two-year program. MU not only has students from many countries, but also skilled academics from around the globe, like Prof. Dr. Harvey Goldstein from the USA. I must also mention another American and a Canadian, Kristen and Jesse. They run the student service center, and they are awesome.

Overall, MU has never let me down. It is a high-quality, forward-thinking university. Here, students facing both academic and processional challenges are continually building themselves up to enter a lucrative job market. I believe MODUL University is the key to next stage of my education, such as a PhD and my career life.

MU- The Place to Be 

Daniel Heil -  BBA student in Tourism and Hospitality Management

Ever since I was a child I have loved travelling, getting to know new countries and cultures. My initial interest in working internationally in the tourism and hospitality industry was when I got the opportunity to study one year in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as an exchange student in 2005/2006.

After returning to Germany and completing my A-level in 2008, I started training in a hotel to become a hotel management assistant in my hometown of Frankfurt, Germany, which I completed this year in January. During my practical experience in the hotel as a trainee, I attended an information evening at MODUL University Vienna, where I was introduced to its diverse curriculum and international campus. I knew that applying for a BBA study program of Tourism and Hospitality Management at “MODUL University Vienna” would be a great chance to lay a solid foundation for a career in the tourism and leisure industry.

The size of the university permits the lecturers to get more engaged with the students, which enables individual help and support on projects and group work. I strongly agree that the MODUL University staff believes in improving not only students’ academic, but also their professional skills. From my point of view, practical-orientated teaching is very important, since the tourism and hospitality industry deals with people from foreign countries and different cultures every day, therefore only academic skills would probably not be sufficient.

MODUL University is offering a demanding program, but I am thankful for this challenge. I anticipate learning more from the leading and professional staff, who will educate me more in the field that I am interested in. I look forward to a great career with a favorable position in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Journey to MU

Maya Loacker - BBA student in Tourism and Hospitality Management

My entire life I have dealt with cultural diversity, this comes from being born in Germany, with a Bolivian mother and an Austrian father.I grew up in Germany, Singapore and ultimately in Brazil, where I completed my education. After that I undertook a further year of study, german Abitur, to enable me to study in Europe and spent the following year gaining work experience in London.

I chose the degree at MU because it gives me the opportunity to develop core business skills and qualifications focused within the hospitality area. The department aligns to my values because of its broader perspective than the business school stereotype.

My experiences and career aspirations are align to the requirement for skilled managers. With the knowledge and experience gained I will enter the hospitality industry with a solid grounding in management techniques and with that deliver at high standards.

The international recognition and strive for excellence will be a solid foundation for future jobs or further studies.One of my favorite things is that the size of the University permits a close relationship between students and staff creating a trusting and engaging atmosphere. It is very appealing and easy to get involved and the perfect opportunity to interact with fellow students, teachers and staff through clubs, societies and organized events.Top quality facilities just underline the positive experience that the learning process is.

Being located in the capital of Austria, a vibrant, cosmopolitan and juxtaposition city is an invaluable bonus. Vienna is a multi-faceted city, full of opportunities for students to make the most of it.