Quote from Natascha Dockal on 9. March 2021, 16:21

The question is thought-provoking - I think that for me the biggest concern in the pandemic is the fear for the health of my family. Or the fear that I could have the virus and infect my family. In second place I would see the financial worry - I am currently working part-time alongside my studies, but as I am graduating soon, I look for job offers from time to time - the chances are simply worse than before the crisis. Actually, I wanted to explore the world a bit after finishing my Master's degree and maybe start working in Asia or Africa... this option is completely unthinkable at the moment...

Quote from Harald A. Friedl on 9. March 2021, 16:28

You are currently engaged with research about sustainable tourism in the field of hotels and environmental certification. How far do you expect additional qualification for the futur job market in tourism with your specific qualification?

Quote from Harald A. Friedl on 12. March 2021, 8:18

By the way, dear Natascha, you may be interested in this post:

• Will we return to situations of the past or evolve towards new states? https://tourist.fh-joanneum.at/network/topic/destination-resilience-in-times-of-covid-19/

Quote from Natascha Dockal on 15. March 2021, 14:14

Thank you very much - I believe that sooner or later we will have to embrace sustainability - no system can withstand exploitation for long and we have been doing it for far too long. Through my research project, in which I am investigating environmental quality certification as a profit-supporting measure in the luxury hotel industry, I am acquiring knowledge that may be seen as an opportunity for hoteliers in the future. A sustainability strategy is about permanently balancing economy, society and environment and not neglecting any of the three areas permanently. In another sub-forum here, there has already been a discussion about sustainable energy and the conversion to it - although savings can be expected, the initial investment costs are unfortunately a deterrent... i think this is similar with my particular job qualification: rather questionable at the beginning, but once i have proven my knowledge (and hopefully my master thesis will be a success), i have good chances with it and hopefully can really contribute to change with my efforts.

Quote from Harald A. Friedl on 16. March 2021, 13:02

Thanks, Natascha, for giving us insight into your reserach project. Are there already some findings you could share with us? Would be great!

Quote from Harald A. Friedl on 16. March 2021, 13:39

By the way: What do you think about this:
"Sustainability is a bit like learning for students: It's exhausting, it hurts, very few people like it, but it's always worse without it..."

Quote from Lara Aguirre on 21. March 2021, 17:59

Hello! Regarding your first question about the worst aspect of Covid from our personal perspective, I wanted to point out the lack of opportunities to enter the labour market that recent graduates are having because of Covid. In my last year of my degree and now in the Master's all the practices have been canceled, which does not give us much hope of finding a job at the end. Moreover, the possibility of doing an internship is a good opportunity to get into the field of your studies and now we students who are about to finish our studies have been very affected. But, of course, the most worrying thing is the health issue: people who have fallen ill with the virus but also people with other conditions such as cancer or pending operations, who have seen their treatments postponed due to the situation of overflowing hospitals.

Quote from Zhou Rukang on 21. March 2021, 20:53

Hi, For a Chinese student in Spain, the New Coronavirus has affected me in many ways. I cannot return to China because of the quarantine, I cannot get to know the culture of Spain and Europe better by traveling in the already limited time, and because of the epidemic, I have become very single-minded in my study style in only one year of my master's life, with no additional extra-curricular practice or activities. I am very confused about the prospect of entering the social workforce, and I hope we can overcome the virus sooner rather than later.

 

Quote from Harald A. Friedl on 22. March 2021, 20:21

Quote from Lara Aguirre on 21. March 2021, 17:59

Hello! Regarding your first question about the worst aspect of Covid from our personal perspective, I wanted to point out the lack of opportunities to enter the labour market that recent graduates are having because of Covid. In my last year of my degree and now in the Master's all the practices have been canceled, which does not give us much hope of finding a job at the end. Moreover, the possibility of doing an internship is a good opportunity to get into the field of your studies and now we students who are about to finish our studies have been very affected. But, of course, the most worrying thing is the health issue: people who have fallen ill with the virus but also people with other conditions such as cancer or pending operations, who have seen their treatments postponed due to the situation of overflowing hospitals.

Dear Lara, first of all thank you very much for sharing your experiences and your fears, disappointments and hopes due to this crisis. It is a bit strange to comment on your situation out of a privileged position: with a relatively safe job at a University... What I can say is that I have worked in some of the poorest countries in the world, and unfortunately some of them went down over the last years, such as Repubic of Niger in Western Africa, of Yemen at the Southern End of Arabia, or in Pakistan.... But now the good news: We are in Europe, and even though we all have to face these challenges, and that the situation in Spain is terrible, I just can encourage you for not losing your sefconfidence in your ability to learn, to adapt and to find your opportunity. Probably not in your home country, problably not a job you would expect, but zto be true, I have never expected in my life to become a professor at a university...
For years, I have worked as free-lanced journalist and as tour-guide... which became finally the base of my qualification: communication and a wide range of knowledge and comprehension... Of course, at the end, I had luck to find the perfect opportunity...
So keep on going your way, don't give up, stay open-minded. It is no guarantee, but it raises your chances... Good luck!