Student Profile - Petros Dagdilellis

MA Adventure Tourism Management

I had worked in Adventure Tourism for a number of years - specifically in mountaineering – and I was looking for a course which would teach me more about that sector, particularly aspects of planning and risk management which are very important to that kind of business. I had heard of the College before, and knew it had a good reputation.

I enjoyed the course - I am pleased with what I learnt from an academic perspective, and I was also pleasantly surprised to get the chance to learn new practical skills, with the courses in kayaking and sailing. The course gave me a lot more understanding of what I'd already done in the workplace – where my managers had asked me to do things a certain way in the past, I now knew why that was.

I had heard a lot of different opinions about Birmingham before coming here, so I didn't quite know what to expect but I really liked the city. It's more relaxed than London, and I like the way you can walk around the centre without cars all around you. Living in the Maltings was also very convenient for the College and a good place to meet new people.

Since completing my course I have been working at an Adventure Tourism company in Greece, managing all of the operations of the climbing wall and also organising adventure trips and excursions in Greece.  I'm getting ready for my next step which will be to start an adventure tourism agency.