Student Profile - Ria Fernandez

"My name is Ria and I came to live in Birmingham four years ago from my home, Ponferrada, in Northern Spain. I decided to study a degree in Adventure Tourism Management because I have always been interested in outdoor pursuits and I wanted to incorporate this love into my career. 

The degree has allowed me to explore the growing field of Adventure Tourism and given me some fantastic opportunities such as; skiing in the Alps; caving and climbing activities; trips to the Lake District and North Yorkshire; and the unique chance to plan and execute an unforgettable 25-day expedition to the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador as part of my final year project. 

The planning and development of this expedition allowed me to put into practice all that I had learnt during my degree. It was an invaluable personal learning experience during which I encountered other cultures, saw amazing wildlife close-up, took part in exciting activities including diving with sharks and lived with interesting and varied people.

There are an increasing number of job opportunities in Adventure Tourism and this degree has already helped me secure employment. During my college work, I researched the name of a tour operator who I now work for running bilingual walking holidays on the Camino di Santiago in Spain during the summer months. I am excited that, by developing my hobby, I now have the opportunity of an interesting career."