Notes

PERSONAL STATEMENT: VICTOR HELEN ANURIKA
MSC GLOBAL HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT (WITH WORK PLACEMENT)
Mahatma Gandhi, India's political ethicist, wrote, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." Therefore, the sole responsibility of hospitality managers is to show love and care during service. In 2018, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) reported that the hospitality industry's significant contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of most countries has been acknowledged, outperforming the manufacturing, retail, financial services, and communications globally. Though the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic has had its drastic impact on the industry and accepting this new normal by taking required precautions will soon erase this menace. Modern hospitality organisations in my home country Nigeria, seek for professionals equipped with exemplary leadership attitude and skills ready to contribute to economic development to take charge. Hence, my reason for applying to the postgraduate degree program, MSc Global Hospitality Management (with work placement) at the Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, Scotland.
I majored in English Language and Literary Studies as an undergraduate at Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State. I finished as a top student because I incorporated effective learning strategies into my educational schedule. After my compulsory service to the nation, I was recruited by Travelbeta Nigeria Limited as a ticketing and reservation officer. My main job description was to make and confirm travel arrangements for passengers using computers and manuals to determine timetables, taxes, and other information. I also provided all relevant and essential information to the tourists regarding their travel like guides, itineraries, brochures, and maps. This job allowed me to become acquainted with the diverse aspects of hospitality management. The passion I had communicating globally encouraged me to learn French during my leisure hours as an undergraduate. Studying Global Hospitality Management will enable me to gain advanced knowledge, insight, expertise, commitment, and skills for management and operations positions in this industry that provides food, accommodations, and travel and tourism services to people of all languages and from all ethnic groups. Most importantly, this course will prepare me for the different professional practices used by top hospitality companies worldwide to achieve results.
In the words of the former president of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor, "Education, particularly higher education, will take Africa into the mainstream of globalization"; his words inspire the need to acquire advanced knowledge irrespective of the industry from a reputable institution abroad. I envision learning in a management-focused institution that embeds industry and leadership knowledge in its curriculum, engages with professional bodies, and will support me with the correct work placement. Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, Scotland faculty instructors have esteemed reputations among their peers because of their simple corporate undertakings and practical teaching approaches. The Times Higher Education ranking of most international universities in 2021 ranked Edinburgh Napier University 9th in Scotland and 63rd in the UK, building further on this year's Guardian University Guide and the National Student Survey (NSS) 2020 results. This is simply because of its undeniable excellence across teaching, research, citations, industry income, and international outlook.
What further ignited my passion for Hospitality, more specifically to gain a master's degree, was a book I read recently for two weeks during my tea break time – The Heart of Hospitality: Great Hotel and Restaurant Leaders Share Their Secrets by Micah Solomon. He exposed what is needed to succeed in today's rapidly changing hospitality industry based on understanding guests' desires of all ages, from seniors and boomers to the newly dominant millennial generation of travelers. Micah discussed how to adopt efficient customer service practices to win customers' hearts and ensure the show of love and care reflects any policies that will affect clients directly. This led me to write down my goal and desire to study Global Hospitality Management to learn updated 21st-century customer service strategies and communication ethics to ensure businesses boast of a sustainable competitive advantage to survive healthily.
Learning Global Hospitality Management (with work placement) at the Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, Scotland, will expose me to identify and redefine workforce management practices and become part of Hospitality’s most potent contact book, connecting with a worldwide alumni network. Studying to combine both a theoretical understanding of hospital management techniques and engaging with your prestigious institution's concepts will further reveal successful paths to take within the industry. My main goal is to acquire the highest available theoretical, technical, and practical knowledge in the international community and apply it to improve existing structures already laid down in the hospitality sphere in my country. I see myself working as a hospitality Manager who manages, develops, and oversees resort centres, conference activities, and housekeeping activities in my home country. This master's program will undoubtedly open doors to international networks and partnerships to achieve my desired goals. Upon completing this program, I intend to return to Nigeria to fully explore the hospitality industries' management opportunities, thereby contributing my quota to my country's development. Hopefully, your intensive program will sufficiently equip me to achieve my goals in this direction.