

The first thing that comes to our minds when we hear Tourism and Hospitality is ‘people’. As the name of the degree suggests, it is all about customer service. Tourism and Hospitality degrees prepare candidates to work in diverse working environments all over the world.
Even so, many people confuse Tourism and Hospitality degrees with Tourism degrees. What is the difference between these two? The main difference lies in where the employees work. With a Tourism degree, you can work in a museum, national park and so on, whilst with a Tourism and Hospitality degree you will work in hotels, restaurants.
This degree is shaped in such a way that candidates acquire skills about hotel management, food preparation and sanitation as well as human resources.
Experts say that it only takes six months for Tourism and Hospitality graduates to find a job. The most frequent areas which display the highest number of job opportunities are catering management and hotel management. As a result of their flexible degree, 15% of the graduates choose to combine work with study to broaden their employability chances.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this field will have an addition of 700 jobs, both in management positions and others.
Perhaps the most important benefit is represented by the growth opportunities. This degree will teach you about networking and developing your emotional intelligence, which are of utmost importance in this field.
This degree lasts for three years, out of which one year should be spent abroad. Usually, in the second year of their studies, students go abroad and study in a partner country. The whole idea behind this is to encourage cultural awareness and adaptation.
Additionally, some universities in the UK provide a compulsory internship during which students gather relevant industry experience.
I am currently studying in the Tourism and Recreation programme and have completed four semesters. Overall, my experience at SMK College of Applied Sciences has been positive. The programme combines theoretical knowledge with practical activities, helping students understand how the tourism and recreation industry works in real-life situations.
The lecturers are generally supportive and willing to help students when needed. Classes cover a variety of topics related to tourism, hospitality, recreation, and business, which provides a broad understanding of the field. I also appreciate the opportunity to work on projects and assignments that encourage teamwork and problem-solving skills.
The college has an international environment, allowing students to meet people from different countries and cultures. This makes studying more interesting and helps improve communication skills.
One area that could be improved is the organization of some administrative processes, which can occasionally take longer than expected. However, this has not significantly affected my studies.
I would recommend SMK College of Applied Sciences to students who are interested in tourism and recreation and are looking for a practical, career-oriented study programme.
View moreModern classes, with a great atmosphere! Good and helpful teachers. In case you want to study light and have much time to travel and don’t really care about the uni, it’s a great option for you. Great international atmosphere!
View moreI had a good experience at SMK college of applied sciences in Vilnius. The environment is friendly, and it is a good place for international students. The classes are practical, and the university is modern.
However, the tuition fee is quite high, and there are not enough teachers in some faculties. I think the university should improve the academic support and hire more lecturers. Another thing is that from here the students need to find their own internship by themselves. And I think they should also look about these internships.
Overall, SMK is still a good college with some areas to improve.
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