Rollercoaster year ends in success for tourism graduate

9 September 2021

Hard work pays off for Barrow high-flyer

The rollercoaster year caused by Covid 19 has ended in success for a University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) tourism graduate who has landed a role at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Adam Beaton, aged 22 from Barrow in Furness, achieved a 2:1 degree after completing UCLan’s BA (Hons) International Tourism Management and has landed a sales role at one of the UK’s biggest tourism businesses.

It’s the culmination of four years hard work for the former Dowdales School and Barrow Sixth Form College student who during the second year of his course studied at UCLan’s Cyprus campus before completing his internship at a leading cruise ship operator.

“After everything that’s happened in the last 18 months it feels great to be graduating and starting my career in the town that really invented the tourism industry,” explained Adam. “I enjoyed studying tourism at college in Barrow and from that moment decided it was the type of career I wanted to pursue. This UCLan degree, and the practical doors it’s opened, has helped me to achieve my aim.

"Despite the pandemic I’ve been able to experience so much beyond the traditional classroom environment such as field trips, the opportunity to study abroad in Cyprus and take part in placements at some of the world’s best tourism businesses"

UCLan international tourism management graduate Adam Beaton

“Despite the pandemic I’ve been able to experience so much beyond the traditional classroom environment such as field trips, the opportunity to study abroad in Cyprus and take part in placements at some of the world’s best tourism businesses.”

The successful graduate added: “Covid-19 and remote learning in the final year of the course proved to be extremely challenging but I embraced it and ended up with results that justified all the hard work.

“Now I’m on the career ladder my aim is to work hard, apply the knowledge and experience I’ve already gained and keep on learning. We’re emerging from the worst of the pandemic and the tourism industry is set to bounce back so I’m looking forward to what the future will hold.”

UCLan’s International Tourism Management degree is rated 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2021). In the Guardian University Guide 2021 it is also ranked 3rd in the UK with 94% of students satisfied with the quality of teaching.