Joana Michaelis

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“Exchange has a lot of benefits and struggles but I was sure I could manage the struggles if I just kept the benefits in mind.”
Joana Michaelis
Tourism Management student

Right from the start of her studies, Joana Michaelis knew she wanted to do her minor subjects abroad. A different culture, different environment, different subjects and a different way of teaching. For Joana, they all play a part in growing into the person she wants to be.

“I felt an exchange was a better fit for me personally. I was interested in experiencing a different teaching approach than NHL Stenden's and I felt an exchange gave me a huge choice of where I could go and what I could study. My exchange to Australia actually meant I could focus on 4 different courses rather than do a specialisation in just the usual 2.”

“It felt like a massive honour to be in Australia as NHL Stenden only actually gives out one spot for this particular exchange. You get chosen based on the grades of the first year, so I'm really fortunate to have gotten this spot. I couldn't believe I was so lucky. I was travelling Australia when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and I had to cut my travels short. I really hoped I’d be able to go back one day, so getting this spot felt like this had been put right.”

Where benefits outweigh the struggles

“Exchange has a lot of benefits and struggles but I was sure I could manage the struggles if I just kept the benefits in mind. It's not cheap since the only costs covered are the tuition fees. I have to pay for accommodation, food and activities myself but I get to engage in the culture by living with locals and the experience behind it is worth more than any amount of money. The way of learning is mainly based on self-study but this also means I have plenty of free time for exploring the country.”

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“Going on an exchange, or in general, going abroad, is a lifechanging opportunity in which you can grow as a person. Become who you want to be. It helps you develop an open mind and gives you another perspective for your career. I don't have a clear plan of what I want to do when I graduate, but I dream of being able to work remotely and travel the world doing what I love. I’m really enjoying studying tourism management and how flexible the programme is with all the opportunities it offers. I love how practical it is and how we get to work with different clients and get real-life experience. And I get insights into all kinds of fields within both tourism and management, dealing with marketing aspects, human resource management as well as destination management. I’m learning to think critically and logically about how to solve actual issues and put what I learn straight into practice. Some clients have actually put my projects into action. But above all, I like how in the last 1.5 years of my studies I get to specialise and go abroad. I already know I'm going to do my internship in Germany and then write my thesis based in New Zealand. The only downside is that in order to travel, I've had to leave Leeuwarden and my friends. I really enjoyed my time there and I'm happy I can still call Leeuwarden my home.”

To find out more about the programme, check out the Tourism Management programme page or request the programme brochure. Or check out the different international opportunities NHL Stenden offers. 

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