Damian Kearns
“During my time at Otago, I've been able to travel to 17 countries and learn a lot about various tourism industries and economies.”
Damian Kearns has news for anyone who claims you have to put your professional life on hold in order to successfully complete a university degree.
The 25-year-old Tourism and Marketing student has worked as a Customer Service Consultant for the Automobile Association, selling over $200,000 worth of domestic tourism for the company since he began in 2006, all while working part-time on his degree. He has also been offered significant investment funding for a solar-powered waste compaction business start-up plan he has been developing since he began studying at Otago.
Damian says his double major has been an ideal complement to his work.
“The course has been fantastic,” he says. “Because it's a popular double degree, there's a great deal of flexibility in terms of how it can be completed. What I needed was options, and that's something Otago has been able to offer me. But it has also managed to keep me fully stimulated and engaged.”
Damian says the best thing about his time at Otago has been the range of extra-curricular activities and professional development opportunities available to him. He was part of a School of Business team that took part in an international business competition in Canada, and he also travelled to Ireland as part of an exchange programme, where he won a “Dragon's Den” style entrepreneurship competition that rewarded him with funding offers for his waste compaction plan.
“During my time at Otago, I've been able to travel to 17 countries and learn a lot about various tourism industries and economies. I've also made a lot of important contacts nationally and internationally through the School of Business,” Damian says. “I think this reflects very well on Otago's ability to prepare students for professional life.”