Student testimonial
Student Jasper Silbernagel - MSc Tourism, Society and Environment
My name is Jasper, currently 29 years old, born in the North of Germany near the Danish border. I'm in the second year of the MSc Tourism, Society, Environment programme. Prior to starting my master's, I worked for a year and a half at a globally operating hospitality firm with 50 hotels spanning across Latin America. In that role, my responsibilities focused on measuring and enhancing the guest journey across all locations. I chose this master's because, after years in the hospitality industry, I felt the need to engage with it from a critical angle as well and to better grasp its various impacts on our society and environment.
I studied a Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Hospitality Management, and even though 'being hospitable' remains something essential to me, I found myself missing the eye-opening content, or perhaps even a critical view of the industry itself.
Could you tell us something about your study programme? How have you arranged it to fit your interests?
"In picking the development trajectory, my goal was to really dive into how tourism plays a role in international development efforts. I'm especially intrigued by understanding the impact of tourism on the people who live and work in destinations shaped by tourism. To get a broader perspective, I even took some courses that are just slightly tied to tourism, like 'Communities, Conservation, and Development' in period 3, and 'Anthropology and Development' in period 5. These classes push you to step back and see tourism within a larger context, considering it's often an activity for more privileged individuals. It's crucial to critically analyse the effects on the communities that welcome these tourists."
Which part of your study did you find the most interesting? Which courses did you like best?
"I studied a Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Hospitality Management, and even though 'being hospitable' remains something essential to me, I found myself missing the eye-opening content, or perhaps even a critical view of the industry itself. This critical perspective on tourism and its social impacts helped me view individual tourism practices from multiple angles. This is probably what was most interesting and inspiring to me. I also really enjoyed the freedom to design my path within the programme. As I mentioned earlier, with multiple opportunities to choose elective courses, I felt that I gained a holistic understanding of tourism and its connections to society and the environment."
What thesis did you work on? How did your study programme (trajectory/courses) contribute to this thesis?
"My thesis explores how various intersecting power structures in the German labour market shape precarious working conditions in the cleaning sector of the German hotel industry. Specifically, when cleaning services are outsourced to temporary staffing agencies, hotel cleaners often fall through the cracks and are subjected to exploitative employment practices. While my thesis is not directly linked to my tourism and development trajectory, it is closely linked to my earlier mentioned personal interest in the social impact of tourism. Also, my thesis challenges narratives of sustainable development through tourism by showing how tourism jobs are, as a matter of fact, oftentimes precarious."
What are your plans for the future?
"The next step will be an internship, marking the final phase of my master's. There are currently two options I'm considering, and it feels like there are two hearts beating in my chest. On one hand, I'm exploring the possibility of finding an internship in international development cooperation. The international context is incredibly interesting to me—it's important and political. The idea of working across borders and collaborating on global issues resonates with me. However, I also want to approach the concept of 'doing development' with a critical perspective.
On the other hand, there's the option of continuing with the topic of my thesis: labour rights and working conditions. This could involve working with a labour union, for instance. What appeals to me about this path is the familiarity with the context, given my career so far. There's a German saying, "vor der eigenen Haustür kehren," which translates to something like 'one must look to one's own backyard before wanting to fix issues elsewhere'.
This is where I am at the moment. I'm excited to explore different possibilities."
What do you do besides studying? Do you have a special interest or talent?
"With the whole Covid situation, I actually decided to continue living in Amsterdam and not move to Wageningen. I really enjoy the lively social scene here, and I've been living in the city for four years now, and it's become a sort of home away from home for me. As for the future, after wrapping up my studies, the plan is to head back to Berlin.
I'm into all sorts of social activities, to be honest. I love sports, picking up and practising new languages, spending time with friends, and getting involved in volunteering. Working with people outside of my usual bubble is something I find really rewarding. And I love to explore new places, not hardcore backpacking, more like moving to a new city or even country for a longer period, trying to settle in for a bit before moving on to the next spot."