Appeal of Graduate school that graduates and current students talk about (Anonymous graduate)
Course of International Tourism Studies, Current student, name withheld by request
There is little comprehensive empirical research of tourism studies as science, and I wanted to study and research tourism studies at graduate school.
Q. Why did you decide to study at graduate school? What was the sequence of events that lead to this decision?
Given Japan’s social climate, I deemed that tourism was going to be a future growth industry. However, Japan has a short history of inbound tourism, and I assumed that issues would arise in the future. Also, there is little comprehensive empirical research of tourism studies as a science, and I wanted to study and research tourism studies at graduate school.
Q. Why did you choose Toyo University Graduate School?
I chose Toyo University Graduate School because of its preeminent history and achievements in the field of tourism studies in Japan, as well as the wide selection of courses to choose from.
Q. Has there been anything you have noticed or realized studying at graduate school?
The fact that I was able to take lectures that were more interesting than I expected, taught by teachers and professors with various backgrounds.
Q. What is the appeal of graduate school?
In addition to the above, the presence of likeminded students who work fulltime like me, and that we were able to research while encouraging each other.
Q. What has been difficult during your time as a graduate student?
I went on many business trips abroad for my job, which left me no choice but to miss some classes.
Q. What is the research topic of your thesis or content of your classes?
Focused on specific areas, I researched the service industry.
Q. What is your vision for the future? What is your ideal future self? Is there a specific path you would like to follow?
In the future, I would like to return to graduate school and conduct research that further develops the tourism industry that belongs to the service industry in Japan.
Q. What is your schedule for a typical day or week currently?
I take two lessons on two weekdays and Saturdays, and I conduct research mostly on weekends.
Q. Please freely write any messages you have for those who want to research international tourism studies.
Tourism studies is a very wide field, and I think it is a field of study where comprehensive research should be carried out from now on in Japan.
If you don’t place disproportionate emphasis on either qualitative or quantitative analysis, and you research using appropriate measures including historical and prior research from overseas, I think you will be able to conduct interesting and original research.
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Working at a consulting firm while raising children
(Listed content as of March 2020.)