麻豆传媒AV

Post-graduate trips included visits to Liverpool FC’s Anfield ground and the Archaeological Site of Philippi

Masters’ students at 麻豆传媒AV University have recently enjoyed fascinating trips to ancient UNESCO sites in Greece and an iconic football stadium.

Students from MSc International Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management programme embarked on a five-day field trip to Greece, while Digital Marketing MSc students went on a residential trip to Liverpool. The aim is to inspire and educate students with real life experiences of tourism and marketing at world famous archaeological and sporting venues.

During the Greece trip, which included stops in Kavala and Thessaloniki where they had guided tours of the cities, students also saw other highlights including the Polycentric Museum of Aigai and the Baptistery of Saint Lydia (UNESCO site). They also toured the Archaeological Site of Aigai, another UNESCO site, where the Royal mound of the Macedonian king Phillip II, father of Alexander the Great, was discovered with rich grave goods.

One student Shravan Sohal said that the first stop in Thessaloniki, which included exploring the White Tower of Thessaloniki, Hagia Sophia, local markets, heritage buildings, and beachside areas, gave him “a deeper appreciation of the city’s historical and cultural significance”. In another session, Shravan said the chance to create a log and short promotional video for Kavala tourism “allowed us to apply our creativity and practical skills in a real-world context”.

He said the highlight was the Archaeological Site of Philippi, a city founded by Phillip II and described as a ‘mini-Rome’, which features an amphitheatre.

Speaking about the trip Shravan said: “The highlight of the trip was visiting the Archaeological Site of Philippi (see top picture), as it provided a unique opportunity to experience a historically significant UNESCO site first hand. Overall, the trip greatly enhanced my understanding of international tourism, hospitality, and event management. It allowed me to observe how heritage sites are managed, promoted, and integrated into local tourism. The activities, including the tourism project and role-play, were particularly beneficial in developing practical skills related to destination marketing, communication, teamwork, and visitor experience design—key components of our course.”

Guided walking tours in Thessaloniki and Kavala captured the urban histories of the cities.
Rui Su, a Senior Lecturer in Tourism, said: “This immersive experience encourages students to reflect on issues, such as place identity, visitor experience design, and sustainable tourism development. This trip is designed to integrate hands on learning with observations from real world practices.”

A total of 32 MSc Digital Marketing students went to Liverpool for a residential trip which featured a presentation by Splash Tours that touched on the competitive marketplace, cost of living crisis and overcoming negative perceptions.

Representatives from Liverpool City Region discussed the city’s future development, while the Liverpool’s International Nordic Community spoke about how the role of religion and community in preserving identity in their gothic inspired church.

The second day saw the students visit Liverpool FC’s world-famous Anfield stadium where Laura Owens, Communications Manager at LFC and Kerry Davis (ex-England and Liverpool professional) provided a compelling and emotional insight to the Women’s game. Members of Kop Out, Liverpool LFC’s official LGBTQ+ supporters’ group, spoke about the challenges of responding to hate and vitriol on football terraces.

“There were several lightbulb moments where everything that we've learned this year just clicked, and it was honestly the first time I've sat through a meeting or presentation with real-world marketeers and felt like I was genuinely prepared for my career.”

Zineb Jeddi, student

The students sat in the iconic ‘Kop’ end of the ground. Students also met with spokespeople from Flightclub Liverpool to uncover more about the issues an entertainment venue faces in a digital world, while the Athenaeum Club, a private members club, also talked about how it is diversifying. 

Sukhbinder Barn, Programme Leader of MSc Branding and Marketing Communication, said: “The educational philosophy underpinning the residential is clear: students need to experience and see the brand in action as well as engage directly with organisations and presenters.”

The marketing residential, which has been running for more than 25 years and attended by around 3,000 plus students, is staged twice annually for all marketing programmes including MSc Digital Marketing, MSc Branding and Marketing Communication, and MSc Global Marketing Management. Since it began, the residential trips have taken in more 34 different UK locations and involved more than 300 companies across 15 different business sectors.

Find out more about MSc International Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management and MSc Branding and Marketing Communication.