UQ studies give `dream job’ winner the edge

The winner of New Zealand’s ``dream job’’ says her studies gave her a distinct advantage over other candidates in the competition.

Nicquel Rhoden, a final-year student at UQ’s School of Tourism, said she was thrilled to win.
``It was definitely my uni studies in tourism that set me apart, because the organisers told me I was the best qualified of the final three candidates,’’ Ms Rhoden, 20, said.
``It was a huge advantage that I was a student in the industry.’’

Ms Rhoden beat more than 300 others to win the competition, run by a New Zealand travel company. She will spend three months in New Zealand from February 2010, blogging her experiences to promote the country.
``I’m really looking forward to it. One of the great things about studying with the School of Tourism at UQ has been that my courses have combined academic learning with hands-on industry experience,’’ Ms Rhoden said.
``At the end of September I will join a group of students working in the Scenic Rim as part of the School’s Tourism Regional Internship Program (TRIP) – and that’s the sort of experience that will help me when I head to New Zealand,’’ she said.

Ms Rhoden has visited the land of the long white cloud before, but is looking forward to exploring glaciers and the North Island.
``I’ve only been to the South Island, so I’m really interested to see the difference,’’ she said.

Note to eds: Nicquel Rhoden is available for interviews and photographs. For more information phone Nicquel on 0439 773 676 or School of Tourism Media Officer Jodie Powell on 0409 946 796.