Chesson Zhang

Master of International Hospitality Management student
Graduate Diploma in International Hospitality Management

What he has enjoyed most about his studies is being able to look at hospitality from a different perspective, says Chesson Zhang who came to AUT as an international student from China to study international hospitality management.

“I worked as a cabin crew member for nine years, which gave me a strong background in customer service, teamwork, leadership and working with people from different cultures. After so many years in the airline industry, I wanted to take my experience in a new direction, rather than limiting my experience. Studying international hospitality management gives me an opportunity to develop my knowledge and explore new career opportunities. After I graduate, I’d like to work in hospitality or tourism. I enjoy meeting and talking with people, so I’d prefer a job where I can work with others. I also want to build on my previous work experience. I hope my experience in customer service, teamwork and leadership can help me work more efficiently and build good relationships with customers and colleagues.”

Drawn to AUT for its reputation for practical learning, he has thoroughly enjoyed his studies so far.

“AUT has given me the opportunity to continue my education and build on the experience I had already gained through my career. One part of my programme that I really enjoy is the focus on innovation and practical learning. In some of our projects, we look at existing restaurants, hotels or other hospitality businesses, and use our own ideas to find ways to improve the customer experience. This encourages us to think creatively and solve real problems instead of only learning theory from textbooks.

“I also enjoy the presentations and group discussions at AUT because they’ve pushed me to become more confident using English. Speaking in front of others in a second language is sometimes challenging, but it has helped me improve my communication skills and become more confident in sharing my ideas. Before coming to AUT, I didn’t expect that I’d have so many opportunities to challenge myself. In particular, giving presentations in English and developing my own ideas for real hospitality businesses were things I didn’t expect to do so often. These experiences have encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone and become more confident in expressing my ideas. I’ve also enjoyed the multicultural environment at AUT, where I can meet people from different backgrounds and learn from their experiences.”

Gaining confidence
Expecting to complete his master’s degree in 2027, Chesson is proud of how far he has already come since first arriving in Auckland.

“One of the things I’m most proud of is becoming more confident in using English. I studied English before, but when I worked in China, I didn’t have many opportunities to use English in my daily work. At AUT, I have more opportunities to speak English through presentations, group discussions and class activities. I’ve also realised that the English we learn from textbooks is quite different from using English in real life. Step by step, I’ve become more confident in sharing my ideas and opinions. For me, being able to express myself in English is one of the biggest achievements I’ve had at AUT.”

He is grateful for the support from his lecturers throughout his AUT journey.

“I’ve found the lecturers at AUT to be very supportive. They’re often willing to give feedback on our work. As English is my second language, I sometimes need more time to express my ideas, so I haven’t always felt confident discussing questions with my lecturers. However, I’ve always felt encouraged to keep improving. For example, Dr Chloe Kim has encouraged us to make eye contact during presentations and improve a little each time. She doesn’t make us feel like we have to be perfect, but instead helps us build confidence step by step. Dr Pola Wang has also pushed us to become more confident presenters, encouraging us to rely less on our notes. Their support has helped me see that improvement doesn’t happen all at once, but through small steps and continued practice.”

Advice for other students
Chesson’s advice for other students is simple: don’t be afraid to start something new.

“It’s never too late to start learning something new or to make a change. When I came to AUT, I had already worked for nine years, so becoming a student again was a new experience for me. English is also my second language, so I faced some challenges at the beginning. But I kept trying and improved step by step. I think it’s important to believe in yourself and not to be afraid to make mistakes.”

He wouldn’t hesitate to recommend AUT to others.

“I’d especially recommend AUT to people who want to develop themselves and gain practical experience. I like that AUT gives students opportunities to apply what they learn to real hospitality situations, rather than focusing only on theory. For me, AUT has given me an opportunity to continue my education, build on my previous work experience and prepare for the next stage of my career.”