Flory Park

2nd-year student, Bachelor of International Hospitality Management in Hospitality Management

She loves the diverse range of subjects her degree covers, says Flory Park who came to AUT as an international student from South Korea to study hospitality.

“I chose this degree because working in the service industry made me realise this is where I can leverage my greatest strengths. I wanted to deepen my understanding of customer service, learn how to deliver even better experiences and build a strong foundation toward my goal of working in the airline industry. I chose AUT because there aren't many universities that specialise in hospitality education, and AUT is widely recognised as one of the best. I also loved that it doesn't just focus on theory; the workshops and hands-on practical classes provide real-world experience that will be invaluable when I step into the workplace.

“Initially, I thought hospitality was just about direct service skills like working in a restaurant, or learning about wines and cocktails. However, learning broader business functions like marketing, HR and finance taught me that great service alone isn't enough to run a successful business. Now, whenever I visit or work at a café or restaurant, I find myself naturally observing how the business is managed, what works well and where improvements could be made. My studies have significantly broadened my perspective and helped me discover what I'm truly good at. Through learning various business aspects, I realised my strengths and interest in marketing, and I’d love to build a career in marketing within the hospitality and aviation sectors.”

She has also particularly enjoyed the practical aspects of her degree.

“The programme includes practical workshops that directly connect to the theory we’re covering. For example, in finance classes, we use Excel to actually calculate and analyse numbers after learning the concepts. In HR, we review mock resumés created by our professors to decide who to hire. Additionally, we have workplace experience in our final year, which is incredibly helpful. Some students even receive job offers through it. These hands-on experiences and practical processes have given me a broad and well-rounded perspective on the entire hospitality industry.”

Supported to thrive
Flory has been impressed by the amount of meaningful support she has received.

“As an international student, when I went through some challenging times alone here in New Zealand, without my family, the university offered regular counselling services to help me stay on track with my studies. When I faced some financial difficulties in paying my rent and living costs despite working part-time, the financial support team provided me with financial assistance. One of my lecturers, Dr Pola Wang, also goes above and beyond to ensure that no student is left behind. She actively engages with every student, genuinely listening to what we want to achieve, sharing relevant job opportunities and offering continuous guidance so we can build successful careers after graduation.”

Now in the second year of her degree, Flory is proud of what she has already achieved.

“I’m particularly proud of achieving excellent grades, especially in my presentation assessments. Growing up, I always thought I wasn't good at speaking in front of others, and I found it difficult to voice my opinions. However, my lecturers at AUT always listened to me attentively, accepting and understanding my perspective. Their support made me realise that my ideas carry value and can make a difference. As these positive experiences built up, I naturally stopped fearing expressing myself. Being able to deliver presentations confidently and receive top grades like an A+ was a massive milestone for me. Overcoming a lifelong fear and seeing my hard work pay off in high academic achievement has given me incredible self-confidence.”

Advice for other students
Expecting to graduate in 2027, Flory has some great advice for other students.

“Before starting, you might view university simply as a place to study and get a degree for a job – I had a bit of that mindset, too. But looking back, it’s so much more than just studying; it’s a valuable journey of discovering who you truly are. By meeting diverse people, exploring various disciplines and embracing new opportunities, you’ll discover new capabilities in yourself and gain clarity on what you want and can achieve. Stepping into new experiences can be terrifying. I was scared, too. But once you take that leap, you realise those fears were far smaller than you thought, and overcoming them helps you grow into a stronger, better version of yourself. If I could overcome my fears and thrive here, you can definitely do it too.”

She says she would highly recommend studying at AUT.

“Coming here completely expanded my perspective on my future. Through various hands-on experiences, I discovered new sides of myself and gained a much clearer vision of what I want to achieve in my career. In my experience, having pure theoretical knowledge doesn't automatically prepare you for the real workplace. What matters most is practical experience, and AUT excels at providing direct, hands-on opportunities. That is why I highly recommend AUT to anyone looking to build a meaningful future.”