From vocational education (MBO) to University of Applied Sciences (HBO): Yvonne's experience with the transition

Vocational College

Before I started at the Hotel Management School Maastricht, I first did vocational college at De Rooi Pannen in Tilburg. This was a choice I am still very happy with today, because it helped me enormously in choosing my study and developing as a person. I liked doing vocational college first, because I enjoyed many different studies, and couldn't decide which one to choose. HR, marketing, sociology, and business studies all appealed to me, but none of them felt like the perfect match. The Hotel Management School Maastricht combines a bit of everything, which ultimately made it the ideal choice for me.

During vocational college, I not only grew in knowledge and skills, but also in self confidence. I got a clear picture of what I wanted and knew for sure that the hospitality world was really right for me. This gave me reassurance, because to be accepted at the Hotel Management School Maastricht, you have to go through a selection process. Because my vocational college gave me the confidence that this was the right choice, I was able to start the selection process with confidence. Moreover, because I had previously completed HAVO, I had the opportunity to follow an accelerated program at vocational college, which allowed me to complete the program in just two years instead of the usual four. This not only gave me a head start in terms of knowledge and experience, but also the flexibility to move on to University of Applied Sciences more quickly.

Hotel Management School Maastricht

I really enjoyed the extra Management Accounting classes offered by HMSM, because they made the material in the second year of Hotel Management School Maastricht easier to understand. I was able to take these extra classes, because I didn't have to do an internship during the introductory module at HMSM, as I had already done one at De Rooi Pannen. Another nice thing was that many students from De Rooi Pannen Tilburg made the same transition to Maastricht. This meant that I found myself in an environment where I already saw familiar faces, which made starting at a new school in a new city a lot less lonely. 

Another big advantage of my vocational education was that I had already completed an operational internship abroad. This meant that I could skip this internship at the Hotel Management School Maastricht, and therefore complete my studies in 3.5 years instead of four.

Students also have the option to take a six-month break, for example to travel or gain other experience. I chose to use that time to backpack through Australia. My grandparents lived there and I was able to visit them, which was a wonderful experience! My backpacking trip through Australia was not only a great experience, but it also gave me the opportunity to develop myself further outside of a school environment. I met people from all over the world, learned to deal with unexpected situations, and became even more independent. It gave me a tremendous appreciation for different cultures and made me realize how valuable international experiences can be - something that fits perfectly with the international focus of the hospitality industry. 

All in all, my vocational education not only helped me to see my study and career path more clearly, but it also gave me the opportunity to gain additional experience and start at the Hotel Management School Maastricht with more confidence. If you are unsure about transferring to the Hotel Management School Maastricht from vocational education, it is definitely a valuable route that will give you a head start! I also will take that solid foundation with me in everything I do after graduation.

After University of Applied Sciences

After graduating from HMSM, Yvonne is now on the board of T.S.T.V. Lacoste, where she works as PR officer. She also works at The Usual Hotel Group as a Revenue & Reservations Assistant and hopes to start a Master's degree in Organization & Management Studies next year.

If you have any questions about our vocational education track after reading Yvonne's story, feel free to email the MBO track coordinator: patrick.simons@zuyd.nl.