Liubov Kavun
Travel & Tourism
HND Travel & Tourism
“Studying at College was a great experience, and I’m very proud of everything I have achieved.”
When war broke out in her home country of Ukraine, Liubov Kavun made the difficult decision to relocate to Scotland in 2023 with her two children. Arriving in Aberdeen through the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, she began rebuilding her life.
Three years later, Liubov has successfully settled in the city, developed her English language skills, achieved an HND in Travel & Tourism at North East Scotland College (NESCol) and welcomed her third child.
Liubov’s journey with NESCol began on the College’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programme. The course helped her build confidence in speaking, listening, reading and writing English, enabling her to communicate more effectively and feel more confident in her new surroundings.
Liubov progressed to another full-time course in Business, Accounting & Administration, which she thoroughly enjoyed. After exploring the higher education opportunities available at City Campus, she decided to pursue her interest in travel and tourism and successfully secured a place on the HND programme.
Although she found the course challenging at times, Liubov’s enthusiasm for the subject kept her motivated. During her second year of study, she also discovered she was expecting her third child. Despite the additional demands of pregnancy, she remained committed to her studies and, with hard work, excellent attendance and the support of her lecturers, she achieved her HND.
Reflecting on her time at NESCol, Liubov said:
“I found it hard to adapt when we first arrived in Aberdeen. Everything was new to us – the place, the people and the language. However, through NESCol I met new people and made valuable connections, many of whom are now close friends. Studying at College was a great experience, and I’m very proud of everything I have achieved.”
Liubov now considers Aberdeen home and is excited about her family’s future here. Once her baby daughter is older, she hopes to either continue her studies in travel and tourism at Robert Gordon University or begin a career within the industry, using the knowledge and skills she gained at NESCol.
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