Digital food studies led Mariola to Sweden

– I’m a fan of places where geography, culture and society define gastronomy. This is Flåm, in Norway. I was there during the apples’ harvesting season, tells Mariola.

Why did you choose the Master Program in Food and Meal Science?

– I took one of the subjects in the programme (Complexity of Food Choice: The Public Meal from a Consumer Perspective) as an independent course. I found the subject very engaging and interesting, focusing on both my interest in consumer behaviour and communication, plus digital media. So, I decided to register for the whole master, Mariola states.

– As the American celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain once said: “Meals make the society, hold the fabric together in lots of ways that were charming and interesting and intoxicating to me”. The possibility of adapting the pace of my studies to my own availability through online study was also a key factor, tells Mariola.

Why did you consider studies at Kristianstad University?

– I had previous experience on university studies in Sweden and I was looking for an online course. I really like university studies in Sweden because they allow students to study a common subject with other students, customising and adapting the content to the interests and career goals of each student.

“The best thing was the encouragement and feedback I received from teachers, that resulted in being more engaged in their subjects.”

What is your experience with distance learning?

– This programme allows you to both adapt to your schedule and at the same time feel and participate as part of a learning group. You can study at your own pace, whenever it fits your schedule and wherever you are. For example, I have read articles while traveling in my previous job.

What was the best experience from your studies?

– The best thing was the encouragement and feedback I received from teachers, that resulted in being more engaged in their subjects. Studying online can sometimes make you feel a bit lonely, so receiving the encouragement to continue your path is very valuable. It was also very interesting to learn different perspectives from students who were living in different parts of the world.

– I also value the fact that I was able to deepen my knowledge in different subjects. I found a field of research that I was interested in, digital food studies. And thanks to the advice from the university, I registered in different subjects where I was able to absorb knowledge in this field.

What has it been studying during a pandemic?

– In my case, studying was a tool that contributed to maintain my mental health during the time of strict lockdown in Spain, my home country. Now that things are getting better, I’d like to think that the master’s degree has increased my employability.

“The pandemic has demonstrated the need to think about the present and future of food and society.”

– I’m a freelance digital marketer and vocational trainer, teaching marketing and digital skills. In the short term, the master’s degree has helped me to teach skills in the field of food and meal to both companies and workers. And also to unemployed people within the business.

– Hospitality and gastronomy are two areas interlinked with food and meal. Both are important career fields in my area, and the companies in these areas need new skills to recover from the pandemic. In the long term, I would like to do more research in the field of digital food studies, especially regarding gender representations. My research has proved that in the field of food and meal, we are unequal, with more images representing men.

Any tip for future students?

– Most important of all, enjoy the experience! Remember that you are not alone! You’re part of the Kristianstad university, and you can get support from your colleagues, teachers, and the staff. Check your skills and don’t be afraid to contact the Academic Skills Centre at the heart of the university. They can encourage and boost your academic writing skills, etcetera. Help fellow students if needed too. The pandemic has demonstrated the need to think about the present and future of food and society: grab your chance to do so!