Kathleen Jarvis

Kathleen Jarvis admits she wasn’t sure what direction to take after leaving school – but with a helpful nudge from her parents, she found her calling in events planning. Already known for being highly organised and a natural planner, Kathleen began her journey with an HNC in Event Planning, quickly realising she’d found the right fit. 

After completing her HND, she took the leap to university, joining Abertay directly into second year to study Business Management and Events. 

One of the defining moments of her time at Abertay was securing a prestigious Saltire Scholarship. Kathleen, who has a real passion for travel, immediately recognised the opportunity when the Saltire email landed in her inbox during second year. 

She said: 

As soon as I saw it, I knew it was right up my alley. I applied, went through the interviews, and ended up spending three incredible months in Pheonix, Arizona working with Sprouts Farmers Market. I was part of their Culinary Food and Product Development team – it was one of the best experiences of my life. I can’t encourage others enough to take opportunities like this if they get the chance.

On her return, Kathleen became a Saltire ambassador, organising events to raise awareness and encourage other students to apply. Her drive to help others benefit from the same experiences she had was a key part of her Abertay journey. 

Another standout highlight was the Abertay Career Mentoring Programme. Over a six-month period, she was matched with mentor Simon Fraser, Enterprise Officer at Abertay, who she credits with helping her build confidence and uncover strengths she didn’t realise she had. 

Simon was amazing. I gained so much from the mentoring programme – it made me more aware of the skills I already had, and how to use them in the real world.

In third year, Kathleen took on a work placement module, where students are matched with an employer in their field of study. She was paired with M.ad Agency (Marketing After Dark), through the Abertay Events team. Started as an event assistant, and after a successful placement she was offered a permanent role in social media and marketing.  

To round off her Abertay journey, Kathleen took part in the final-year Live Event Project module. Working in a team, she planned and delivered a live event, putting her academic knowledge into practice through concept development, stakeholder engagement, health and safety planning, and on-the-day coordination. 

It was another amazing experience – such a great way to apply everything we’d learned and end the course on a high.

Now, with a degree, international experience, a job in the industry, and the confidence to match – Kathleen is ready for whatever comes next.