University Centre Wigan & Leigh College alumni, Ryan Murphy is making strides in Desaru, Malaysia, teaching English to hotel staff at Sand & Sandals Desaru Beach Resort and Spa.

Ryan’s role is to equip resort staff with valuable English language skills, enabling them to interact with an international customer base — a significant asset in the modern hospitality sector. The resort is the first in the state to employ a native English speaker for such training.

The resort’s director of operations and revenue, Lily Lim, told Apa Khabar TV: “Without strong language skills, staff may be limited in their ability to meet guest expectations.”

“It’s essential to provide these hardworking team members with the best opportunities to develop and succeed.”

Ryan began his studies at Wigan & Leigh College in 2012 as a Travel and Tourism student before progressing to gain his HND Business qualification at the University Centre and ultimately his BA (hons) Business and Administration top up.

Reflecting on his time there, he said: “The teachers, the structure, and the schemes of work are open to unique approaches, which I really liked.”

Comparing his experience at the University Centre Wigan & Leigh College to studying at a larger university, he added: “We still had access to all these websites and resources, it was cheaper, the transport was much better, there was just so much more.”

Serving as a Student Ambassador first inspired Ryan to pursue teaching.

“I was helping someone at an event for my student ambassador role and resolved a girls’ problem that she seemed to be really struggling with. Seeing how happy she was, I remember thinking to myself, ‘That was such a good feeling,’ and I realised it has to be teaching, it has to be.”

After completing his HND, Ryan gained his PGCE at The University of Huddersfield and completed his English teacher training at The City of Liverpool College.

When asked about the purpose of his current role, Ryan explained that Desaru is a small tourist town where people speak some English but not well enough to build relationships with customers. Through his tutoring, the resort workers' skills have already improved, benefiting the business.

“We’ve gone up in star rating for the hotel on Google, they’ve been getting higher commission rates from their personal skills, and the skill I’ve gained from this is breaking that language barrier,” he said.

Ursula Hoyles, Head of Higher Education at University Centre Wigan & Leigh College said:

“The success of Ryan's work in Desaru is a perfect example of how higher education can empower individuals to unlock new opportunities and elevate businesses in a globalised world. At the University Centre Wigan & Leigh College, we pride ourselves on offering an environment that nurtures unique talents and fosters real-world application. It's inspiring to see our graduates making such impactful contributions to sectors like tourism and hospitality, where communication is key to success.”