Prof. Dr. rer. pol. Jana Stolz-Römmermann on her way back to the HSZG, sustainable tourism and her passion for teaching.
Prof. Dr. rer. pol. Jana Stolz-Römmermann is Professor of Tourism Management at the Faculty of Management and Cultural Studies. In this interview, she talks about her return to the HSZG, sustainable tourism and her passion for teaching.
Prof. Stolz-Römmermann, it's great to have you back at the HSZG. What connects you to this university?
I started my academic career at the HSZG and completed my Bachelor's degree in Tourism Management here. Since the winter semester 2024/2025, I have been teaching Tourism Management at the Faculty of Management and Cultural Studies. I was born in Berlin and spent my school years in Upper Lusatia. Before my studies, I completed a commercial apprenticeship in Munich and spent some time backpacking around the world.
What key stages have shaped your academic career to date?
After completing my Bachelor's degree in Tourism Management at the HSZG, I continued my academic career with a Master's degree in Transport Economics at the TU Dresden. I then worked there as a research assistant at the Chair of Marketing and completed my doctorate with a dissertation on "Further perspectives on customer education - theories, empirical results and implications". Alongside my academic work, I worked as a freelance consultant for sustainable tourism and regional development. I later took on a professorship for tourism management at the Berlin University of Applied Sciences. I have been back at the HSZG since October 1, 2024 and contribute my experience from research, practice and teaching.
What motivated you to pursue a career in academia?
The mix of teaching, project work and research opportunities is just great. I find it exciting to find solutions to existing challenges - often together with students and colleagues in interdisciplinary contexts - and then to have the opportunity to critically scrutinize them and test their transferability using suitable methods.
What prompted you to return to Upper Lusatia and the HSZG?
At the HSZG, I have the opportunity to teach small and medium-sized groups of students. This has the advantage that I know all the students and competence-oriented teaching with interactive methods is possible. In our department, excursions are of course particularly suitable. I've just returned from an excursion with students to Carinthia on the subject of "Slow Tourism". These are particularly good teaching conditions. Upper Lusatia is also an attractive place for me to live. I like the location in the border triangle and I like cycling in my free time - the region is ideal for that.
What are your main tasks at the HSZG and what is your biggest focus at the moment?
Tourism is a very diverse and cross-industry economic activity. Our graduates manage and market tourist destinations, organize trips and events or work in tourism policy or for transport companies, for example. I try to play my part in developing their skills so that they can act responsibly and successfully in these exciting fields of work. I dedicate myself to this in modules such as Destination Management, International Tourism and Tourism Marketing. Once I'm a bit more established at the HSZG and in Upper Lusatia, I'm looking forward to working on projects in collaboration with the region's tourism stakeholders - even beyond the borders.
What are you currently researching particularly intensively? Are there any topics that are particularly important to you personally?
Sustainable tourism development is particularly close to my heart. The industry is directly dependent on sustainable development. Take environmental pollution, for example: on the one hand, the tourism industry is a polluter and, at the same time, an intact natural environment is important for the guest experience and therefore for guest numbers and economic success.
How do you design your teaching to inspire your students?
I design my teaching to be output-oriented rather than input-oriented. It is important to me to develop relevant topics together with the students using interactive teaching formats. Excursions, gaming approaches (where colorful balls sometimes fly around the seminar room to illustrate management approaches), practical examples and guest lectures are fixed components of this.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in an academic career in your field? What should they bear in mind?
In addition to methodological and theoretical training, as tourism professionals we need to discover the world. Travel and be aware of everything. Get to know the cultures. Talk to the people. Ask yourself: What can we learn from other regions and their tourism activities?
Do you have any tips and advice for students when things get stressful in everyday student life and during exam periods?
I'm a morning person and always set my alarm clock very early during exam periods. Then I could always do something nice around midday. But of course this approach doesn't work for everyone.
How do you manage the balancing act between work, family and free time?
My husband and I are a really good team, so the demanding job is manageable even with two children. In our free time, we are usually out and about together as a family and often with friends in the great outdoors.
Do you have any hobbies or interests that perhaps not everyone knows about?
I'm a working mother - so I say with a wink that I don't need to think much about hobbies right now. But my biggest hobby is and remains traveling and that also works wonderfully with the family.
Is there a series or movie that you particularly enjoy watching?
I can highly recommend the movie "Interstellar".
Do you have a favorite dish that you just can't resist?
I love eating pizza - preferably straight from Italy.
The interview was conducted by the University Development and Communication Office, UAS Human Resources Department.
