Five years from its inception, the Queenstown Resort College has grown from a modest operation catering for 11 students to a fully fledged tertiary institution with a student population of just under 300. Joe Dodgshun spoke to graduate Jehan Driver, who started his own adventure travel and sport company, Quest Adventures Asia.
IN 2006, Jehan Driver (29) was one of the first people to join the Queenstown Resort College's diploma of adventure tourism management programme.
To attend the programme, he travelled from India, where he had worked in the tourism industry since age 15.
He had practical skills from taking treks to Nepal and the Tibetan Plateau and working for an Indian-based company. He passed up options of guiding in Mongolia or China after finding out about Queenstown Resort College (QRC) on the internet.
The impetus for Mr Driver to travel was the learning experiences, the tutors and the standards from the college course, which he hoped would help him with his five-year plan; but he was also excited about coming to the "adventure capital of the world" and living in the West.
After completing a six-month internship at Queenstown's Action Flight aerobatics company, Mr Driver graduated in 2007 and went to Dubai, where he began setting up Quest Adventures Asia.
The company, of which Mr Driver is still director, takes expeditions ranging from kayaking to mountain biking and surfing.
"It started with me guiding trips all over the Indian subcontinent and Nepal," Mr Driver said. "Today, I help manage a team of outdoor professionals who lead various expeditions." Starting a business was always on the cards for Mr Driver.
"QRC gives you space to think and gives you the tools to be a good visionary and manager. Things you learn just by being there cannot be replaced by anything," he said.
