Q & A : Hospitality Education Institution in South Africa

1. What are the current opportunities & challenges facing the hospitality education sector in South Africa?

• Lack of motivating factors that encourages young people to study Hospitality.

• It’s difficult to find young passionate people who have Hospitality as their first choice because of the low standards of Hospitality in South Africa

• Negative views about the industry

• Lack of development & investment from the Government discourages young people to consider the industry.

2. What are the key education philosophies and teaching methodologies implemented within your institution to ensure students are well-equipped for the industry?

• SHS focuses on using Subject Matter Experts & highly educated faculty to provide “real’’ education through real experiences.

• Industry exposure through internships in the duration of our courses both locally & internationally equips our students with rare skills that enhance their careers.

• Teacher-student interactions are very important in our institution as we are able to track the progress of our students.

• Professional development through consistent on-campus practicals ensures our students are work-ready & way ahead of their peers.

3.How does your institution support students in seeking employment after graduation, and what specific resources or programs are in place to facilitate this process?

• A large percentage of our students get their first jobs in the Hospitality industry through internships, normally the properties are impressed by the skills our students possess & they normally offer jobs to the students after graduation.

• Secondly, we have an alumni network of graduates where we normally post job offers available.

4. How does the institution maintain strong rela tionships with industry partners within the hospitality sector to ensure that the curriculum remains relevant and that students have ample opportunities for internships and practical experience?

• We attend industry events & network.

• We also participate in the Hospitality industry online communities such as blogs etc.

• We also keep relationships with our graduates who are in the industry.

Stephen Hickmore