At some point of our lives, almost all of us have gone through a phase of "culinary greatness", where we'd locate recipes from all sorts of obscure places, excitedly exchange them with our friends and try them out at home, thus, making rather unassuming "guinea pigs" of our families! For most of us, this phase wears out sooner rather than later, and we go on to follow various other pursuits. For some others though, this phase could very well wind up being their "other" pursuit! And for all those interested in joining one of the oldest and possibly most successful industries of all time, there's more good news in store for you. The International Hotel School (IHS) of the Mount Lavinia Hotel, could just be the 'big break' you were waiting for.
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The IHS came into being in 1991, to help lessen the dearth in trained personnel in the Hotel Industry, especially skilled middle level supervisors and skilled junior managers. Once Prof. Chandana Jayawardene, Mr. Kamal Hapuwatte (ILO Consultant), Mr. Kushan Dharmawardene and Mr. Eardley Edrisinha carried out a six month period of ground work and preparation, the school was inaugurated with a series of Management seminars and the two year Diploma course in Hotel Operations which began in May 1992, with a class of 25 students.
Since then, the school has conducted seminars for numerous hoteliers and has won international recognition for its courses from the Thames Valley University, London. The IHS has also done external training programmes for SriLankan Airlines, the Mahaweli Authority, Asiri Hospitals, Miridiya Hotel, Aitken Spence Hotels, The Military Police Academy, John Keells Hotels and SriLankan Airlines Catering, among others. The School has even helped the Tourist Hoteliers Association by organising Skills Development Programmes and holding brain storming sessions, whilst they also organised many seminars for the Mount Lavinia Hoteliers Association and conducted several short term craft courses.
The four main components of the Diploma – Kitchen Operations, Food and Beverage Operations, Accommodation Operations and the Management Operations, need to be completed in order to successfully obtain the Diploma.
The Diploma offered by the IHS, exempts all holders of two years of their Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Degree at the Thames Valley University, UK, the three year Diploma at the International Management Institute – Switzerland and the Bachelor of Business Administration at the Schiller International University – USA. This is mainly due to the international affiliations IHS currently has with these internationally recognised universities and institutes and because the IHS curriculum includes certain components followed by these Universities and Colleges. The Schiller International University of France, the International Hotel Management Institute of Switzerland, the Hotel Catering and International Management Association of UK, the William Angliss Institute of Australia and the International College of Hotel Management – Adelaide South Australia, also provide IHS diploma holders with a two year exemption when completing the degree in hospitality. Recently two IHS students had performed well at the Schiller University and they were put on the Dean's List.
As English is the medium of instruction, students are generally provided an opportunity to improve their communication skills in English and special programmes that require the usage of English in the context of Public Relations, General Hotel Operations and inter-departmental communication are also conducted at the School. The programme also has an allocation for three months theory and two months practical work at the Mount Lavinia Hotel itself. "This makes us ready to take on any job in a star class hotel, instead of having to look for further apprenticeship opportunities," said an appreciative student.
This Diploma is a fast track to lucrative employment and ample opportunity to further their studies at Universities and Colleges abroad. The IHS provides a launching pad for those interested in taking up careers in the hospitality industry. Students as young as 17, are able to enter with just their O/L and A/L qualifications, so as to embark on exciting careers in the Industry either in Sri Lanka or abroad. As the IHS Certificate is recognised the world-over, it's practically a sure passport to employment, as students require no further recommendations. The school has a well equipped library, four spacious classrooms, facilities for Food and Beverage practical training and a well equipped kitchen for cookery training. The IHS conducts a two year Diploma Programme on Food and Beverage Operations, Kitchen Operations, Accommodation Operations and Management Operations and a six month Craft Course in Food and Beverage Operations, Kitchen Operations and Pastry and Bakery.
The Mount Lavinia Hotel, which has been an integral part of the hospitality industry in Sri Lanka, now also plays a vital role in the industry by its contribution via the School, as it develops the Human Resource element which is essential to providing and maintaining a high quality service in the Hospitality Industry.
"The IHS of the Mount Lavinia Hotel is hospitality education and training par excellence…" concludes the Principal of the School – Mahendra Hulangamuwa.
For more information visit www.mountlaviniahotel.com/hotel-school-mount.html
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