Rod Hardingham

London Hotel School (LHS) is one of the most renowned Hotel Schools' in the world. For the first time in Sri Lanaka LHS has collaborated with the British College of Applied Studies (BCAS) in providing a BTECH Higher National Diploma (HND) in International Hospitality Hotel Management providing a rare opportunity for local students.

LHS is one of the leading Colleges' in United Kingdom specializing in the Hotel Management Industry. It has been a year since they collaborated but since this year the students have been privileged to follow six months in Sri Lanka and then take flight to the UK to complete the remaining year and half of their two year HND programme.

The LHS handpicks its educational partners in various countries and they have chosen the BCAS for maintaining an A grade ranking by the EDEXEL during the past few years. This rank is awarded by the EDEXEL in recognition of the quality and high standards adhered to by the BCAS and speaks volumes about its' reputation as an education provider, pointed out Rod Hardingham the Principal of the LHS.

Rangitha graduating HND with Rooms Division Manager London Rits Hotel

"Unlike the Ceylon Hotel School curriculum we focus on assignments and not on exams and therefore the local students used to the traditional exams will have to get used to the standard of assignments and will eventually find it more fun," Hardingham said. According to him assignments are a better way of retaining knowledge when compared to cramming for an exam and therefore the students working on an assignment will take a liking for assignments that goes beyond the classroom lectures and books.

The higher national diploma is a two year programme and six months of the first year will be in Sri Lanka and thereafter the next six months will be in the London Hotel School and the second year will be the year of internships in renowned five star and five star deluxe hotel, stressed Hardingham. After the completion in the HND, students can decide to further their professional qualification with a Bachelor of Arts degree at the LHS.

The students can stay in UK if they get employed or choose to do their BA and according to UK law every student that complete their BA in UK will be entitled to stay on for a few years by which time the students would have stayed for more than five years and if the candidate is in a supervisor executive role receiving more than 19,000 sterling pounds per year they will be allowed to apply for the Permanent Resident Visa, Hardingham explained.

Mr Mohamed Isthiquar

The important requirement for a student is to have the passion to the profession observed Hardingham and he also emphasized that hardworking students based on their performance levels will be duly rewarded. As in the case of a Sri Lankan student who had been interning at the Ritz Hotel in London for his HND at the London Hotel School will be employed at the Hotel while receiving a handsome pay check of 12,000 Sterling pounds per annum, an advantageous achievement for a HND student, he stated.

The advantage for students beginning the course in Sri Lanka is that they will pay less than half of the original UK course fee at the London Hotel School. The students during their six months in Sri Lanka will be trained to improve their computer and internet proficiency that will prove a great tool for their performance at the assignment. They will also be entitled for a free IELTS course parallel to their HND which will help them elevate their standard and approach towards the language. And thus fulfilling the requirement of a 5.5 score or higher to move to the London Hotel School.

The BCAS provides the students with internet facilities and the students are guaranteed to receive their visa to the UK, the Business Development Manager of the BCAS Mohammed Isthiquar said. The BCAS has a student placement division committed to make student placements of their choice, he added.
"The students studying for six months in Sri Lanka will have to pay 3000 sterling pounds less compared to the UK course fee," Isthiquar said. The students will be taken to restaurants, hotels and other places giving them practical training in the hotel field. Lectureres' are holding high positions at five star hotels apart from their professional qualifications. The BCAS also has a lot of extra curricular activities such as sports and other cultural events, headed. That is an integral part of a student's life at the BAS. The building housing the BCAS is Wi-fi active and students have free access to internet if they choose to bring their lap top making it one of the modern universities.

"The transfer students from Sri Lanka will be able to work for 20 hours a week earning 12 sterling pounds an hour while studying at the LHS," Hardingham stressed. This will enable the student to gain practical exposure in a city deemed as a tourist hotspot and give them on the job training much before their internship begins. The LHS itself is a highly international college that boasts students from all continents, and this blend will help the students to get to know the culture and customs of people in different countries. The cultural make up of students will unknowingly help their public relations aspect of Hotel Manangement in managing tourists from countries as far as Korea and Kenya, he said.
The course will include housekeeping, food and beverage, administration, accounting and all other aspects of Hotel Management. Since the average Sri Lankan is quite good in English Language, the LHS will teach them good interpersonal skills, presentation skills and public relations in a participative approach based on assignments, expressed Hardingham.