Australian Qualifications –Win stone school of Culinary art
View(s):Win-Stone School of Culinary Art is one of the leading hotel schools in Sri Lanka equipped with a range of courses to help students to reach their career goals in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry. The institute is globally recognised for its excellent training skills in hotel operations and catering, entrepreneurship and much more.
Mr C. Sudusinghe
Mr C. Sudusinghe and Ms Iyanthi Goonewardene are two well-experienced professionals of the hospitality industry who are also offering sharing their knowledge and guidance with the students at Win-Stone. They joined in for a conversation to share their thoughts about the institute.
Mr Sudusinghe, as a well-versed person, what is your experience in the industry?
I began my journey as a student at the Ceylon Hotel School and then when to Switzerland to complete my training. After returning to Sri Lanka, I joined with the Benthota Beach Hotel and the Galle Face Hotel for my internships. And I gained countless experiences and knowledge at many career destinations in Sri Lanka and outside the country including Khorfakkan Hotel, Hotel Al Bustan Palace, Crown Plaza and Shangri La hotel in Dubai and also at Hilton, Earl’s Regent, Cinnamon Grand and Citrus hotels in Sri Lanka. Before joining Win-Stone to share my Knowledge and abilities with the team, I was the General Manager at the Araliya Green City Hotel in Nuwara Eliya.
What do you think of Win-Stone as a hotel school?
As the hospitality industry is developing, lots of brands are coming to Sri Lanka and large numbers of local hotels are opening up. This creates the need for a skilled workforce in the industry. Win-Stone is an excellent school catering to this need, providing great facilities to the students including high-tech classrooms, and knowledgeable experienced facilitators. The methodically designed lesson modules of the institute grab the attention and interest of the students.
Apart from teaching and preparing the students for a profession, our institution is highly committed to developing their sense of community, social responsibility and their environment. I thought it is best to give my guidance knowledge and support to these youngsters who are planning to create a future in the industry of hospitality.
Ms Iyanthi Goonewardene
The experience and qualifications given by Win-Stone, how does it contribute to the development of the student?
At Win-Stone, we have different courses including Cookery, the Food Production, Food and Beverages Services, Housekeeping and so on. As our students come from all over the country, they have different practices and capacities. Our well experienced but young teachers not only train them for best practices in the industry but help them to develop the character and personality which is also necessary for hospitality. Despite the different capacities, attitudes and personalities of our students, Win-Stone leaves so student behind.
With all this, it helps the student to take responsibility and prepare him/her to successfully approach national and international career paths.
Ms Iyanthi Goonewardene, as the Managing director of Win-Stone, can you share your thoughts on the
qualifications offered by the institute?
Since the starting of this institute in 2004, we have been fortunate to train nearly 4500 students. Our institute is affiliated to several foreign institutes, so if students want to continue their studies abroad, we are ready to help them.
At Win-Stone we offer an advanced diploma with the partnership of Australia and TAFE SA which is a globally recognized qualification.
This Australian qualification is recognised by many countries and institutes including, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Canada. This qualification can open doors to international jobs with no hesitation. Inside Australia, this is also considered as an entry qualification for a job so for anyone who is planning to continue their studies in Australia, they already have a job in hand.
Most importantly, we have an excellent business model therefore, ones they join with Win-Stone we promise to fulfil their career requirements and also a job. We are also recruiting for ships and with qualifications offered by Win-Stone, our students can find enough and more opportunities nationally and internationally since this is the fastest growing industry all over the world.
Why is this good pathway for school
leavers and students after their O/L’s and A/L’s?
This is 100% good pathway for anybody who will achieve their personal and career goals in hospitality. Either it is to become executive chefs, managers or directors in the industry we support them with a good foundation.
Since most of our students are just out of school, apart from cooking, we also train them to develop their technical and soft skills which are a must in hospitality.
Finally, is this a good industry for females?
If you have the commitment and discipline, gender is not a problem at all. Being a woman I joined the industry after A/L’s and I am satisfied for what I am today. I always encourage females to join this trade because they can have a great future and I feel this is the era of women. If they can take responsibility and commit to what they do, they have a dazzling future ahead.
- Thishana M. Rajanayake