Hospitality diplomas: Train for free, get a top job

SOME luxury hotel chains offer excellent three to four diploma programmes for Class 12 students with a keen interest in hospitality. Candidates will get hands-on training at their respective hotel properties across the country. What’s more the courses come free of cost!

Explore the Systematic Training and Education Programme (STEP) by the Oberoi Group and WelcomLegionnaire Programme’s Dipl. in Hospitality Management (only for boys) by ITC Hospitality Management Institute.

Both also enable you to pursue a Bachelor of Tourism from IGNOU alongside the diploma. One can choose from the core hospitality specialisations, that is, Food Production (FP), Bakery & Confectionary; Food & Beverage (F&B) Service; Housekeeping and Front Office (FO).

Both programmes result in placements at the respective hotels, provided you work hard and learn the ropes. Hospitality aspirants can also explore diplomas offered by Food Craft institutes and hotel management institutes located across the country in FP, Bakery & Confectionary; F&B; Housekeeping and FO. Some Food Craft institutes offer additional specialisations like Canning & Food Preservation, which deals with food science and the manufacture, preservation, and marketing of food products.

Students are advised to check if your institute is recognised by the local tourism board, Government or National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology (Noida) by checking official websites such as: http://tourism.nic.in and www.fcikerala.org, as these courses are recognised by Public Service Commission, the Armed Forces and other government departments and overseas recruiters, which opens up job opportunities in their catering departments.

For instance, Food Craft Institute male pass-outs in Food Production can take the Armed Forces Junior Commissioned Officer (Catering) exam and be absorbed into the Armed Forces. In the private sector,  cruise liners, five-star hotels, airline catering, hospital and contract catering all hire. Many also choose to start their own catering businesses.

Gurmeet Singh, Area Director of HR India, Maldives of Marriott Int’l, shares that the Marriott, which has 24 properties in India under five brands, hire for starting positions in functions like Food & Beverage Service, Front Office & Culinary. “Students right after college have basic operational knowledge but they definitely need further training.

At Marriott they are also given more structured operational training. The main focus is to develop each student into an hotelier with a pleasing personality, impeccable skills, great attitude backed up with confidence of operational skills,” he shares. Students can also explore one-year certificate courses in Craft Bakery & Confectionery and All-Round Restaurant Etiquette (F&B) offered by Sophia Polytechnic in Mumbai.