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Campus Watch
Promoting culinary education
A K Hafizka College of Hotel and Tourism Management Studies
and Research has been designed with an ambition of producing the finest hotel
graduates in the country. By Dinkar Farwaha
 Anjuman-I-Islam's
A K Hafizka College of Hotel and Tourism Management Studies and Research is
known for its hospitality education. The institute, established in 1993, is
situated next to Mumbai’s Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, erstwhile Victoria
Terminus.
The institute offers different courses like a three-year degree programme in
bachelor of Hotel and Tourism Management Studies (from the university of Mumbai),
a three year degree programme in bachelor of hospitality and tourism management
(from Alagappa University, Tamil Nadu) and a three year diploma programme in
hotel management and catering technology (from the MSBTE board). Further, the
institute has tied up with foreign institutes, like the City and Guilds International,
UK and the Thames Valley University, U.K. Now A K o Hafizka College offers a
three year advanced diploma in culinary arts from with a progression to bachelors
in Culinary Arts Management from these institutes. The institute also aims at
initiating a two-year post graduate degree in masters of Hospitality Management
from the University of Mumbai. It is also working out affiliations with more
reputed universities abroad.
The Placement Cell of the institute offers both national and international placements.
The institute has a well-stocked library with national as well as international
publications. Foreign chefs from reputed hotels are invited all through the
year to train the students on the international cuisines and the latest developments.
Every year to felicitate the students, who achieve excellence in academic and
co-curricular activities, an elaborate annual Valedictory Eve is held.
A major attraction of the institute is its Annual Theme Dinner
Programme. Herein, the students conceptualise a thought provoking theme related
to the tourism industry, research the subject and finally put forth ways to
execute it. This is done on a large scale where they cater to dignitaries from
the hospitality industry, tourism promoters, members of government and education
institutes abroad. The students form committees, which replicate the hierarchy
of any five-star hotel consisting of the general manager, heads of various departments
such as F&B service, food production, housekeeping, stage and décor,
sales and marketing, publicity and promotion, editorial and cultural.
This year, for the first time, the institute had a Sports Day, which was held
on 10th January at the University Stadium.
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"The crowning glory of our institute is
the strong placement cell"
B P Sahni, Principal, A K Hafizka College
of Hotel and Tourism Management Studies and Research, talks about his
vision for the institute. By Dinkar Farwaha
 How
comprehensive is hospitality education today to develop an all round manager?
Today, hospitality education is imparted to students
with the aim of not just providing a decent opening in the industry but
also to develop successful managers in the field. Hospitality education
today has become popular amongst the students only because of the varied
curriculum, which the students vigorously undergo for a period of three
years. Apart from the usual hotel management subjects, the students also
need to be familiar with subjects like Information Technology, Financial
Accounting, Human Resources, Legal Aspects, Sales & Marketing Management,
Hotel Engineering, to name a few. By giving them the required expertise
through these subjects, coupled with an exposure to the outside world
through practical training, it helps in developing them not only as all-round
managers but also as professional and competent personnel.
What is the USP of your institute?
We are in the world of fierce and competitive markets.
The field of education is no exception. If we have to survive in this
competitive arena, we need to come up with our own formula for success.
We are also aware that success does not come easy and one has to put a
lot of effort before one reaps rich dividends. There is no single USP
of our institute but it is an amalgamation of several USPs. The pillar
of our institution has always been highly competent and experienced teachers.
Following the competency of our lecturers, the latest technology used
in our educational system is also a major contributing factor. Our learning
resource centre (library) is one of the best hospitality management libraries
in India, well-stocked with national as well as international publications.
The crowning glory of our institute is our strong placement cell, which
gives national and international placement to our students.
What opportunities are available to hospitality
students today?
It is a fact that the sky is the limit for the hospitality
management students. In the past hotel management students used to get
jobs in hotels only in the four key operational areas namely Front Office,
Housekeeping, Food & Beverage and Production department. Nowadays
in all the service sectors, multinational companies, banks, hospitals,
airlines, cruise liners, defense services, malls, event management centres
hospitality management students are preferred over the students who are
not graduates. Their opportunities are not restricted only to India but
abroad also.
What does the future hold for hospitality education
in India, and what role will your institute play in bringing about that
change?
The steady progress of hospitality education in India
wouldn't have been possible without the efforts of the great visionary
Padmashree Thangam E Philip. We are climbing the ladder of hospitality
consistently and successfully and today India is known worldwide for its
hospitality services. We are producing some of the best hospitality professionals
in the world. With globalisation being the in-thing, the tourism industry
is growing at a very fast pace due to which more and more hotels are springing
up and hence generating room for more employment opportunities in India.
In terms of quality of the hotels and service standards, we maintain one
of the highest standards of service in the world. Our college is generating
more and more quality hospitality professionals every year.
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