The Discipline of Hospitality of IVE is proud to present its newsletter with an up-to-date overview of the Discipline’s activities, both within the campuses of IVE Chai Wan and IVE Haking Wong, as well as those of our industrial partners in the hotel, tourism, sports and recreation industries, locally and internationally. Thanks to the industries’ staunch support, we have been able to enrich the learning experience of our students, who learn not only in the classroom but also in the “real world” through industrial placement, which prepare them well for future employment as well as further studies. We hope this newsletter serves as an effective communication channel and helps foster even a closer working relationship among Hospitality, the industry, as well as our school partners.
In March 2014, more than 120 students and 10 lecturers were certified as elderly fitness and activity instructors after a 5-day training at IVE Hospitality conducted by Professor Margaret Kuo, a Director of International Personal Trainers and Fitness Academy (IPTFA). The training course covered theory and practical training such as health and physical assessment, training protocol and fitness routines for the elders. It enabled participants to gain an internationally recognized qualification as well to apply professional knowledge in developing specific fitness programmes for the growing elderly population.
Professor Kuo has been an academic researcher in the field of nutrition and health science for many years. As an experienced educator at the China University of Technology, Taiwan, she was well-received by Hospitality students for her lucid demonstrations and presentations on the latest developments in fitness industry.
To find out more about the industrial recognition of Hospitality study programmes, please click here.
In April 2014, the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IVE Hospitality to support vocational education and training by providing industrial attachment to Hospitality students. This is an important milestone to secure quality internship places for students of the Higher Diploma in Airport Operations Management programme. Undoubtedly, working in one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs would definitely widen students’ industrial exposure and help to contextualize their knowledge learned from classrooms. To ensure quality education that meets the industry’s development, the parties will maintain continuous communication and evaluation to provide the best learning experience to the future airport management professionals.
The Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is one of the major transportation hubs in Asia. It brings enormous economic benefits and provides job to over 65,000 persons at the airport. With reference to the HKIA Master Plan 2030, the demand for airport professionals within the region will increase. In ten years’ time, the HKIA will provide more than 200,000 direct and indirect positions to the labour market in Hong Kong. In order to sustain the competitive advantage of Hong Kong as a transportation hub, IVE Hospitality has launched Higher Diploma in Airport Operations Management in 2013 in response to the growing demand for airport professionals.
To find out more about the study programme, please click here.
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, “SPOON” organized a young chefs competition for a number of budding student chefs in Hong Kong to win an opportunity to join their celebration event, “A Day with Master Chef Alain Ducasse”, at the InterContinental Hong Kong in November 2013. After several rounds of intense competitions, Lily Poon, a student from the Higher Diploma of Hotel and Catering Management was awarded as one of the top 10 student chefs in Hong Kong. These young culinary talents have also earned an opportunity to work with the SPOON professional team to prepare for a special celebrating event and to meet face-to-face with the internationally acclaimed Master Chef - Alain Ducasse, to share their cooking passion and experience.
“It was an incredible and invaluable experience to be able to work with the “SPOON” professional team in preparing this media luncheon. Through this competition, I understand how a Michelin-starred Restaurant like “SPOON” can maintain their world standard of high quality food and services. I have gained and experienced much as a student and was deeply inspired by Mr. Ducasse’s insights on the career development of young female chefs in the industry!” Lily exclaimed.
To help unleashing student talents, a Student Development Foundation has been set up by the VTC to solicit donations so as to financially support students with talents and passions to attend international events and to learn from industry experts. Under this funding, Lily and a few other Hospitality catering students joined the Bill Gallagher Young Chefs Forum 2014 organized by the World Association Chefs Societies in Norway. The Forum aims to foster exchanges among young chefs and allow them to learn from industry experts from all over the world. These few lucky students were guided by our Hospitality alumnus, Miss TY Leung, Chef of Mandarin Grill + Bar cum Young Chefs Ambassador of Hong Kong, Young Chefs Club, as well as our Hospitality lecturer.
For more information, please click here.
A group of students from “Higher Diploma in International Hospitality Management” and “Higher Diploma in Hotel and Catering” participated in an exchange programme in Austria. During the exchange, students attended seminars and training in European cuisine, customer service and hotel management. The exchange programme also included hotel visits and other major attractions in Salzburg such as the filming location of “Sound of Music” as well as a day tour to Venice, Italy. “The excellent programme provided me with ample of opportunities to learn, to explore and to experience. I believe this would be one of the most precious and unforgettable memories in my life that would last forever.” exclaimed by one of the participants.
Two talented Hospitality catering students who are also members of the Hong Kong Young Chefs Club were selected to represent IVE Hospitality in the Bill Gallagher Young Chefs Forum 2014 in conjunction with the World Association of Chefs Societies Congress in July 2014. Students learned the latest development trend of culinary arts, cooking techniques and also participated in a sharing session during the forum on the development of Young Chefs Club in Hong Kong.
IVE Hospitality signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (BMIHMS), Australia in March 2014 to kick start an international collaboration between the two institutes. Two IVE Hospitality students were awarded scholarships to attend the Bachelor Programme of Hotel Resort Management at the BMIHMS for one academic term from July to September 2014.
Established in 1991, BMIHMS provides one-stop hospitality education in Australia from Undergraduate to Master’s programmes at its Blue Mountains and Sydney campuses. According to the survey on international career prospects from Taylor Nelson Sofres in 2013, the school was voted as the “Number One Hotel Management School in Australia and Asia Pacific.”
Higher Diploma students majoring in Tourism and MICE, International Hospitality Management and Hotel and Catering joined an exchange programme at JTB Travel and Hotel College in July 2014. They visited major tourist attractions in Tokyo and learned more about the Japanese customs and culture. They also gained a better understanding about travel agency operations from the travel service managers.
In February and August 2014, Higher Diploma students from the International Hospitality Management attended two exchange programmes in Singapore. The students attended classes and training at the International Hotel and Tourism School established by the Singapore Hotel Association, as well as those organized by the Institute of Technical Education, Singapore. Apart from hotel and convention venue visits the programmes also included visits to major attractions in Singapore.
To see more about Hospitality students’ international exchanges, please click here.
In May 2014, a brand new professional diploma programme: “Professional Diploma in Leisure and Recreation Management” was launched. Accredited at QF Level 4, this diploma aims to provide a pathway for industry practitioners to further enrich their knowledge and skills in the industry. A series of contemporary topics such as arboriculture and park management, playwork and playground management, safety and hygiene for natatorium and spa managers are included in the curriculum. Upon completion, students are eligible to sit for the international examination for spa and swimming pool manager offered by CIEH (The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health).
At the same time, the first “Wine & Food Pairing Series – Wine & Oyster” was also held in March 2014 at our new Wine and Beverage Laboratory. It provided an enjoyable evening for learners, who could taste various types of oysters with a wide selection of wines. Learners also have a chance to shuck their own oysters!
If you are interested in finding out more about Hospitality In-service Training Programmes, please click here.
Hospitality Career Expo 2014
With over 40 organizations from the hotel, tourism, leisure and recreation industries and some 2,200 participants, the Hospitality Career Expo was successfully organized in April 2014 with overwhelming feedback.
The Career Expo provided opportunities for potential employers and the students to learn more about each other in terms of job requirements on the vacancies available. Seven career talks were scheduled for more than 1,000 graduating students to understand potential employers’ expectations for various job openings. Interviews were also conducted by the employers at the venue.
Hospitality Mentorship Programme Inauguration
IVE Hospitality Mentorship Inaugural Ceremony was launched in February 2014. The Mentorship Programme aims to enhance students’ learning experience by building up the connection between industry experts and students.
Our mentors are industry experts who have ample working experience in hospitality and other related industries, one of them being Mrs. Monica Lee-Müller, the Hospitality Visiting Professor. Mrs. Lee-Müller is the Managing Director of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre who has been working in the events industry for over 20 years, as well as Mr. Albert Ip, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Langham Hospitality Investments Limited.
The Mentorship Programme is open to all final year students of Hospitality higher diploma programmes.
I am an active person with strong interest in sports. Sports have given me a better understanding of myself as well as my belief in life.
During my study at IVE, I was given many valuable chances to participate in the operations of mega sports events, and to obtain professional qualifications in sports coaching. Apart from focusing on my favourite sports, I was able to acquire knowledge in different aspects of sports management, such as injury prevention, sport business management and sport facilities management. These subjects have enriched my professional knowledge and well-equipped me for a life-long career in sports.
Now, I can apply what I have learned from IVE in my career. For example, I helped to design a series of programmes to promote sports development in Hong Kong and enhance the public awareness of healthy lifestyles. Looking ahead, I hope that I could contribute to society by helping and supporting those who are in need through sports.
I am an out-going person and IVE helped me to realize my strengths and inspired me to embark on a career in the events industry.
During the industrial placement, I was given a chance “to feel and breathe” the event industry for the first time at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The industrial placement brought me a brand new experience in event planning and gave me opportunities to get involved in the coordination of mega events. The post-placement evaluation also gave me many useful insights about my strengths and areas of improvements for further employment.
Through the recommendation and encouragement given by my lecturers, I was awarded an industry scholarship in 2006. Together with my participation in the Singapore ITE Student Conference in Hong Kong in 2007, I am confident that I can reach my ambitions in the event industry.
To watch Hospitality latest video, please click here.