In a significant initiative for skill development in Indian hospitality undertaken by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), an 18-month Vocational Education and Training (VET) Professional Diploma program is offered in collaboration with EHL Hospitality Business School of Switzerland and delivered at AISSMS, Pune. The program has now been running very successfully for the last two years, with over 100 students on the verge of graduating and joining the industry.
This year, we plan to induct 100 students at our VET by EHL AISSMS Pune Centre and over 400+ students including our Chandigarh and Bangalore Centre. The duration of the program is 18 months, out of which they are given a sound grounding of theory and practical in their area of specialization. The training at AISSMS is followed by an Advanced Certificate program and on-the-job training for 12 months at Select IHCL hotels.
Praveen Roy, Advisor, Confederation of Indian Industry said: “The industry is poised for a 15-20% growth in hiring within the tourism and hospitality sector in India. CII, with its strategic tie-up with Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and Academic partnership with EHL Hospitality Business School, trains a large number of students with the help of EHL-certified trainers who are also department managers. This program is truly by the industry and for the industry and the students.”
Hospitality employers find the workforce being supplied below the industry’s expectations. There is a definite need in India for globally recognized vocational training that can create a pool of talented hospitality professionals. The VET by EHL program helps bridge the skill gap and strengthen India’s position as a global hospitality workforce supplier. It will train the youth to world-class standards for careers in the hospitality industry, including hotels, airlines, cruise lines, and the catering and travel industry, not only in India but around the world.
Dr. Sonali Jadhav, Principal, AISSMS College of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Pune who is a veteran in Hospitality Education and has written over 25 research papers in National and International Journals said: “We have been running the VET by EHL Program for the last 2 years. The course content is very relevant to what is happening in the industry and the students, by the end of the course, are well-prepared to join the industry and also excel in their field. There are 4 partners including AISSMS, IHCL, CII, and EHL.”
Aman Aditya Sachdev, Director & Regional Head (South Asia, Middle East & Myanmar), EHL, said: “The VET by EHL program is based on principles of the world-renowned Swiss Competency Framework. It has been developed over two years with the involvement of EHL subject-matter experts and faculty members, as well as with global industry feedback. The objective is to prepare the youth worldwide for frontline job roles in the hospitality industry at global standards. Students of the program in India are at a significant advantage with future employers, in global mobility and in their career progression. They will acquire the relevant knowledge and competencies required by the industry on par with international programs. We are pleased to see the continued growth of the VET by the EHL network pan India in partnership with CII. The program that has been running at the AISSMS in Pune is a testament to the collective commitment of CII, IHCL Hotels, and EHL towards the skilling of the youth in India towards sustainable and gainful employment in the hospitality and allied service industries.”
The program is a unique training model in partnership with the industry, delivered partly at the AISSMS Institute and IHCL hotel premises and facilitated by industry experts, to prepare the youth for quality employment within the industry. With the successful completion of phase one of training and placing around 100 students in the industry, we are super excited to start the process of admission to the batch of 2024 at AISSMS Pune.