Tourism and hospitality management students to start degree course in April |29 December 2012

The 22 students ended their first three-week intensive practical training earlier this month at the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) with flying colours.

They have successfully mastered knowledge in food production, restaurant and bar service, and housekeeping.

In an attempt to give them hands-on experience across all aspects of food & beverage and kitchen, the STA mess hall was converted into a restaurant d’application and kitchen to acquaint students with their new working environment and conditions.

The guests for the fine-dining evening were Tourism and Culture Minister Alain St Ange, Natural Resources and Industry principal secretary Michel Nalletamby, University of Seychelles (UniSey) pro- vice-chancellor Lucy Athanasius, UniSey registrar Michel Denousse, culture special advisor Raymonde Onezime, as well as friends and families of the students.

Served with delicacies, the seasonal and classic menu proposed by the students comprised a cold starter of soup, a choice of two main courses and again a choice of home-made dessert.

The students were divided into two teams – a group served guests in the restaurant and the other prepared the food in the kitchen.

General manager for tourism development at the STA, Peter Moncherry, said that “this exercise is to give the students a first-hand contact with the clients and to boost their self-confidence before proceeding to their three-and-a-half months’ internship in tourism establishments on Mahe and Praslin”.

The students followed night classes starting from 3pm to 11pm and STA principal Flavien Joubert said that “the scheduling of these classes is conducive to the students’ future working conditions whereby it will be required of them to work shift”.

It was in 2009 that the STA introduced the three-year Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management (ADHM) to provide students with a firm academic and practical foundation and the confidence required for a career in the tourism industry.

In 2010, UniSey and STA signed a memorandum of understanding to launch the new degree programme in tourism and hospitality management and the two organisations are following the development of this latest cohort of young Seychellois students as they train to enter the industry that remains the pillar of the Seychelles economy.