A NEW PARTNERSHIP AND A NEW DIRECTION: UQ QUALITY ENDORSES DEGREE FOR LEADING PRIVATE HOTEL SCHOOLS

The University of Queensland (UQ) and the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management Schools P/L (BMIHMS) are pleased to announce the signing of a five-year strategic partnership agreement.

Under the agreement UQ’s School of Tourism will quality endorse BMIHMS’ Bachelor of Business, delivered by Blue Mountains Hotel School in Leura, New South Wales, and the Australian International Hotel School in Canberra.

Prof Cooper, Head of UQ’s School of Tourism, said that at a time when the Australian tourism and hospitality industry is suffering a considerable skills shortage, education institutions need to ‘be clever’ about making new linkages which deliver skilled graduates to the workforce.

“Both the university and private education sectors must be in a position to provide industry with a reliable supply of capable, enthusiastic and knowledgeable tourism and hospitality professionals," said Prof Cooper.

“This partnership will allow our institutions to offer mutual support and recognition of quality tourism and hospitality management programs.

“The School of Tourism is uniquely positioned as the only dedicated tourism school within the Group of Eight sandstone universities as well as the only university in Australia to receive certification from the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

“Similarly Blue Mountains Hotel School is internationally recognised as a leading private education provider and the first in Australia to receive certification from the UNWTO.

“Together we have a great potential to enhance each others activities and ensure that our programs continue to satisfy industry needs in addition to being academically rigorous.”

Mr Guy Bentley, CEO of BMIHMS and Principal of the Blue Mountains Hotel School, said the partnership signals a new direction for our two schools.

“We are breaking ranks with other private hotel schools in Australia which are either part-owned by or closely affiliated with universities and deliver their qualifications,” Mr Bentley said.

“BMIHMS has the expertise and experience to deliver its own accredited Bachelor of Business qualification quality endorsed by UQ, one of Australia’s leading universities.

“It is a mark of our academic maturity and confidence that BMIHMS has formed this alliance. “We are delighted to have such a prestigious strategic partner with a worldwide reputation for research and honoured to have our own Bachelor of Business degree program receive this endorsement.”

In addition to endorsement the institutions will look for other opportunities to collaborate, Mr Bentley said postgraduate students from the Australian International Hotel School will benefit from UQ’s strong research base through a guest lecturer program.

BMIHMS and UQ will also use this agreement to pursue joint research projects in the tourism industries. Both BMHS and AIHS are members of the ORION Hotel Schools global alliance (www.orionhotelschools.com), which will work closely with UQ to establish The ORION Research and Consultancy Centre in 2007.

ASTUDENT CAREER EXPOS

Over two consecutive weeks, on 6th and 13th February, students returning form their Career Development placements held their Career Expos in the Fitzroy Room to share information about their placement properties with fellow-students through expo-style displays of posters, laptop slideshows and powerpoint presentations, brochures, and postcards.

These expos have become a popular event each semester with a colourful and fun atmosphere that attracts students and staff alike. Featured properties included the Crowne Plaza, Darwin, Hayman Island, Lord Howe Island, Four Points By Sheraton and Marriott in Sydney, the Hyatt and Langham hotels in Melbourne, Quay West, Sofitel and Hilton in Brisbane, Four Seasons in Sydney and Four Seasons in Whistler, Canada, The Connaught in London, Quest Apartments, Cambridge Hotels and Queenstown in New Zealand.

One of the more unusual properties featured was the Mbalageti Serengeti Lodge in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Africa where Mr Anders Solvang did his second placement as an Assistant Lodge Manager (Trainee) With views of the Serengeti plains and the Mbalageti River, guests can see the annual migration of wildebeest and zebra and enjoy daily safaris to view herds of hippo, elephants and prides of lions. “This experience gave me a totally new perspective on my life- what’s important and what’s not. I know much more now what I want to do,” says Anders.

“The Career Expos continue to provide a valuable opportunity for students to reflect on what they gained from their Career Development placement and to share first-hand, up-to-date information with students who are thinking about their choices for placement next semester,” says Career Development Manager, Ms Janette Illingsworth, “It also gives students some background on the different companies and properties when we have Human Resources, Training and Recruitment managers visiting the campus and holding their recruitment talks.”