Page 1255 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 April 1994
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In conjunction with this research, field trips were undertaken to look at what was happening in this area elsewhere in Australia and overseas. It became clear that the best models for such a school were the top five or six such institutions in North America, and eventually a formal affiliation was negotiated with Cornell University in the USA, which was signed very recently.
Based on this investigation, the hotel school's educational model was developed. Fundamental to this model is the integration of theory and practice. The physical characteristics of the facilities needed to do this were then defined. Concurrently with all of this, a financial model and budget for a self-funding institution were being developed. These were also tested by reputable independent consultants as well as being scrutinised by Treasury. During all of this process, the ACT Government was regularly advised of progress and an appropriate organisational model was developed, this being the Australian International Hotel School as a part of the Canberra Institute of Technology, and I have no difficulty with that.
It is interesting to consider the sort of institution the hotel school will be. As a body corporate, the hotel school will be aiming to be an educational institution of international standard, with responsibilities like those of a public university and operating as a commercial entity. It will be physically located in the refurbished Hotel Kurrajong. This building will provide a 34-room hotel targeting the government-rates market, a public restaurant, bars and a test kitchen. As well as being a functioning hotel, these facilities provide the extremely important practical environment for the hotel school. Behind this public facade is the hub of the school, the faculty and teaching facilities needed to provide the theoretical component of the course and live-in student accommodation.
It is important to note that the hotel school's degree course will draw on the experience of the Canberra Institute of Technology School of Tourism and Hospitality and that the programs of the two institutions will be complementary. The degree level program that the hotel school will be offering is exciting and unique in Australia. The degree course will integrate operational training and industry experience with rigorous academic studies in human resource management, marketing, business management and interpersonal communication. It will be a prerequisite that first-year students have Year 12 qualifications or equivalent, with required levels of maths and English. Selection will also be based on an interview process involving industry representatives.
It is clear that considerable thought has gone into how the course will operate. The plan to have three intakes of 40 students a year in February, June and September ensures that at each stage of the degree students will receive an individual level of attention. The requirement that students live in for the first year will ensure that they experience the service provided by themselves and their peers. The requirement that they spend four months working in the hospitality industry in the ACT will leaven theory with reality. The acceleration of the four-year degree into three years, with a 45-week year divided into three trimesters, recognises that students will be seeking an early return on the estimated $17,000 a year investment they will make in fees. To ensure that industry respects the credibility of the hotel school, the qualifications of the staff will need to be high. The possibility of staff being involved in research and development at Cornell or undertaking management courses there can only enhance this.
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