Varied Options are offered by Hospitality Services
Students are positively responding to
Centennial College’s Hospitality Services, which takes two semesters to
complete and results in an Ontario College Certificate. Their responses
are just part of the proof that this program is beneficial for those
looking to establish themselves as professionals in a range of careers
available in the hospitality industry, including room attendant, front
desk clerk, food service, cook or maintenance worker. For example,
Eiikeme Ehirim, who graduated from the Hospitality College in 2011, had
this to say: “I studied in an industry that I am passionate about. The Hospitality Services
program consists of learning about hotels and restaurants. The focus is
put on food and beverage services, sanitation, life skills and job
readiness. This experience has taught me about time management skills
and resourcefulness. Centennial College has had major impact on me in
terms of informing me about global citizenship opportunities. Teachers
are awesome about pushing me to succeed and are knowledgeable about this
industry. This is the best educational experience I have ever known.”
Let’s
expand on Eiikeme’s points. First and foremost, in order to attend the
hospitality courses offered within this undertaking, students must have
completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or
have mature student status (19 years or older).
Once students
are accepted, they study a wide range of topics, as Eiikeme mentioned.
Specific hospitality courses include: Communication Skills for
Hospitality Service Workers, Front of the House Agent, Room Attendant,
Visitor Information Services, Beverage Services, Safety &
Sanitation, and more. In addition to industry specific courses, students
of Hospitality Services are also exposed to courses that will help them
to get jobs upon graduation. Among these courses are: Communication
Skills of Hospitality Services, Introduction to Math, Life Skills and
Job Readiness. Industry professionals, who serve as instructors, explain
and help students to master all of these hospitality management topics.
They all possess current experience, ensuring that any advice students
obtain is up-to-date and geared to helping them obtain a career. To
complement what they have learned in class, students participate in a
two-day-a week work experience placement at a restaurant or hotel. This
allows them to apply what they have learned, network and obtain new
knowledge.
Also weaved into the Hospitality Services offering
are hands-on training opportunities. Because students are based out of
Progress Campus, which houses all of the School of Hospitality and
Tourism offerings, they have access to a number of facilities. Among
these facilities are a conference centre, which gives students an
opportunity to organize conferences and meetings, and a kitchen in which
students can gain hands on experience with planning menus and running a
kitchen.
In addition to earning an Ontario College Certificate upon completion of this hospitality courses,
students also have the opportunity to take certification exams in
Sanitation and Beverage Services, thus graduating with the confidence
and required skills to work in this industry. Should students be
interested in further education, they can transfer to one of Centennial
College’s more specialized hospitality management programs.