The Hindu : New Delhi News : IGNOU inks pact for new hospitality course

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 20, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

IGNOU inks pact for new hospitality course

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Indira Gandhi National Open University and American Hotel and Lodging Association Educational Institute have signed a memorandum of understanding for development and delivery of a new course -- B.A. in International Hospitality Administration.

The course, to be launched from the next academic session, is expected to open up many employment opportunities for the youth.

“Hospitality, tourism and the allied service sector has been growing at a fast pace in India. Professionalism is of immense importance for sustaining the success and quality education and training holds the key to it. This new course will help in meeting the need for outstanding professionals for the hospitality industry,” said K. V. Simon, regional vice-president of the Institute.

Industry partnership

“People are the asset of any country. But they become a liability if we do not give them necessary employable skills. This new programme is a public-private international industry partnership,” he added.

The memorandum was signed by Mr. Simon and IGNOU Registrar K. Laxman.

“This is a step in the right direction. This is truly a global alliance in hospitality education with an institution belonging to the world’s largest hotel industry association. The course will be monitored by a joint coordination committee,” said IGNOU Vice-Chancellor V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai.

The programme will be available at the programme centres approved by IGNOU and the Institute.

Programme coordinator Kapil Kumar said the new course would be a combination of both conventional teaching and distance learning methods.

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