Hospitality
Tourism Education
A Canadian Perspective
Canada
has made hospitality and tourism an art, and many
of the country’s educational institutions specialize
in preparing people for careers in this dynamic sector.
It’s easy to understand why. Tourism has always
played an important role in Canada’s economy,
as for centuries people have enjoyed visiting this
vast, beautiful country. Now every year millions of
people visit hotels, restaurants, resorts and clubs
across Canada - injecting millions of dollars into
a sector that supports thousands of businesses and
jobs.
Canada’s
colleges and universities have in turn responded to
the growing need for highly qualified staff with a
wide variety of programs from basic hospitality training
to the postgraduate management degrees. Because of
its national importance, hospitality and tourism training
in Canada achieves high, international standards.
Training often combines both European and international
traditions of quality and service coupled with models
of North American efficiency and use of advanced technology.
Hospitality
and Tourism encompasses numerous sub sectors including
accommodation and lodging, food and beverage service,
tourism, travel and transportation, and event management.
The
extensive variety of programs in Canada mirrors the
endless possibilities associated with a career in
the hospitality and tourism industry. From short programs
which can vary in length from ten to forty weeks,
to the apprenticeship model, to one-year, two-year
or three-year college vocational models, to four-year
undergraduate, post-diploma and graduate degrees,
the educational opportunities are limitless.
The
wide range of programs ensures prospective students
have a variety of career options. Hospitality and
Tourism education in Canada can be accomplished through
public and private institutions. The Canadian colleges
offer a strong practical focus to prepare students
for front-line positions in the industry. In addition
industry-based partnerships result in extensive apprenticeship
programs in cooking and baking. Specific colleges
also cater to specific niche markets such as festival
and event management and culinary specialties including
Aboriginal, Chinese, Italian, Patissier, and Sommelier
programs.
An
easy path to obtaining a university degree, known
as two plus two’s, combines hands-on skills acquired
in a college program with university courses to make
a highly employable individual. University undergraduate
degree programs include either a Bachelor of Commerce,
Bachelor of Business Administration, or a Bachelor
of Applied Sciences. Graduate programs are in areas
of administration and management.
Potential
students should invest time, energy and resources
to carefully research the program that best suits
their needs. A careful review of curriculum is only
one aspect of choosing the best hospitality program.
Other factors to consider include institutional reputation,
student awards, faculty publications and involvement
in the industry, and graduate employment. Location
and size are big factors as well. Metropolitan locations
offer students the opportunity to benefit from the
country’s rich and extensive multicultural communities
and offer high quality work experience. Suburban and
rural locations give students the benefits of a natural
setting.
Students
should also carefully consider facilities and resources
available. The industry is ever-changing and the currency
of the faculty should be reflected in its labs, theaters,
computer technology and library. Furthermore, support
services such as peer-tutoring programs, faculty mentoring,
student advisory, housing and residency and financial
aid are indicative of an institution’s service
to a student.
Author,
Dan Borowec, Academic Chair, Faculty of Hospitality/Tourism,
George Brown College, Toronto, Canada
This
article first appeared in TransWorld Education
