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Hospitality Schools Team Up in Queenstown
Friday, 19 September 2008
In an industry first, Otago Polytechnic and Queenstown Resort College have been working together to bring a new level of education to Queenstown, one of New Zealand's top tourist destinations. The busy hub is always in need of well-trained hospitality staff.
(Via Otago Daily Times) The programme will be a "true joint venture", and a first for the polytech, Otago Polytechnic regional manager Jean Tilleyshort said.
"In the past we [Otago Polytechnic] have subcontracted out [courses].
"But we are looking to meet the needs of Queenstown-ers, while realising we would probably not want to build a facility there ourselves."
Much work had been done over the past few months converting "what would be a full-time course in Dunedin" into modules which would "fit around a full-time work schedule", she said.
The range of courses on offer will include barista training, chef management training in cost control and kitchen profitability, and customer service courses.
QRC general manager Charlie Phillips said the initial range of short courses was just the start of a long-term relationship between the institutions.
Ms Tilleyshort said the two institutions would "work together to increase the range of courses available".
General management courses which could be used in any industry, from construction to viticulture, would be included, she said.
The new collaborative courses were different from those already run by Otago Polytechnic in that they could count towards diplomas or degrees in management, she said.
Mr Phillips said the courses were the result of a great collaboration between the parties and only phase one in a long-term plan.
"This is the beginning of a consortium between regional providers, pooling resources to deliver affordable skills-based training," he said.
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