Tell us about your education establishment and what you offer your students.
The University of Greenwich began in 1890 as the Thames Polytechnic, and ever since has had over 100 years of excellence and access in higher education.
The University, set on the grounds of the Old Naval College, is home to over 38,000 students, of whom 5,365 are international from over 160 countries. Diversity and multiculturalism are also evident among the staff.
It is in the top 150 international universities according to Times Higher Education.
We have three campuses: Maritime Greenwich, Avery Hill (Eltham), and Medway.
Faculty of Business, home to the Marketing, Events and Tourism department is situated on the main campus.
Apart from BA (Hons) Hospitality Management, we also offer undergraduate degrees in tourism management and events management. For those interested in postgraduate studies, we run the MA International Tourism and Hospitality Management, as well as MA International Events Management. All of these programmes can be studied on a full or part-time basis.
How do you help attract people to build a career in hospitality?
I help attract people to build a career in hospitality in a number of ways. Firstly, students are attracted to our hospitality courses because of the great blend of practical and theoretical components that we offer. Over the years, personally and as a department, we have built strong links with local businesses, whether SMEs or major international brands, who have supported us and our students with practical insights about hospitality as a management discipline and as a vibrant career. Secondly, we invite guest speakers from various sectors of the industry to share not only their professional knowledge and expertise to complement particular modules but also to openly and honestly share their own career stories with our students, whether the good, the bad or the ugly.
What has been your biggest success story?
As a department (MET) we are very proud to be 2nd in London for graduate prospects in Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism, according to the Complete University Guide (2021). For me personally and my colleague Dr Jithendran Kokkranikal, I am very proud to have recently published an academic paper entitled ‘Career advancement for women in the British hospitality industry: The enabling factors’ in the very highly ranked journal called ‘Work, Employment, Society’ with a former MA International Tourism Management student, Valentine Calinaud, based on her MA thesis. It is very rewarding to witness our students excelling academically, as well as having high employability prospects after graduation.
What do you think is the ideal recipe to encourage learning and self-development?
Having passion for your subject area which is carried through to each and every module and contact with students; understanding students’ different learning styles and adapting your own teaching accordingly; putting students in the driver’s seat by taking them out of their comfort zone whilst being there to support them every step of the way; sharing career success stories as well as stories of failure of previous students and industry professionals.
Identify three personality traits students should have to succeed in hospitality and explain why they are the most important.
Being hospitable: being able to care for others by sharing your home or provisions with others, and by empathising with guests and customers to ensure their needs and wants are met.
Committed to your role and the team you are working with. Having such a positive mindset will see you go far in this rewarding industry.
Versatile knowledge: Being able to self-manage your expectations regarding your career trajectory but also knowing the opportunities the industry offers. I often find that students are simply unaware of the many sectors there are, and tend to limit themselves and their careers by not knowing what is available.
Share any interesting stories about your establishment e.g. history, famous students etc.
Our department is located on the grounds of The Old Naval College. Not only is this an extraordinary cultural destination in the heart of the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is also a riverside estate with 500 years of British history and home to The Painted Hall, one of London’s ‘hidden gems’. It is also one of the most popular film locations, and on many occasions I have witnessed the buildings being transformed into a scene from WWII or into the entrance to the Buckingham Palace for the series The Crown.
Which aspects of your membership of the Institute have been the most useful to you, your establishment and your students?
The extensive, hospitality specialist e-Resources collection which has supplemented the resources available at the University.
Continuing to build professional links with industry professionals resulting in regular exchange of knowledge and expertise.
Access to the mentoring programme: MentorMe.
Be part of our well-respected network, get trusted advice and take a positive approach to your learning and development.
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