Hospitality students have reason to rejoice as the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) brings education and opportunities on a par with global standards, right here in Kolkata.
IIHM signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Thunderbird School of Global Management, the business school at Arizona State University (ASU), on November 6 to launch the Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative at all IIHMs across the country.
The initiative will allow IIHM students free access to online education in 40 different languages, provided by Thunderbird and ASU. Thunderbird will also offer three online educational programmes centred around personal and professional development, with an emphasis on entrepreneurship.
Sanjeev Khagram, director general and dean of Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, underlined the importance of the collaboration. “We have touched the lives of learners from over 170 countries, and want to transform the world through a sustainable and equitable process. The future of India is bright and we hope this is the beginning of a long partnership that creates leaders,” he added.
IIHM chairman and chief mentor, Suborno Bose, shared his excitement about the potential impact of this MoU on female students, who account for 70% of the 100 million global learners. “This project is perfect for Indian youth looking for industry-relevant education. The certification from Thunderbird is not only distinguished, but will also make your skills appreciated in the best parts of the world,” he said.
The MoU was also appreciated by IAS Manish Jain, principal secretary of the Department of School Education, Government of West Bengal. Congratulating the two institutes, he said, “This collaboration is very important and will not just benefit students of West Bengal, but the entire globe.”