Dignitaries from IIHM and Marriott India celebrated the inauguration of their Learning Classroom at IIHM’s Global Campus on July 20.
Students at the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) now have the golden opportunity to imbibe some of the highest industry standards directly from Marriott India, with their newly launched IIHM-Marriott Learning Classroom at the institute’s Global Campus in Kolkata.
Dignitaries from both IIHM and Marriott India inaugurated the initiative, which was in the works for three long years, on July 20 at the Sector V institute. Among those who attended the event were Dr Suborno Bose, CEO and founder of IIHM; Sanjukta Bose, co-founder, IIHM; Gaurav Singh, market vice-president, South and East India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Marriott International and Lizanne Pinto, area director of human resources, South and East India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Marriott India.
On May 11 last year, IIHM and Marriott International signed an MoU to enhance the industrial learning of its students. The two have worked together for the past year to create the state-of-the-art IIHM-Marriott Learning Classroom, where students will receive valuable insights from industry leaders, and the leading hospitality group will have access to an enhanced talent pool.
The collaboration was first discussed between IIHM and Marriott three years ago, and the two signed an MoU last May
The collaboration was first discussed between IIHM and Marriott three years ago, and the two signed an MoU last May.
This classroom has been designed especially keeping Marriott’s guidelines in mind and will train second- and third-year students pursuing their bachelors and diploma courses at IIHM. Marriott will provide them mentorship, career guidance, guest lectures and assistance in project work which are in keeping with the industry standards. It will not only help students improve their skills, but also make them more industry-ready.
“This initiative will be immersive and provide learnings that extend beyond the classroom. Seasoned professionals will engage with the students, providing insights and sharing their experience on growing careers within the hospitality industry,” Singh said, expressing his joy on how the collaboration was finally materialising after a long period of incubation.
He also shed light on what the curriculum would pack. “Students will have a space to collaborate over case studies, prepare projects, participate in discussions and conduct workshops,” he said.
Singh also pressed upon the goal of all-round development, which is essential in the hospitality industry which keeps evolving. “By leveraging the expertise and global reach of both Marriott International and IIHM, this partnership will set new standards in hospitality education.”
This collaboration will help second and third-year students pursuing Bachelor and diploma courses to upskill with mentorship, career guidance and guest lectures from Marriott
This collaboration will help second and third-year students pursuing their Bachelor and diploma courses to upskill with mentorship, career guidance and guest lectures from Marriott.
Pinto spoke to the second-year students present at the inauguration, encouraging them to make full use of the opportunity. “We’re looking forward to you all joining Marriott and standing where we are in a few years. Business has started coming back, now we want the associates to return too.”
Bose thanked Marriott for helping create a unique learning system. “We’re ready to be a part of the Marriott bandwagon and start a great relationship. This partnership will help our students be better equipped to intern with the Marriott hotels around India, by interacting with seasoned professionals from Marriott. While IIHM prides itself on making students industry-ready, this Learning Classroom will help make them Marriott-ready too,” he signed off.