CREATING FUTURE LEADERS FOR HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

This is the post that would have been posted on 24th December.

Wow! What an opportunity! anyone who is interested or who knows anyone who is interested should get in here.

Creating future leaders for hospitality industry
Impti Du Toit

25 April 2007 at 11h00

An acute shortage of management skills in tourism has prompted Rahman Murtuza,to fill the gap, which is likely to be exacerbated as South Africa prepares to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup. He will be launching the Gaming and Hospitality Management Academy, now being built at Century City. Murtuza has an MBA and 42 years of experience in the gaming and hospitality industry. He says many people with natural leadership ability have never had an opportunity to realise their full potential simply because they have not had any tertiary education or because circumstances have prevented them from completing matric (Grade 12).

Murtuza believes that by identifying and unlocking such potential, and giving people a chance to excel, the skills pool in South Africa can be expanded. He cites an example of a staff member who started his career with his organisation as a car park attendant. Recognising his potential, Murtuza sent him to a technical college to do matric, followed by a year at University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business. "He is now the general manager and doing extremely well," says Murtuza. "This is the kind of success story I would like to see at my academy."For this reason, the training at his school will not only be aimed at those with matric, but will also bridge the education gap for applicants who have completed Grade 10 and have three to five years of work experience in the gaming, hospitality or any similar industries, and who have leadership potential.

The academy will offer courses in seven disciplines: front office and housekeeping management; information technology (IT) management; slots management; tables management; food and beverage management;kitchen management; and human resources management. Each of the one-year long courses will include the core subjects of financial management, human resource practices, hotel law and labour law. Having general business skills will allow graduates greater flexibility in their career choices. "Our gaming students will learn how to read financial results and balance sheets, among other skills. They will also be equipped to become entrepreneurs, as we will show them how to draw up a business plan, set up a business, improve their business writing skills and learn how to motivate staff."

Murtuza has chosen lecturers of impeccable standing, with many years of industry experience."We must give students real live situations in which they can gain experience - that's how you develop people's skills," he says. He believes that the academy will provide extensive training meeting international standards. Graduates will receive a national certificate (NQF4) recognised by both the Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Education Training Authority (Theta) and the SA Qualifications Authority (SAQA). They will also receive an International Computer Driver's Licence, a globally recognised qualification. The Casino Association of South Africa, the Western Cape Gaming and Racing Board, the Western Cape Provincial Department of Education, the Western Cape Provincial Department of Tourism and Sun International, where he worked for 30 years, the London Chamber of Commerce and UCT's Graduate School of Business have all already endorsed the academy.

UCT has agreed to enrol successful students for the AIM course, which leads to its MBA programme. While the first intake of students will begin their studies only at the start of the 2008 academic year, the Academy was officially launched yesterday and is open for enrolment.

For more information, contact the Gaming and Hospitality Management Academy on 021 595 1180 or toll free on 086 11 222 33, or visit www.ghmacademy.co.za.