The Higher Education Review

The Indian tourism and hospitality industry has emerged as one of the critical drivers of growth in the services sector in India. With the phenomenally increasing prospects for travel and tourism in India, the industry is constantly growing at a higher trajectory year after year. The industry expects to employ skilled incumbents as the staff of different departments in 5-Star Hotels. Imparting skills with education is possible only if the departments have the right kind of environment, infrastructure, facilities and motivated staff who could educate the students to impact the needs of the industry.

Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, Maduravoyal, Chennai, as a Deemed University, is making successful strides in completing 30 plus years of offering Higher education in multi-faculty areas of education. Hotel Management and Catering Technology has firmly focussed on preparing the students to have strong skills with the knowledge supporting the needs.

Catering to the Education needs of Today's World
The industry expects to employ skilled incumbents as the staff of different departments. Department of Hotel Management and Catering Technology (Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute) has enabled the students to acquire vital skills with the knowledge supporting their needs. The Faculty members are periodically encouraged to participate in the comprehensive programs to keep up with the latest developments in the industry. Industry experts are invited to conduct workshops, lecture sessions and product presentations so that the Faculty members catch up with the industry developments.

To ensure the real difference in the job functions, faculty members are periodically exposed to Soft Skills, Communication skills and other personality development courses. Faculty of Hotel Management & Culinary Arts in Dr. MGR Educational & Research Institute (Deemed University) has the proud presence of the Internationally renowned Chefs in the capacity of Senior Professors that include Chef Manjit Singh Gill, Executive Head ­ Culinary

Programs; Chef Sudhir Sibal, Executive Head ­ Hospitality; Chef V. Vijaya Baskaran, Executive Head - Culinary & Bakery Research and Chef Ramesh Javvaji, Executive Head- Culinary Competitions.

The FOUR high-end Chef members enable students to attain high level professional practices, both in Theory and Practical learning. The Faculty of Hotel Management and Culinary Arts is one of the most happening places in 'Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, Deemed University, and aspires to become the preferred destination for students desirous of doing their Graduation in Hotel Management and Catering Technology and Culinary Arts.

The University as an Institutional Group owns Star Hotels in Chennai, Vellore and Kodaikanal, where the students are deputed for on-job skills. The Institution is a member of the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations, a Nodal body representing the Chefs in India at the National level, and hence the students get the opportunity to actively participate in the International Conferences, Food Festivals, etc. Immense learning opportunities become available for students to participate in the regional, national and international events. The curriculum and syllabus at Dr M.G.R Educational and Research Institute are designed to ensure that the theoretical knowledge can be applied practically, hence developing highly knowledgeable and fully skilled students.

“The curriculum and syllabus at Dr M.G.R Educational and Research Institute are designed to ensure that the theoretical knowledge is applied practically”

Pedagogical techniques and ICT tools such as students' seminars, group discussions, PPTs, and others, are used to deliver required knowledge and skills levels that give students the confidence to learn, analyze, apply, and be creative. A considerable emphasis has been passed on communication and soft skills, making the students more competent and confident. The courses at the institute, such as B.Sc and M.Sc Hotel Management and Catering Technology, B.A Culinary Arts, Certification, Diploma, Post-grad in Pastry Arts and many more caters to the needs of various departments.

“NAAC accredits the Courses of the University, and according to a survey by the Sunday Indian, the University is ranked third in India and accorded `A' Grade (3.31 out of 4) rating by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), an autonomous body under the UGC. To

summarize, the courses have everything that makes every student employ-able", says Prof. & Chef M. Prabu, Joint Registrar H&S, Dr. M.G.R. Educational & amp, Research Institute (Deemed University).

Making Students Job Creators & not Job Seekers
At Dr M.G.R Educational and Research Institute, students are exposed to yearly and periodically held Co-curricular and Extracurricular activities such as Sports and Cultural programs, Conferences, Competitions and other events apart from their regular studies. The department and Institution have a solid industrial connection, facilitating students to undergo an Internship of 154 days in the 2nd year. They are trained as Interns in the Five star and other high-end hotels to get thorough practical knowledge and experience.

This experience assists the students in acquiring solid practical skills and makes them competent and confident for placements which sometimes lead to an extension of pre-placement offers well before graduation. Students of the Institution are well recognized, and all the students of the department get their internship invitations from highly reputed Star hotels and do well to grow there professionally. The Institutions also provide scholarships to deserving students, including individuals who come from not well-doing socioeconomic backgrounds and encourage scholarships to outstanding performers.

Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute gained its Deemed to be University status in 2003 and has grown up exponentially since then. The hotel management department is a part of the Deemed University, it has a clear road map that makes the Institution not only popular in the industry but also provides the best knowledge and skills to students studying in the department. A continual improvement effort and necessary steps are taken to achieve positive transformations.

In future, courses in Advanced Culinary, Gastronomy and novel programs in Bakery and Pastry will become part of the department. The Mission of the University is to make the Institution a Resource Centre for Higher Level Teaching and Learning processes in Engineering, Dental Surgery, Medicine, Allied Health Sciences, Humanities and Sciences, Architecture, and Management and Education. The University aims to impart technological competence and inculcate dignity, discipline and humaneness in all their students.