The Higher Education Review

Among the profit-making sectors of the country, the hospitality sector is outshining the profit margins of others. It is one of the industries responsible for benefitting other sectors. According to the Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF Trust established by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India) report, international hotel chains are increasing their presence in the country as it will account for around 47 percent share in the Tourism and Hospitality sector of India by 2020 and 50 percent by 2022. Providing the hospitality sector with the requisite manpower are some of the renowned colleges like Lakshya Bhartee Institute of International Hotel Management (LBIIHM). The college was established in 2003 in a well-planned neighborhood of Pitampura, Delhi to meet the educational needs in the field of Hotel Management. Today, it is recognized as a standard learning center for glorifying career opportunities in sectors like Hotels, Restaurants, Retailing, Transportation, Travel Agencies, Tour Operations, Hospitals, Educational Institutes, Corporate Houses, Catering Establishments, Tourist Attractions, Leisure, Recreation and Sports, Cultural Industries, Event Management, Industrial Canteens and Facility Management.

Excellence in Education
LBIIHM assists students in two years' M.Sc. course in Hotel Administration and Hospitality (Equivalent to MBA Hospitality), three years B.Sc. course in Hotel Administration and Hospitality and one-year Diploma course in Food Production. The courses are UGC recognized and have been approved by Distance Education Council, Government of India. By involving impartation of the courses in the utmost professional manner, whereby the students are groomed and fabricated into attractive professional personality, LBIIHM has been deemed as one of the best Hotel Management Institutes in India. "Topic and case study specific lectures, simulated classroom demonstrations, guest lectures, audio-visual presentations, study tours, group discussions are specialties of LBIIHM. Even before the start of the course term, the students visit some of the prominent hotels like Trident Hilton (Gurugram), The Radisson, Intercontinental, The Grand to get a glimpse how the hospitality

industry functions and its culture," says Dr. Kamal Kumar, Director, LBIIHM.

"LBIIHM underlines the importance of ethical business practices to make students outstanding corporate performers"

Integrating the hotel visits with educational tours to places like the Russian Community Center, Mother Dajy, Parle, Arogya & Jibs (Bread Production Unit) and other useful exhibitions, LBIIHM fosters students' knowledge horizon. The students receive training in reputed hotels in the country, international destinations like Dubai, Malaysia, USA, France and Maldives which makes them accountable for working at international platforms of the hospitality industry. In midst of enhancing the practical skills of the students, the institute organizes talks from various renowned professionals. The alumni shares that they gained incomparable views from guest faculties like Prof. Navdeep Mathur (IIM, Ahmedabad), Rakesh Puri (IHM Shimla), Jai Sahu (London), Abhinav Anand (Front Office Manager, The Radisson), Tapan Ghosh (Management Consultant) and many more experts. They even met Indian legend Late Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, MP Rahul Gandhi, and from them they collected headship viewpoint.

An Opportunity for Students to Excel
Theoretical and practical teachings are not the only offerings by LBIIHM. LBIIHM underlines the importance of ethical business practices to make students outstanding corporate performers. "I'm a proud LBIIHMian. The years spent in the institution were filled with exquisite learning opportunities that led the way for me to achieve endless career gratifications. It has been possible because of hardworking faculties and our Director, Dr. Kamal Kumar who has supported me throughout," shares Siddharth Baurai, Chef, JW Marriott, Singapore, who completed Diploma in Food Production in 2004. While Siddharth was delineating his best days at LBIIHM, Dr. Kumar opined, "In the Food Production course, we teach and train students 'How to Service the Guests in a five-star motel' at a five-star hotel front office training setup in our campus. The students learn how to deliver high-quality customer service. Further, the faculty for production trains students to make national and international cuisines in a replica of a five star hotel kitchen."

In addition to training, LBIIHM teaches students the various geographical features of India. Faculties deliver powerpoint

presentation on these so that students do not face obstacles for accepting a job offer in any part of the country. For recruitment purposes, LBIIHM has six months On-the-Job Training (OJT). It is a unique opportunity for participants that have required skills for earning while learning. Students also learn to stay physically and mentally prepared for facing industrial challenges. After OJT, LBIIHM's 'Training and Placement Department' provides placement assistance in famous national and international hospitality brands like ST Regis, Crowne Plaza, The Meydan, Palm Garden Hotel, Seven Seas Hotel, Shangri La, Singapore Airlines, The Lalit and more.

With the Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi's firm vision of 'Skilling India' to make India a global power, LBIIHM started empowering youth in practical and vocational skills from 2012. It got selected for 'Swarna Jyanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana', a project of Smajik Suvidha Sangam, Government of NCT, Delhi. The project aimed to provide 'Industry Oriented Hospitality Training and Placement to the Urban Youth', especially to the people below the poverty line and LBIIHM was successful in conducting the program. The institute has received many accolades till now. In recent days, students Arpit and Rahul Prajapat secured first position in the Culinary Competition 'Hospitality Ensamble 2019' at Sunder Deep College of Hotel Management. Another group consisting Kaushal Kumar Singh and Tushant Yadav scored third position in 'Bakery and Confectionery' competition, while Naorem Gyaneshori Devi and Kaushal Kumar Singh came first in 'Floral Fantasy' competition. For future years, LBIIHM wants to contribute more towards the excellence and growth of the global hospitality industry by uplifting its vision statement 'Athithi Devo Bhava' (Guest is God).

Dr. Kamal Kumar, Director
Dr. Kamal Kumar has completed Ph.D. (Corporate Inclusion), MBA (XIMB), B.A. (H) Economics, Delhi University. Dr. Kamal has worked in the fields of Media, Corporate Planning and Administration. As the founder and director, he brings 20 years of enriched industry experience to LBIIHM. He is a passionate educator who is always working to empower students with thinking ability to visualize a better future and is always trying to create a society of 'Ethical Citizens'.