The Higher Education Review

Holding a reputation of over 5 decades in the business arena, V.M. Salgaocar Group, which was commenced by late Vasudev Salgaocar is headquartered in Goa besides having offices in other major cities of India. With a vision to render international standard hospitality management education to the students and create world-class leaders, the group established V.M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE). "Along with hospitality education, we will emphasize on personality development, professional attitude and leadership of students, which will enable them to be a good leader in their chosen profession. Our well-qualified team will assist and guide students on all aspects of their progress. We will ensure that our students learn with fun and gain skills, knowledge and attitude to achieve their goals, and be successful in their chosen career," opines Prof. Irfan Mirza, Director and Principal, V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education.

As the group remarkably owns and operates Goa Marriott Resort & Spa, an upscale 180-room 5-star Resort Hotel with award-winning hospitality, the institute enjoys rich industrial collaborations and associations that strongly assist the students in gaining sound practical experiences. One of the many perks of studying at VMSIIHE is getting trained by the professionals themselves and also being placed at hotels of international repute owned by the group.

Affiliated to Goa University, the institute has a Student Exchange program with Turismo de Portugal- Ministry of Tourism, Portugal and a strategic tie-up with Business & Hotel Management School (BHMS) in Switzerland wherein VMSIIHE Students have an opportunity to study Culinary / Hospitality Programme at BHMS, Switzerland. "Our students visit Portugal for one month summer vacation training in "Gastronomy & Wines" and similarly students from Portugal visit our campus for training in "Regional cuisine"," says Martha Rebello, Compliance Officer/ Academic

Co-ordinator, VMSIIHE. Further, the MoU with Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) supports the institute in terms of the curriculum, which is partly drawn up in accordance with DIT.

"One of the many perks of studying at VMSIIHE is getting trained by the professionals themselves and also being placed at hotels of international repute owned by the group"

Students at VMSIIHE are offered 3-year B.Sc. International Hospitality Management program following the curriculum of Goa University under the able guidance of experienced faculty with international expertise and industry exposure. Extending an opportunity to add credentials in students' resume, the institute also conducts certificate courses in Culinary Arts, Guest Service Operations, Restaurant & Beverage Operations and Housekeeping Operations. "We make sure the three years that the students spend in our campus turn out to be productive and helpful for their career. The entire programme is exclusively designed giving emphasis on student's hands-on training," shares Martha. The education model that the faculty members at VMSIIHE abide by is a combination of instilling theoretical nuances along with focusing on practical applications.

The sprawling campus of the institute, which is set up at Manora- Raia, a pristine and verdant village in South Goa, is spread over 6 acres of land providing an environment that is conducive for interestingly competitive and fun-filled learning experiences. The well-planned campus along with all other avant-garde facilities like demo-kitchen, air-conditioned classrooms, computer lab, separate boy's and girl's hostel, cafeteria and so on has a fully functional 5 starred training hotel with a grand lobby area and reception, guestrooms, restaurant, kitchen area and banqueting spaces. The students go through trial and error phase in advance owing to this in-house training hotel making them perfectly employable at the end of their course.

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Goa being a tourist place, having several famous hotels, food joints, and restaurants, the students of VMSIIHE gets the optimum chances to work closely with the industry and obtain valuable lessons amid the highly qualified hospitality management professionals residing in the region. The students are encouraged by the institute to undergo a 6-month internship for which the management of VMSIIHE

assures the students that they select the right kind of organization. Starred hotels like JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai, Hilton in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Resort & Spa, Intercontinental DF, Dubai, the Oberoi & Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore, Taj Hotel Resorts & Palaces and many more take students of VMSIIHE as interns.

The institute is determined to prepare our students for a dynamic career by involving them in a leadership program, professional internship, attending guest lectures, participating in food fest events and inculcating in them a professional attitude. The students are consistently checked on their grooming standards, attitude and professional proficiency by the institute opening the door of self-confidence for students. The management organizes various sessions internal as well as external on 'how to face interviews', 'what questions to expect from the interviewer' and so on that considerably ease the interview process.

Additionally, this year, the institute also assisted the students in registering them on to a video-based recruitment website, which is a common platform for both employers and job seekers. The kind of exposure the students of VMSIIHE obtains throughout their stay at the campus enable them to grab jobs, which will lift their career graph and be successful in their respective chosen fields. The graduates of VMSIIHE today are sitting at the helm of leading positions not only in India, but also in the UAE and European countries. Seeing their students working in top-notch organizations is indeed a pride for VMSIIHE. "We offer a unique curriculum and world class infrastructure to prepare the students to the ever changing needs of hospitality. Our goal is to make this institute as the centre of excellence for Hospitality industry in India," summarizes Prof. Mirza.

Chairman's Message
"We shall educate the next generation of leaders for the world's hospitality Industry. Build your knowledge and hone your skills under the able guidance of an enlightened and dynamic faculty. Graduate into an outstanding group of corporate leaders and entrepreneurs who can take hospitality to new heights around the globe. Discover your path to hospitality leadership through practice." - Dattaraj V. Salgaocar, Chairman and Managing Director, VM Salgaocar Corporation