Vivekananda Global University: Nurturing Global Hospitality Professionals

Hotel management today is a vital component of building experiences that define travel, tourism, and global hospitality. Since the industry has evolved to meet rising customer expectations, cultural diversity, and technological advancement, there has never been a more urgent need for hospitality professionals trained to excel. Hotel management today is not merely about running hotels, it encompasses leadership, service excellence, and operations in a multicultural world. Recognizing the need to prepare students for such evolving global roles, Vivekananda Global University (VGU), Jaipur, started its Department of Hotel Management in June/July 2018 with three undergraduate students. The department has ever since grown as a vibrant platform of academic proficiency, career preparation, and global opportunity.

Beginning with only three students and one faculty member as he was, the department has expanded tremendously, currently accommodating more than 350 students and providing a range of programs at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels.

Part of a Multidisciplinary Academic Ecosystem

Established in 2012, Vivekananda Global University is a leading private university in Rajasthan, with 20 departments spread across various fields like science, engineering, humanities, healthcare, Management, and hospitality. Among these varied academic streams, the Department of Hotel Management stands out for its career-driven curriculum, robust industry integration, and unshakeable dedication to 100 percent placement, especially in global markets.

The department focuses on academic quality and hands-on application. “In hotel management, success is ultimately measured by the career trajectory a student embarks upon after graduation”, says Dr Sidharth Raju, Head of the Department (Hotel Management), Vivekananda Global University.

The department has three flagship programs serving diverse phases of professional and academic development in the hospitality industry. They are the Bachelor of Hotel Management & Catering Technology (BHMCT) with a four-year undergraduate curriculum, Master's in Hotel Management (MHM), a two-year postgraduate degree, and Ph.D. in Hotel Management for advanced study and academic professional aspirations. Although the department previously provided diploma programs, it has since redirected its attention to more comprehensive, full-fledged academic programs that are more in line with students' long-term goals and the changing needs of the hospitality industry. The curriculum focuses on a balanced mix of theoretical knowledge and hands-on learning. Such facilities as training kitchens, front office simulators, housekeeping laboratories, and food and beverage service areas provide the students with the required hands-on exposure to prepare them for actual industry challenges.

In hotel management, success is ultimately measured by the career trajectory a student embarks upon after graduation

Placement as a Defining Feature

One of the department's most unique accomplishments is its exceptional placement record, particularly in foreign markets. More than 90 percent of its students find placements overseas, in nations such as the U.S., Mauritius, Oman, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, New England, and the Maldives. Dr Sidharth and his team consider placement not merely as employment, but as a way of facilitating social mobility and financial security. "A lot of our students are from very modest backgrounds. They come with dreams, and our job is to assist in turning those dreams into international careers", he says.

Department graduates have moved on to work in some of the world's best hospitality careers, ranging from culinary and front office executives to service staff in luxury hotels and resorts globally.

Realizing the gap that usually prevails between academic and industry requirements, the department starts grooming students for real life from the very first year. Instead of waiting for the last semester to start preparation for placement, the department imparts a global perspective at the earliest. Being proactive in doing so has benefited students by gaining confidence and being prepared, thus paving the way for the department's increasing fame, especially in rural and semi-urban locations, where news of successful placements of alumni generates confidence among others to do the same.

Dr Raju says that he and his team work round the year on internships and placement of Hotel management students overseas. That makes it easy for students to get overseas internships and placements.

Transparent, Result-Oriented Approach

In a time when higher education is being analyzed more than ever, the department makes transparency and accountability its top priority. Dr Sidharth emphasizes direct communication with students and parents about the requirements of the program and the results they can anticipate.

“When a family invests a significant amount in education, they do so with great hope. We are committed to honoring that trust with honesty, structure, and support”, he states.

This student and parent-driven philosophy has enabled the department to develop a reputation that goes beyond marketing, acquired instead through word-of-mouth and the achievement of its graduates, who are its strongest advocates.

The hospitality industry has seen tremendous change, especially with the pandemic. The department has reacted by incorporating new pedagogical instruments, emphasizing hygiene and safety, as well as cultivating innovation in service provision. In addition, VGU's multidisciplinary approach enables hotel management students to learn from cross-departmental expertise in tourism, business, and technology, which are values much needed in the current hospitality sector.

A Benchmark for Hospitality Education

The key to success for the Department of Hotel Management at Vivekananda Global University is its emphasis on the all-round development of the student. Every student is considered an individual with his/her potential, and the department functions as a bridge that transforms this potential into a global opportunity.

Dr Sidharth expresses the core value of the department as, “We’re not just preparing students to work in hotels, we’re preparing them to thrive anywhere in the world, with dignity, confidence, and resilience”. He aims to make the Department of Hotel Management of Vivekananda Global University a benchmark in hospitality education as IITs and IIMs are in Engineering and Management, and says that a day will come when Hospitality education will be a mainstream education and will be 1st choice of the students like IIT and IIM. He also added that VGU Department of Hotel Management will be 1st choice of the students in hospitality education due to obverses Internship and Placement, and that a day will come when people will know VGU for Hospitality education.

With an expanding pool of successful graduates, a curriculum based on industry requirements, and a strong commitment to employability, the department has become a model for hospitality education in the 21st century, which is accessible, accountable, and aspirational.