In an exclusive interview with Higher Education Review, Dr. Shailendra Singh, COO, Amrapali Institute of Hotel Management shares his insights on the Indian hotel management education landscape, the increasing importance of soft/interpersonal skills in the hotel management domain, the significance of offering ample technology exposure to students and more.

Lack of skilled talent is a major concern in the hotel management industry. What changes need to be made in the Indian hotel management education system to address this perennial issue?       

Nurturing industry-ready graduates is a major concern in the Indian hotel management industry and educators have been trying to address this issue. To bridge the prevalent skill gap in the hotel management education segment, businesses operating in the industry should list down the important skills they look for in candidates and let the institutes know about those skills. Once this is done, then it is up to the institutes to design a curriculum which equips the students with the skills. Currently, one of the biggest skill gaps in the domain has to deal with the lack of communication skills of the students especially in remote areas. Institutes should also understand that instilling the right attitude among the students to thrive in the hospitality industry will take time and it needs continuous monitoring. One of the most effective ways to deal with all these issues is to focus on creating more industry-institute partnerships where both the parties can develop students who are prepared for the industry.    

Hotel management is a constantly evolving industry both in terms of customer engagement and business development strategies. In light of this, how important is it to be a constant learner and how can hotel management institutes help their students become passionate learners?   

The industry is evolving year after year and post Covid, it has evolved even further. Businesses operating in the hospitality industry are adopting new practices as well as business strategies to increase their growth. And for hotel management institutes, it is important to keep abreast of these changes so that their curriculum is aligned with the industry. Recently, new areas like QSRs (quick-service restaurants) are emerging which can offer wonderful career opportunities for the students and it is up to hotel management institutes to equip their students with the skills required to thrive in this line of work. Checklists should be made and the curriculum should be formulated based on it so that the institutes can produce candidates that are desired by the industry.         

Soft/interpersonal skills are essential traits to succeed in the hotel management industry. That being the case, how can hotel management institutes leverage extra-curricular activities to improve the soft/interpersonal skills of students?  

Without any soft and interpersonal skills, no hospitality graduate can succeed in  his/her career. We need to understand how we plan our curriculum and see how much practical exposure is offered to the students.  We need to move out of the classroom and view co-curricular activities as great avenues to improve the soft and interpersonal skills of the students. These extracurricular activities should be planned and executed in such a way that it helps students hone their skills. And the objective of participating in these events should be clear to the students. By doing so, these activities can ensure their holistic development, while make learning more engaging and less stressful.       

Also, hotel management institutes should see to it that, once the students get enrolled, they should be screened first and then grouped. Once they are grouped, there should be specific plans for these groups. They can be supported with senior students as peers and a teacher as mentor. And this small group should work as a team and participate in various activities. This will not only help in improving their skills but it will also improve their competitiveness and make them appreciate their achievements even more, which will make them more motivated to succeed in the future.

Hands-on training is essential to increase the employability of students. Considering this, how do you view the growing importance of skill development workshops and industrial training programs in providing hands-on training to the students? 

Hospitality education is based on hands-on training but institutes should ensure that every practical activity of theirs should have an outcome. These outcomes should be listed down and measured after the activity is completed. Also, blended learning is going to be in vogue in the near foreseeable future and teachers can leverage technology to create their own video lectures which they can circulate amongst the students in advance.  Then, when the students get into the classroom, the teaching should be practical-oriented. We also need to move beyond institutions and organizing regular workshops can help students understand the new practices followed in the industry. Conducting conferences are also a great way to help students interact with experts from the industry.  Research is another aspect that is lacking in present day hospitality education and going forward, doing experimental research should be a top-priority for hotel management institutes.             

Technology is moving at a rapid pace in the hotel management industry and digital skills are becoming more crucial to succeed in the domain. What are your thoughts on the importance of offering proper technology exposure to the students?    

We have to change our attitude towards technology and be more welcoming of it to be a technology-enabled hotel management institute. With businesses incorporating more technology into their day to day operations, it is important to offer ample technology exposure to the students to make them industry-ready. Encouraging the use of technology in improving their practical skills is also a great way to familiarize students with the latest technologies. Simulations are a great example of this, where students can not only improve their practical skills but they can also become more tech-savvy. Gamification is also an area that educators should explore more to make the classrooms more participatory and engaging.