Swiss/Thai education venture begins

BANGKOK, 5 September 2012: Dusit Thani College launched its International hospitality programme, Monday, in association with world leading Swiss hospitality school Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne.

Dusit International’s managing director and CEO, Chanin Donavanik, said that the new programme was not a carbon copy of the course offered in Switzerland, but a combination of Swiss and Thai hospitality values.

“We should never start trying to copy each other as we both have our strengths based on our values, traditions, history.

Gateway to Thai and Swiss Hospitality Education Forum

“In my view we should further develop our own identity… Having said that, it might be that we can learn from Switzerland more about the way they coordinate and manage hospitality and tourism on different levels, whereas Switzerland can probably learn from the ways we have developed hospitality and service here”.

Dusit Thani College rector, Veera Pardpattanapanich, explained a new four-year degree programme should lead to a significant transformation of hospitality education in Thailand ahead of the forming of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.

“DTC has an advantage in that it is a dedicated learning institute for hospitality, and has been appointed by Ministry of Tourism and Sports to develop a curriculum and training materials for ASEAN Common Competency Standards for Tourism Professionals.

“We can specialize and pass on to  students in-depth knowledge and skills that will ensure they are in a much better position to gain employment when graduating whether it be here in Thailand, in the ASEAN community or further afield”.

Dusit Thani College is looking to recruit up to 40 students in the first year of the programme both from Thailand and neighbouring countries.

Applications for enrolment are open for Thai and international students for bachelor degree programmes. Interested candidates should contact the college’s admission at +66 (0) 2361 7811-3 extension 146-148 or email to [email protected].

Sourced: ttrweekly