CHATS makes finals of top industry awards

Wednesday, 5 July 2006

Manukau Institute of Technology’s CHATS makes finals of top industry awards

Reaching the finals of a top hospitality industry training competition confirms the status of Manukau Institute of Technology’s School of Catering and Hospitality Studies (CHATS), as a leading provider of hospitality education in New Zealand.

The school is a finalist in the Training Provider (Qualification Pathways) category of the prestigious 2006 Hospitality Standards Institute (HSI) Excellence in Training Awards.

HSI is the industry training organisation (ITO) for the hospitality sector and the awards, which will be presented on Friday, 14 July at the Langham Hotel in Auckland, are the highest honour bestowed on hospitality training providers in New Zealand.

Being a finalist in the awards is recognition by the hospitality sector that the training CHATS provides is in line with current industry trends, says head of school, Johann Wohlmuther.

“The awards are judged by our peers in the industry and are the highest form of recognition from our ITO.

“Being a finalist is also a confirmation internally to school staff that their efforts, achievements and motivations are recognised by the industry and that we are up with the play.”

Johann says CHATS rates highly in all the criteria the awards are judged on. This includes: outstanding achievement in developing and promoting qualification pathways; the professional development opportunities offered for tutors and working with schools on curriculum alignment; and, establishing collaborative partnerships with relevant workplaces to ensure students have access to industry-relevant training, assessment and work opportunities.

Johann points out judges not only assess finalists on paper, but also visit contenders to inspect their facilities first hand. “One of the strengths of the awards is that judges go out and visit the finalists to get a hands-on feel of the provider.”

CHATS is a unique purpose-built restaurant and hotel training facility, which combines the latest technology with lecturers whose up-to-date experience in the industry, backed by academic expertise, take students' training beyond the confines of theory and the classroom into the real world.

Students learn from professionals and gain industry work experience, resulting in graduates who are work-ready and valued additions to the workforce.

CHATS is taking enrolments now for courses starting in the Semester 2. For more information contact MIT on 0800 62 62 52, or visit www.manukau.ac.nz.

ENDS

© Scoop Media