News for the Hospitality Executive |
By
Kathleen Hogan,
MBA
March 29, 2011 There are innumerable internship programs for students in hospitality found around the world. Discovering the similarities and differences in the many approaches taken by various colleges and universities may raise the bar for programs everywhere. This hospitality conversation spotlights the internship programs offered by MODUL Career in Vienna. Hani El Sharkawi, who is the Head of MODUL Career, explains the structure of the program and how it operates. MODUL Career is exclusively available for students and alumni of MODUL University Vienna and the Tourism College MODUL of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Its aim is to assist students with finding an internship as well as to support them in career planning and development. MODUL Career is also a networking platform for alumni of both institutions. Hani El Sharkawi 1. How do you develop international assignments? MODUL Career has a large number of national and international partners in the tourism and hospitality industry. Currently, 165 partners are registered on the MODUL Career internet platform and can post internships, full time jobs and student part time jobs on the career portal at no charge. MODUL Career’s partners are very diverse. They range from large international hotel groups such as Kempinski to luxury tour operators such as Abercrombie & Kent, 5-star carriers such as Emirates Airline to smaller online travel guides and boutique event companies worldwide. International assignments are mainly gained through networking with industry contacts, industry associations, alumni networks, and participation in a number of international tourism fairs such as the ITB in Berlin. As of early 2011, the MODUL Alumni network consists of over 6,000 graduates of the Tourism College MODUL and MODUL University who currently occupy leading positions all over the world. 2.
With regard to
your hospitality student internship
programs, how does the approval process work and how long are the
programs?
The BBA in Tourism and Hospitality Management students are required to complete a minimum of 600 hours of industry experience prior to graduation. Students may either find an employer of their choice or apply to pre-approved internships offered by MODUL Career partners. The internship must be approved and as soon as the internship is confirmed and, if necessary, a work permit is obtained by the student, a contract is signed between the university, the employer and the student. To successfully complete an internship, the student is required to submit an internship report at the end of the experience and their employer completes an appraisal of their performance. The internship is an integral part of the study program and allows the students to earn academic credits. 3.
Travel/tourism is a global growth area. What are
current student interest areas in tourism and how does MODUL University
cultivate these internship areas?
Each year, MODUL Career conducts a survey among its students to find out more about their interests in terms of their internship, which is very important so MODUL Career can target partners who fulfill the needs of the students and create win-win situations. The international luxury hospitality industry remains a favorite employer for many students, however, a large number of students also look for internships in the area of sustainable tourism, with specialized tour operators or NGOs, as well as with destination marketing organizations and event management companies. Since MODUL students come from over 50 different nations around the world, many are inclined to work in international settings. Many express interest in Africa, Australia, New Zealand or North America. 4.
Can you share some successes concerning career placements for students
who participated specifically in one of these internships?
This series of Hospitality Conversations™on Student Internship Programs is meant to share information on various programs being offered to aspiring hospitality professionals at the academic institutions preparing them for their chosen careers. The student may better evaluate the opportunities afforded them at various colleges and universities while those same colleges and universities measure the caliber of their internship programs against other offerings found around the world. This gained knowledge may spawn the development of more advanced internship programs for the benefit of all involved. With the advance in technology and pervasiveness of the internet, there are few stones left unturned for hospitality businesses and aspiring hospitality professionals as they seek the best of the best. Kathleen
Hogan, MBA is Co-Founder and Publisher of HospitalityEducators.com.
She has a background in management, banking, and finance with a
Master’s
Degree concentration in Human Resources Management. In addition,
Kathleen is a hospice volunteer in Phoenix, Arizona, where she
currently
resides. [email protected]
|
Contact:
Kathleen Hogan, MBA |
Also See: | Hospitality
Internship Programs - A Student’s Perspective / Kathleen Hogan /
January 2011 |
Growing
Your Hospitality Career Up - Part 2 of 2 / Kathleen Hogan / January
2011 |
|
Growing
Your Hospitality Career Up - Part 1 / Kathleen Hogan / November 2010 |
|
From
the Chalkboard to the Front Line - Blending Academics with Hospitality
Internship Programs / Kathleen Hogan / October 2010 |
|
Luxury Hotels on Italy's Lake Como Provide Intensive 3 Month Internships for Niagara University College of Hospitality and Tourism Management Students / January 2007 | |
Test Driving” New Co-Workers Through Internships / Denise Moretti and Kathryn Phelps / February 2006 | |
The University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management Provides Students with Intership Opportunities All Over the World; Gives Students Advantage When it Comes to Competing for Industry Jobs / August 2007 |
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