A Nilai UC student gets picked to attend a student exchange programme in Istanbul.
"To visit exotic locales and experience new and wonderful things is why I chose to be in the hospitality industry," says Jocelyn Choong Miau Chen, a final year student in Nilai University College's (Nilai UC) BA in Hospitality and Management programme. She says that she chose Nilai UC on the strength of its School of Hospitality and Tourism.
"The facilities are one of the best in the country and have helped me gain invaluable hands on experience even before I go for my industrial placement. The teachers and the syllabus instill great confidence in me and I believe I will enter the working world armed with the right skills and knowledge," she says.
Jocelyn envisages a career of travel and exposure to new cultures but she certainly did not expect to have the opportunity before graduating. She had been chosen to attend a YES-sponsored Programs Spring workshop in Istanbul Turkey, organised by the AFS (USA). YES is a youth exchange study programme and is also known as the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program, while AFS is Air Field Services. The latter has organizations in 40 countries with the headquarters in the United States of America.
"I applied but did not expect to be chosen as I was sure there were many applications for a trip like this. The selectors must have liked my essay and felt I was an active member of the organisation deserving of this golden opportunity," smiles Jocelyn as she was chosen to represent the Malaysian contingent of AFS.
During her six day stay in Istanbul, Jocelyn managed to take in the many wondrous sights including the famed Blue Mosque as well as enjoy a cruise on the Bosporus River. More importantly, she was privy to training sessions and workshops aimed at teaching future trainers how to design and conduct training based on whatever issue/situation that needed to be addressed. The trainers (who were from AFS-USA) taught the participants different methods of training to use, the different learning abilities of people, and how to handle different personalities while conducting training.
Coupled with the experience she learned from Nilai UC's practical classes and the the many useful tips imparted to her by Nilai UC lecturers, she feels she has grown as a person as well as a student. "I now feel more confident and also can think so much faster on my feet. Meeting people from all over the world, both at Nilai UC's campus and during the Istanbul trip, certainly broadened my horizons. Thanks to my training with AFS and my varsity experience in Nilai UC, I feel I am ready to conquer the world!"
"This was certainly invaluable to a person like me as I will be called upon to train junior staff at some point in my own career," says Jocelyn. When asked of her future plans, Jocelyn expressed the desire to get an internship abroad upon completion of her Nilai UC degree. The Turkish adventure has obviously whetted her appetite for overseas adventure but in the meantime, Jocelyn plans to enjoy her life as a student by enjoying her classes and immersing herself in the many extra-curricular activities.
"If you have the passion for the hospitality industry and fancy an adventure, do check out Nilai UC's School of Hospitality and Tourism. You may just embark on a never-ending journey of discovery and a highly rewarding career to boot," she advices.
