For students of Nilai UC’s School of Hospitality and Tourism, the annual trip to a popular tourist destination is a much anticipated learning event.
“It is one thing to learn in a classroom and to have practical sessions on campus but for some programmes, a excursion in the field is very necessary for them to experience working culture and to fully understand how they are going to apply their theoretical knowledge,†says Nor Khafizah Muhamad Saleh, lecturer in Nilai University College’s School of Hospitality and Tourism. She is referring to the annual trip by students in Diploma in Tourism and Management programme to a popular holiday destination.
This year the students were sent to Bandung, Indonesia to experience the province’s famed hospitality and learn from the many tourism industry professionals who have helped make the place a popular destination, both among the jetpack as well as the backpackers. “As students looking to enter the tourism trade, we were very impressed by the care and attention the tour guides given to all visitors. Whether it was the budget traveller or those who travel business class, all were given plenty of warm hospitality. They made sure all the needs of the visitors were met and took the time to find out what each person wanted to do while in Bandung,†observes Nang Kam Rwee, a second year Nilai UC student from Myanmar. “I was particularly impressed by the way tour guides and the hotel staff catered to the visitors by crafting individual schedules to cater to their whims and fancies. That is what is called service.â€
The Nilai UC entourage not only got to observe industry professionals at work but also visit the many sights of Bandung. These included a visit to the active volcano Tangkuban Parahu. “The visit to the volcano was very special and the scenery was simply magnificent. It made me realize the importance of showing off your homelands natural wonders and there’s plenty of that where I come from,†says Anice Dealy, a Nilai UC student from Labuan, who plans to work with her home state’s tourism body upon graduation.
Raymond Lunjew say he and his classmates were struck by how hardworking everyone was. This was because the jobs are difficult to come by in Bandung and everyone works extra hard to ensure they can keep their rice bowl. “This really struck home the message that no matter what industry you are in, you must be willing to work hard otherwise someone else who is hungrier will take your place. That is possibly the most important lesson we learned during this trip to Bandung,†he concluded.
Nilai UC’s School of Hospitality and Tourism was established in 2004 and offer these programmes – Diploma in Culinary Arts, Diploma in Tourism Management, Diploma in Hotel Management and BA (Hons) in Business and Hospitality Management. Every year students from the Diploma in Tourism Management programme take a field trip, cost of which is included in the fees, to a destination to give them invaluable experience on how industry professionals work to make a destination popular.
