Students from Nilai UC's School of Hospitality & Tourism got a first hand experience of handling hospitality at a Formula 1 event
Way before a chequered flag was raised in anger, 145 students from Nilai University College's School of Hospitality and Tourism were busy preparing for the Formula 1 race at Pan Pacific KLIA.
Rising way before dawn to make their way towards the massive corporate suites that served F1 participants, media and guests, the students went about their tasks with a professionalism and diligence that was a credit to their School.
The students were divided into various groups. Some were front line servers while many were called to use their culinary expertise in the kitchens. The more senior students were given the privilege of working the Corporate Suite where the VVIPs would be dining. Despite the presence of so many F1 stars, Nilai UC students kept their cool and professional outlook and never once strayed onto autograph hunting or picture posing mode.
This was key in an event like this. "For many of the students, this was the first time they have been involved in an international event of this size. And it doesn't get any more glamorous or glitzy than Formula 1. It was very good to see our students maintain their composure even when in close proximity to some of the biggest names in motorsports," says Bonnie Lopez, Dean of Nilai UC's School of Hospitality and Tourism, who oversaw the students during this placement session.
Also in attendance was lecturer Cheng Mun Kid. He also noted that many of the students were able to properly transfer their knowledge into a large-scale setting as this event, putting it down to the many hours of practical sessions at Nilai UC's Flamme restaurant and 5,000sq ft training kitchen.
"The students were able to adapt to the environment as they had honed their craft through many hours of practical lessons. For example, the students who were carving the roast lamb were able to do so neatly and efficiently as they had done it many times before. The fact that they were serving a much larger crowd did not faze them," says a visibly proud Cheng.
Having been picked based on the proximity of Nilai University College's (Nilai UC) 105-acre campus to the Sepang International Circuit, the students ability to follow instructions from the hotelier's senior hospitality staff as well as being the model of efficiency meant that the hoteliers were extremely pleased with the students performance and have invited them back for next year's F1 event.
Despite the back-breaking hours, all of the students were pleased they had been given the chance to out their skills to the test in a real working environment. "This is the first time we have had the opportunity to put our skills to the test in such a large scale event. Being involved in F1 certainly help boost my confidence and whetted my appetite for more!" said Celvin Chang, a final year Diploma in Hotel Management student.
And as the crowd, drivers and their massive entourage left for their next pit stop, the students of Nilai UC left knowing it was a job well done and could start planning for next year's race.
