There is a growing demand in South Africa and on the continent for academically trained hospitality professionals, particularly as many executive positions in the African hospitality industry are not filled by those from the region. However, this is rapidly changing.

The IIE School of Hospitality & Service Management – which has campuses in Rosebank, Johannesburg, and in Newlands in Cape Town – seeks to address the expanding need for service, hospitality and customer-centric education, spanning entry-level through to management-level qualifications.

This year, the school is introducing a brand-new course – the one-year full-time IIE Higher Certificate in Travel – and the new IIE Higher Certificate in Service Management is being offered for online studies.

The IIE travel qualification is for students who enjoy interacting with customers and want to learn more about the travel and tourism industry. With intakes in February and July this year, course content includes digital and academic literacies, travel products and services, travel destinations including an overview of Southern Africa, an introduction to customer care and sales, travel operations and planning, domestic fares and ticketing, global distribution systems and the work-integrated learning, something the IIE School of Hospitality & Service Management is renowned for and which gives students hands-on practical experience.

One of the fastest growing sectors

Renee Hill, IIE School of Hospitality & Service Management MD, said: “Travel and tourism continue to be one of the fastest growing sectors globally and provides real economic growth in our country. However, there is a shortage of qualified people to fill a wide variety of roles and this is where we come in. We are determined to give our students and graduates the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, not only in South Africa but wherever they want to work in the world.”

The IIE’s new online course – the Higher Certificate in Service Management – is a programme designed to equip students with essential knowledge and skills for thriving in diverse and dynamic service sector industries.

The primary purpose of the programme is to provide learners with foundational knowledge and practical skills to comprehend fundamental service management principles and practices. As with other IIE qualifications, the certificate focuses on preparing graduates for the workplace. There are intakes in February and July this year with students receiving online support from the school’s online tutors for 18 months.

Other courses offered by the school include the IIE Higher Certificate in Hospitality Management, the IIE Bachelor of Hospitality Management the IIE Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Leadership Distance and the IIE Advanced Certificate in Hospitality Management.

The IIE Higher Certificate in Hospitality Management also creates a pathway to enrol for the IIE degree. The IIE Bachelor of Hospitality Management is a three-year degree course. Both qualifications meet international standards and are available via distance learning.

There will be an Open Day at both campuses on Saturday, January 27, from 08h00 to 12h30.