TNP Go Guide

Being the best in hospitality

Busy course has its benefits

He tries his hand at dealing with cards

Course makes him a better man

He chooses school for speciality in tourism

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Raffles Campus

Course makes him a better man

ASK Arthas Koh, 20, what his goals and aspirations are, and he confidently said: “I want to retire at 50.” The Raffles Campus’ Diploma of Hospitality Management student with big dreams was not always this confident and determined. When he was younger, he skipped classes frequently and always got into fights. Arthas, a Malaysian, said: “Coming to Raffles Campus has changed my attitude and my way of thinking.” Raffles Campus, which opened its doors in 2007, is a subsidiary of Emaar Education, a Dubai-based property company with stakes in education, healthcare and hospitality. Raffles Campus is also an accredited partner of Australia’s Box Hill Institute. The school’s Diploma in Hospitality Management is a year-long course comprising topics like food and beverage and tourism.

Mr Raja Chowdhury, the academic manager, said students are assessed throughout the year instead of having one big year-end exam because the school believes in all-inclusive learning. “There will also be multiple assessments like case studies, roleplay and projects.” During role-play, students get a chance to simulate real-life roles and situations in a restaurant, the front desk of a hotel, and a hotel room. When Arthas was selected as the manager of the restaurant in one roleplay session, he faced several challenges like memorising customers’ orders and rectifying problems with the cutlery required for certain dishes. Still, he did not find that experience stressful. “I knew most of my ‘staff as they were fellow students, so it was easy to communicate with them,” he said. Besides role-playing, students organise events and functions as school projects. Arthas recounted organising a welcome party for new students. “It was a successful event, as everybody enjoyed it and we did not exceed our budget,” he said. These hands-on experiences in school prove that competency-based learning works, especially since Raffles Campus clinched the Gold Prize in the open category of the International Marketing Competition 2009, which is organised by The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Singapore. Arthas, a member of the Raffles Campus team, said of their win: “We were all very surprised to have won. I was glad to have had our lecturers’ help and advice, and we had very good teamwork. In all, it was a very good experience.”

And when he completes his course, he can look forward to a six-month industrial attachment in Singapore or Dubai, where Emaar is based, as part of his diploma programme. He is hoping he gets posted to Dubai. “Dubai is a very beautiful city, and they take pride in showing good hospitality,” he said. He is also looking overseas for his post-diploma plans. “I will go to Australia to complete my degree and look for a job there,” he said.

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