Staff from a global hotel chain have travelled from around the world to undertake a professional development course at Bournemouth University.
Around 30 managers from Corinthia Hotels International have joined the university to undertake the Certificate in Higher Education (CHE) in Business and Hospitality Management.
The course is part of a programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities offered by BU, and is the equivalent of the first year of an Undergraduate degree.
Franco Valletta, Chief Officer for Organisation, Development and Human Resources at Corinthia Hotels, said: “I wanted to work with the best in the UK, and I knew Bournemouth University was one of them. We have lots of students from BU coming to work as interns at our London hotel, and they do fantastically well.”
He added: “I specifically wanted to create a programme that has that mixture of academic and life skills. We are hoping it will help them when it comes to problem-solving and decision-making.
“We are among the best in the world, and we want to make our staff even better and help them develop leadership behaviours and styles.”
The course will be delivered over 14 months and the Corinthia Hotels staff will cover topics including hospitality marketing, financial reporting and how to recruit the right candidates for jobs.
They will spend at least five days on the Bournemouth University campus per unit and will also have access to resources and lecturers through online e-learning facilities.
Corinthia Hotels International was founded in Malta and now has hotels in locations including Prague, St Petersburg, Lisbon and Budapest, as well as a hotel in central London.
Keith Hayman, Head of Continuing Professional Development in BU’s School of Tourism, said: “Five star hotel operators like Corinthia Hotels International recognise the need to develop their people so that they can exploit the many opportunities within the international hotel sector.
“Bournemouth University degree level personal development gives Corinthia the advantage over competitors by ensuring the organisation has the best people ready and able to accept the challenges of company growth.
“CPD study at Bournemouth University is tailored to accommodate the specific needs, requirements and objectives of every client.”
Find out more about CPD opportunities at BU