Learning for better service

After graduating from Republic Polytechnic in May, Miss Nurul Atikah Shamsuri, 20, took about two months before deciding to enrol at the East Asia Institute of Management (EASB).

She said: "My decision was made after looking at many other private institutions. I was attracted to EASB by the duration of the degree programme.

"It will only take me about 1½ years to complete my degree at EASB. This is because as a diploma holder, I was granted advanced standing to my degree programme at EASB, including an exemption of three modules as well as the internship programme."

With a diploma in customer relationship and service management, Miss Nurul Atikah is currently pursuing a bachelor of arts in international hospitality and tourism management awarded by Britain's Queen Margaret University (QMU).

As QMU maintains direct control over the quality of the courses provided in its Singapore campus by engaging its own faculty members to teach its courses at EASB, students can be assured that their education is equivalent to those of their peers in Scotland.

"The degree programme that I chose has modules that relates closely to what I took in Republic Polytechnic which makes me even more convinced that it is the most suitable for me.

The degree programme also focuses on dealing with the hospitality and tourism industry as a whole far more closely in the upcoming modules during my third year of study," said Miss Nurul Atikah.

Besides the typical academic rigours of a degree programme, EASB integrates the practical learning process for hospitality students through training.

There is a purpose-built Hospitality and Tourism Centre within the campus.

The centre has a well-designed built-in reception, cocktail bar and a dining area where all second-year hospitality undergraduates will receive an opportunity to learn various aspects of the industry, including front office, food and beverage, and housekeeping operations.

"This makes it very interesting as we have the opportunity to receive in-house industry training just like in a real hotel before heading off for internship.

"Before I enrolled in the school, the course coordinator was diligent in following up on my decision to choose the programme and was always ready to assist.

"The head of the school was also friendly and kind in dealing with any doubts even after I started the term," said Miss Nurul Atikah.

The first term of her undergraduate studies at EASB was made especially enjoyable and manageable because of her course mates.

"I have friends from Vietnam, China, Indonesia as well as fellow Singaporeans to guide me through the modules and get to know the school better. They were really friendly and nice to me," she said.

Miss Nurul Atikah, who works as a part-time retail crew at a footwear company, said: "Lectures at EASB mostly take up at least three hours which allow me to work in the evening.

"In addition to gaining retail experience, I can be a little more financially independent as well."

She is willing to venture into a wide range of career paths, besides working in a hotel, which the industry usually offers.

"Hospitality is one of the industries that is constantly evolving where people have to always keep up with the pace in order to meet the standards. Therefore, my future career goal is to be in the managerial level where I can partake in the decision-making process in a company," she said.

WHY THIS COURSE

THE Bachelor of Arts International Hospitality and Tourism Management is awarded by Queen Margaret University Edinburgh, UK. It covers modules on subjects as varied as Accounting in Hospitality and Tourism, Front Office Operations and Integrated Resort Management.

Students will obtain the following skills from the course: - Practical and theoretical training on the Opera check-in system - Practical and theoretical training on the Fidelo check-in system - Practical and theoretical training on food and beverage service - Practical and theoretical training on the Amadeus reservation system

After graduation, students are ready to be at Managerial level in hospitality, tourism and business industries. They also learn a lot about management concepts and theories to ensure they are career ready and be able to back to their workplace & apply most of it.

"As a world class educational institution, EASB focuses on offering excellent programmes and producing competent and career ready professionals. Our Institute's approach to the programmes recognises that students are constantly engaged in a process of learning and development of their academic works and understanding. All taught modules use assessment methods that allow students to reflect on professional practice and discussion of the contemporary academic issues." - Ms Dominique Oi, Assistant Head of School East Asia Institute of Management

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