Attracted by the
practical and
international course
opportunities
Samantha Hamilton,
Group HR Manager,
Dakota Hotels
Support from Dakota Hotels
helps students stand out in
the hospitality industry
H
OSPITALITY AND TOURISM EDUCATION has been part of QMU for over
140 years. Building upon more than a century of experience within the
University and its predecessor institutions, the current QMU lecturers
consider themselves the custodians of the expertise passed down from the
founders of the former Edinburgh School of Cookery. The University’s courses
today are underpinned by some of the simple philosophies that were at the
heart of the institution’s teaching over a century ago.
At the heart of the BSc (Hons) International Hospitality & Tourism Management
(IHTM) is practical experience that includes a 20 week placement at the 5 star Waldorf
Astoria in year one, as well as a 20 week paid internship in year two or three when
students often travel overseas to embed themselves in the industry. With 90% of
graduates in employment or further training after six months,* many of who are making
names for themselves in highly-respected hospitality and tourism businesses in the
UK and across the world, it is without doubt this practical experience makes QMU
graduates stand out in the crowd.
A new partnership with Dakota Hotels will further enhance this practical experience.
A generous gift from the leading boutique hotel group, which is soon to open a new
hotel in Manchester, will enable students to take part in activities that will enhance
their learning and their understanding of the industry. These could include walking
tours of Edinburgh’s Old Town, distillery tours, wine tastings and tourism attraction
field trips.
Further support from The Kitchin Group enables the students to experience a fine
dining lunch. It is impossible to imagine talented graduates securing management
positions in prestigious establishments without having experienced their food and
service for themselves.
Programme Leader, Marc Robertson, said: “These partnerships make an important
contribution to QMU’s links with industry and help to strengthen our already robust
employability strategy. The Dakota Student Experience Fund will be used to provide
a number of relevant industry experiences that will enhance the learning of students
enrolled on the IHTM degree. We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing partnership
with Dakota and I look forward to seeing how it directly benefits our students.”
The hotel group, founded by QMU honorary graduate, Ken McCulloch, has been
working with QMU for a number of years. The boutique hotels in Edinburgh, Glasgow
and Leeds have benefitted from QMU interns who have gone on to gain graduate
employment with the Group. Group HR Manager, Samantha Hamilton, a double
QMU graduate herself, has seen first-hand the quality of a QMU education and has
been instrumental in further developing the partnership between the University and
Dakota Hotels.
Samantha said: “Hospitality is so often seen as a career people fall into or work in as
a means to an end. It shouldn’t be; there are so many career paths an ambitious and
hardworking individual could succeed in. QMU and Dakota both share this sentiment
and it is natural that we would work together to support new talent coming into this
global industry.” ❒ (*source: Unistats 2018)
24
QMYOU / Supporting Student Development
C
ALUM STEWART CHOSE the
BA International Hospitality
and Tourism Management
course because of its international
perspective. He also welcomed the
wonderful opportunity it gave him
to gain hands-on experience at a
prestigious cookery school and five
star city centre hotel.
Calum particularly loved the practical
aspect of the course, gaining much from
his placement at the Galvin Brasserie
De Luxe in the Waldorf Astoria. He said:
“The Brasserie’s Michelin-starred chefs
Chris and Jeff Galvin showed me how to
achieve a classic, flawless and first class
experience from start to finish, and gave
me a diverse perspective of management
styles.”
Throughout much of his time at QMU,
Calum worked for Dakota Hotels, both
in Edinburgh and Leeds. It was such a
positive experience that he jumped at the
opportunity to progress his career on the
Dakota Hotels’ management scheme.
Discussing the QMU degree, Calum
said: “There is a huge misconception
that degrees are not ‘needed’ in this
industry, but this course has helped me
build a solid foundation of knowledge and
values which will allow me to excel in my
future roles within the industry. It has also
made me more aware of the wide range of
business aspects and culture that I knew
little about prior to the course.”
He concluded: “The skills learned on
the course can take you anywhere, and
the international perspective of QMU’s
hospitality and tourism course, means
that the world really is your oyster if you
do wish to work overseas.”
Read more about Calum’s experience
and watch his interview at:
www.qmu.ac.uk/calum-stewart ❒