Pass masters
The qualifications and training schemes available to those working in the hospitality industry are undergoing a fair amount of change. New ones are being introduced and old ones phased out, so this guide should help you sort out the qualifications and schemes and where they'll lead you.
National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs)
What: NVQs and SVQs demonstrate that you have acquired the skills and knowledge to do your job to acceptable industry standards. They can be studied for while working in a job, and there are no entry requirements. You can achieve an NVQ/SVQ after one year's full-time study or two years' part-time college attendance.
How: Originally designed to be administered solely in the workplace, these qualifications are now often college-based, with exposure to commercial practices through work experience placements. You can attend college full-time or part-time while working in industry, or follow an accredited in-house training scheme while you work. They are part of the Modern Apprenticeship and other training programmes.
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs)
What: Foundation MA (FMA) and Advanced MA (AMA) are nationally recognised qualifications achieved through a work-based training programme. In Wales, FMAs are called National Traineeships.
A training programme takes you to NVQ level 3 in hospitality, and you can follow one of seven routes: chef, housekeeping, hospitality services, reception, restaurant, hospitality quick service or pub.
How: Expect to spend a year or two on the FMA and three years achieving the AMA.
Changes: Modern Apprenticeships are currently under review thanks to Government reforms. From the middle of 2002, apprentices will also be expected to complete a Technical Certificate and a course entitled Employers' Responsibilities and Rights (ERR).
The Technical Certificate is not a new qualification, but has been included to help develop apprentices' knowledge base relating to their specific occupations. The Hospitality Training Foundation has identified a range of existing vocational qualifications that will meet this requirement covering areas such as front office, food and drink service, international cuisine, pastry skills and industry legislation (for example, licensing laws, food hygiene, and health and safety regulations).
ERR will ensure that apprentices have an awareness and knowledge of their responsibilities and rights in relation to employment law, the organisation they work for, and the hospitality industry as a whole.
Vocational A Level or Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education (AVCE) (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
What: This qualification provides a general all-round introduction to vocational areas of hospitality, leisure and tourism.
How: These are obtained at schools and colleges.
Changes: The AVCE has replaced the Advanced GNVQ. From September 2002, the intermediate and foundation GNVQ will be replaced by the vocational GCSE.
Scottish Group Award (SGA)
What: Primarily aimed at 16- to 18-year-olds, this Scottish qualification is comparable to the AVCE and prepares students for employment in hospitality, tourism and a range of other occupations, or for entry into higher education.
How: Taken at school or in a further education college, there are three SGAs in travel and tourism and five in hospitality.
Foundation Degree
What: Currently in its first pilot year, this is a two-year degree course delivered by a college and offers employees in hospitality the opportunity to gain higher education while still working.
After the two-year course, students can opt to do a third year and obtain a university honours degree. This course may eventually replace HNDs in some colleges.
How: You can attend a further education course on either a full-time or a part-time basis.
Higher National Diploma (HND) and Higher National Certificate (HNC)
What: These offer training for those interested in management positions who have one A level and GSCEs, advanced GNVQ or SGA.
How: A two-year full-time college course should yield a hospitality and tourism HND. Work placements are key parts of the course and last for as long as 12 months on a three-year hospitality HND. The HNC is a two-year part-time programme in England and Wales, while in Scotland it is one-year full-time.
Degree
What: Degree courses are available in hospitality and tourism management.
How: Expect to do three years of academic study at university with a possible fourth year as a work placement. In future, students may complete a two-year foundation degree then opt to complete a third year for their honours degree.
Graduate Apprenticeships
What: This is a new, nationally recognised programme for diploma holders and graduates from any academic discipline, allowing them to gain practical knowledge and skills in the hospitality industry. Graduates will complete NVQ units at level 3 or 4, chosen to reflect relevance to their intended career in hospitality.
How: The apprentice will be in full-time employment in the hospitality industry, and will undertake key skills and NVQ courses while in the workplace. There is no timescale.
Foreign offers
You may have decided that studying in the UK is all very well, but that you'd like to do some learning further afield. There are several hotel schools around the world that may be of interest to you.
Many universities worldwide have departments of hospitality and tourism, so it may be worth spending some time researching where you want to go, and looking at the admissions requirements. These may be solely academic or take into account your time and experience in the industry.
There's a useful organisation called NARIC (National Academic Recognition Information Centre) that can help you to determine what relevance your UK qualifications will have at different institutions around the world. You'll need to narrow your search to the country you're interested in and contact its NARIC office.
For contact details of the relevant overseas organisation, get in touch with UK NARIC. Please note that UK NARIC advises foreign students who want to study in Britain, but not British students who want to study abroad.
UK NARIC, tel: 01242 260010
Hotel School, The Hague, the Netherlands
Established in 1929, this school offers a number of degree-level courses for those interested in pursuing a career in hospitality. To get in, you'll need six good GCSE grades.
Information: www.hotelschool.nl
Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne, Switzerland
This is the grandfather of hotel schools, with a programme founded in 1893. There's the International Hospitality Management Programme, for which you will need some practical experience, and at least five GCSEs and two
A levels, although three A levels are recommended. There's also an 18-month Management of Hotel Operations course.
Information: www.ehl.ch
Hotel School at Cornell University, USA
Founded at the request of the hospitality industry in 1922, the hotel school at Cornell is well-known and respected, offering undergraduate, Masters and PhD programmes. There's a 150-bedroom teaching hotel, the Statler Hotel and Conference Centre, to give students real-life experience of the hospitality industry.
Admission requirements are tailored to US applicants, so you'll need to get advice on what's transferable.
Information: www.hotelschool.cornell.edu
Emirates Academy, Dubai
This is the newcomer in the world of hotel schools, established in Dubai in September 2001. The academy has close links with the Ecole Hotelire de Lausanne, and students doing the BSc in International Hospitality Management can expect to spend two six-month semesters at Lausanne during their four-year programme. Further programmes are being developed and approved by Dubai's education minister.
Information: www.jumeriahinternationl.com/academy/index.htm or e-mail info@emiratesacademy.com
